Cleaning your wheels?

[Tim Kelley]

Does anybody have any good tips on cleaning your rims? All this winter muck has left a greasy film on my rims and I don’t have as much stopping power as before.

The other issue is that I live in a condo and don’t have access to a water hose or much space to get things dirty.

[Unregistered]

It’s important to keep wheel rims and brake pads clean, especially if you have rim brakes.

If nothing else, wipe off your wet rims and brake pads with a rag when you return from a wet ride.

You should also damp wipe clean your rims and brake pads regularly. A rag, pail of water, and mild detergent is all that’s needed.

Allen Muchnick

[Unregistered]

I clean my rims with the same cleaner that I used for the bike frame. I don’t remember the brand — it’s a pink cleaning solution that I got at the bike shop.

I live in a small condo. In good weather I clean my bike out on the balcony, although I’ll clean and lube the chain indoors. For indoor cleaning it’s best to put down some kind of dropcloth (I use an old vinyl shower curtain), or do it in a room that has an easy-to-clean floor.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

I’ve discovered that orange oil furniture oil works fantastic as a degreaser for general frame and wheel cleaning. It’s advantage is that it’s not water based. It’s also great at degreasing a chain, but you have to use something else to take off the orange oil. Orange oil on the chain might look like a great lubricant at first, but it’s a magnet for accumulating road grit in a chain. I went through a chain pretty fast before I figured that one out.

[Dirt]

Late coming to this thread.

I use a bucket of hot water with dish washing soap and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush. Get the whole bike wet, then I brush down the frame. Clean the wheels. If I’m cleaning the drivetrain, I’ll get a second brush with stiffer bristles and use it on the drive train.

Just make sure you don’t use the same brush on the drivetrain that you use on the rims. You’ll grease up your brakes quite nicely.

Rinse it lightly, wipe off the excess water with an old towel and you’re good to go. As always, don’t spray a jet of water against any bearings (Headset, bottom bracket, hubs).

LOve,

PEte

[Author]

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