The main mistakes when washing a bike

Washing a bicycle is an activity that not only brings aesthetic benefits, but also allows you to keep your equipment in good technical condition. Although it seems trivial to use water and a brush or a pressure washer, basic mistakes can be made that can affect driving safety. What are these errors and how to avoid them?

Washing your bike is just as important as inspecting and maintaining it.. It is standard practice to clean a road bike at least once a month, and a mountain bike much more often, depending on the frequency of use. Cleaning is recommended every time we drive through muddy or wet terrain.

Why is it so important? Because thanks to it, we will avoid damage and corrosion caused by the accumulation of dirt and grease, which can eat into the drive system and other mechanical parts.

Regular care and cleaning can also help detect wear and tear on equipment, which can prevent costly repairs.

In this article, we will focus on basic bike cleaning at home and explain how to properly wash your bike without damaging the components.

If you want to know how to clean your chain or how to wash your bike at home, check out the Kärcher guide: How and with what to clean the bike? Home bike wash >>

Error 1 - skipping the pre-rinse

Before we move on to the actual washing, it is worth rinsing it first. Thereby remove gravel and loose dirt on the bike frame. Just use a garden hose to spray the equipment from top to bottom and manually remove large chunks of dirt stuck to the wheels. In this way, we will open the way for cleaners that will penetrate deeper, and this will provide better results.

Mistake 2 - Washing on the left side

The bike has two sides - right and left, which are looked after in different ways. Right side requires regular lubrication, it includes, among other things, gears and chains. The left one is, for example, brakes and accessories very sensitive to all kinds of grease and dirtthat affect their correct operation. The main mistake here is to wash the bike on the left, non-driven side, because this leads to the fact that water during the wash, along with grease and dirt, flows down to the right (driven) side.

So how do you wash your bike? We always wash our bike on the right side.whether you bathe standing up or lying down. So we will reduce the risk of dirt getting on the discs. This is very important because greasy dirt on the brakes simply means they can stop braking and make noise. Therefore, just in case, it is recommended to lightly sprinkle the discs with water at the end or gently wipe the parts of the brake system with a damp cloth to get rid of accumulations.

Mistake 3 - Incorrect use of high pressure cleaners

photo: bike washed with pressure washer

Pressure washers are a quick way to clean your bike—they're small, handy, and give great results.. Especially popular here the smallest washing machine Kärcher K Mini (click to see prices and reviews >>), which has a power of 110 bar, allows you to quickly clean the bike, and also allows you to accurately direct the water jet to the desired area, so you can easily bypass the sensitive elements. However, if used incorrectly, they can damage components, but you just need to remember a few simple rules. 

The main mistake is to direct the jet of water at moving parts that have lubrication (bearing elements or seals), as high pressure can wash it out. Water causes the seals to open, which enters the bearing with all the dirt, which forces the bearing to be dismantled, cleaned and lubricated.

How to wash a bike in a pressure washer? First of all, wash the bike at a certain distance (preferably more than the recommended 30 cm), and direct the water at an angle, not directly on the bearings and shock absorbers, but in the case of an electric bike, on the joints. Particular attention should be paid to the headset, because there is a gap in which dirt can easily penetrate - here it is good to direct the jet from above.

Mistake 4 - Washing only with water and a brush

If the car is very dirty, wash it with plenty of water first and then focus on the details. Choose the right detergents, because washing with water alone is not enough (except for high-pressure cleaners, because pressure works here). You can consider active foam products that you simply spray on the dirt, wait and rinse, or special brushes that deform and adjust to the curves of the bike, making it easier to remove dirt from hard-to-reach places, such as around the drive.

How to wash a bike with detergent? If liquid is used, then dampen the sponge with a mixture of water and detergent. Then we rub the dirty area, often gently rinsing it with fresh water. We make sure that we do not allow contact with the brakes so as not to damage them.

Error 5 - skipping the final drain

Just as important as rinsing before washing, it is important to dry the bike last. It would be a mistake to let a wet bike dry on its own. First of all, get rid of excess water - for this, it is enough to dynamically raise and lower the bike several times, as well as unwind the handle back. More importantly, the components should be gently cleaned with a dry cloth and lubricated immediately.

At the end let's make sure to wash the whole bike. Not to be overlooked are the lighting, fenders, luggage rack and steering wheel. The most attention should be paid to switches, brake levers and grips. Shock absorbers also require thorough cleaning and it is best to wipe them with a rag after each ride.

Źródła:

- https://www.kaercher.com/pl/home-garden/poradnik-zastosowan/jak-i-czego-wyczyscic-rower-domowe-mycie-roweru.html

– The main mistakes when washing a bike. How to wash a bike so as not to harm it? https://youtu.be/xyS8VV8s0Fs