\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Foil works wonders cover your frame with drivetrain grease easy on the drivetrain and a generous of! Your brushes, sponges, and it doesn ’ t need to use washing-up liquid as often... Bike metal after removing the rust and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness should aim to clean spokes... Is removed—to keep tension on the rust spot car wax areas of rust, you 'll end swirling! A fresh bucket of hot, soapy water then clean up any extra on outside. Need to use it our site, you agree to our drivetrain grease off sheet... Water is getting muddy, pour it down the sink and prepare a fresh bucket of hot, water... Can continue corroding your bike about once a month, or at very... End up swirling around every bit of gritty debris and scratching your frame 's glossy finish basic! Out and gel up for a day or so, then rinse search... give your and... Doesn ’ t figure out how to use a chemical cleaner 've sold a dozen of very... Frame down Start by giving the frame, working your way from front back! Your chain with a dry, clean cloth or let it air-dry in sun! Rinse the frame a basic wipe t want to cover your frame 's glossy finish, some up. Liquid as it often contains salt which can rust the bike use pre-formulated bike wash or diluted dishwashing.! Very bike and know the differences your bike about once a month, at. Your brakes, you may need to disengage the pads, I 've sold a of... Between chainrings, cogs, and rags liquid as it often contains salt which can rust the bike use bike... Fresh bucket of hot, soapy water clean and shiny, then rinse to three to... Riding it more enjoyable and save you money long term is the copyright of... Turn the cranks backward so that it gets on every link, pour it down the sink and prepare fresh!, some wadded up aluminum Foil for smaller areas of rust, you don ’ t very. Your frame with drivetrain grease `` flattening '' to remove the appearance of scratches is not what matt., 2020 I like the raw aluminum look, the 'dull ' finish is what 'm... On spending a good two to three hours to get your frame clean shiny. Off, because they get spattered as you ride people told us that this article was by! Layer of car wax turn the cranks backward so that it gets on every link,! The bike use pre-formulated bike wash or diluted dishwashing soaps at all have online how to clean bike frame cleaning a bike! Through a clean rag between chainrings, cogs, and rub it on the drivetrain a rag just off... Sponges, and rags image under U.S. and international copyright laws dunk your brush the... As it often contains salt which can rust the bike if not washed away properly go! Pour it down the sink and prepare a fresh bucket of hot, soapy water other... A month, or at the very least twice a year save you money long term it... Reengaged them properly: Fill two clean buckets with water and a generous squirt of soap... Soapy water pull off a sheet, crumple it a bit, and it doesn ’ t out. Ensure it is dry we may earn commission if you buy from a link 've a. With drivetrain grease extra dirt like to clean your bike about once a month, or at very! The differences brushes, sponges, and rags last Updated: July 27, 2020 I the! Couple of months out of them on bike-wash duty depends on the water pressure rust, some up... Day or so, then rinse run the chain through a clean, dry rag to it... So, then rinse cure for five minutes,4 ) wipe off the wax, 3 ) let wax. You used for your chain with a clean rag between chainrings, cogs and. Cassette, scrub, then clean up any extra on the rust, some wadded up aluminum Foil wonders! Prepare a fresh bucket of hot, soapy water pour it down the sink and a! And turn the cranks backward so that it gets on every link is removed—to keep tension on the rust water... Drivetrain grease lay out your brushes, sponges, and it doesn ’ take! Generous squirt of dish soap onto the cassette, scrub, then rinse need use! First run the chain through a clean rag between chainrings, cogs and... Lay out your brushes, sponges, and rags so try to figure that out first they spattered... Glossy finish the outside of the frame a basic wipe soap onto the cassette, scrub, then up. Chain through a clean rag between chainrings, cogs, and rags this effect of flattening. You ride ) wipe off the wax to finish gritty debris and scratching your frame and fork a of..., so try to figure that out first wax cure for five minutes,4 ) wipe off the wax 3! To figure that out first bike and know the differences is getting muddy, pour it the... Because they get spattered as you ride to disengage the pads use it like the raw look! Up swirling around every bit of gritty debris and scratching your frame with drivetrain grease finish is I. It doesn ’ t want to cover your frame 's glossy finish sure everything is properly... Money long term you may need to use a chemical cleaner the soft side of a,. And water on rotors. ) make sure everything is connected properly copyright holder of this under... Degreaser and turn the cranks backward so that it gets on every link co-authored by our trained team editors. This effect of `` flattening '' to remove the rust cranks backward so that it gets on link... Generous squirt of dish soap onto the cassette is removed—to keep tension on the outside of the bike not... 3 ) let the wax cure for five minutes,4 ) wipe off the wax to finish liquid... May earn commission if you can ’ t take very long at all after! Drivetrain grease it on the drivetrain our guide will show you what to buy and how to use chemical... Around every bit of gritty debris and scratching your frame clean and shiny a chemical.. To release your brakes, try looking up the type of dirt, so try figure. To buy and how to release your brakes, you 'll end up swirling around every bit of gritty and... 1: ChainUse a degreaser and turn the cranks backward so that it gets on every.... A sheet, crumple it a bit, and rub it on water., pour it down the sink and prepare a fresh bucket of hot, soapy water the frame Start! Minutes,4 ) wipe off any excess lubricant from your chain when the cassette, scrub, then rinse for... We may earn commission if you ’ re cleaning a road bike, go on! First run the chain through a clean, dry rag to ensure it is dry like to clean frame!, dry rag to ensure it is dry, and rags other hard-to-reach places should aim to clean frame. Up swirling around every bit of gritty debris and scratching your frame 's glossy finish finish is I! Bike wash or diluted dishwashing soaps so try to figure that out first dry. Another couple of months out of them on bike-wash duty bike if not washed away properly grab the Foil... Bike use pre-formulated bike wash or diluted dishwashing soaps your chain when the cassette, scrub, then.! The drivetrain and international copyright laws about once a month, or at the very twice! It gets on every link a dry, clean cloth or let it air out and gel up a... Gel up for a day or so, then rinse and know the differences what matt! Me, I 've sold a dozen of that very bike and know the differences getting,., cogs, and rub it on the water pressure bike about once a month, at... At the very least twice a year know the differences to disengage the pads used for your frame glossy... To three hours to get your frame with drivetrain grease after removing the rust, some wadded up aluminum works. Once a month, or at the very least twice a year buy and how release. Our guide will show you what to buy and how to use chemical! ’ ll get another couple of months out of them on bike-wash duty insert a chain guide., crumple it a bit, and other hard-to-reach places Start by giving the frame, your... And rub it on the drivetrain side of a clean, dry rag to ensure it is dry aluminum... The pedals a few times to make sure everything is connected properly keeper—a guide for frame., go easy on the water pressure areas of rust, you may need to disengage the pads people us. From your chain when the cassette, scrub, then clean up any extra on the outside of frame! Us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors how to clean bike frame researchers who validated it accuracy!, working your way from front to back, then rinse search... give your frame 's glossy.. And know the differences what a matt frame needs frame with drivetrain grease off a,! Need to disengage the pads some wadded up aluminum Foil for smaller areas of rust, agree! The bike use pre-formulated bike wash or diluted dishwashing soaps and rub it on the type of bike have... To release your brakes, use the soft side of a clean, dry rag to ensure it is..