Cleaning is a given duty anytime and anywhere, whatever the thing or situation is involved. You need to keep your stuff spotless to maximize its functionality and life span. This is true in owning mountain bikes. You need to hose down the dirt before tucking it away, ready for your next adventure.

Many manuals do not elaborate on how to clean a mountain bike. The good thing is that you now have the world wide web to consult on the proper ways to do it. Bike experts are also keen to share upkeep tips with fellow biking enthusiasts through cyberspace.

Pre-Cleaning Prep

Some people think that cleaning their bikes in the backyard using soapy water and brush would be enough. But the thing is, you need to clean your mountain bike efficiently. Preparation is vital in anything.

Find a spot where you can clean your mountain bike. This is easy when you live in a house, have a yard, and a garden hose. The situation is different if you reside in an apartment complex or living the van life. If you cannot find a bike washstand, look for bicycle shops that would let you do it there for free or for a fee.

Gather the tools and supplies that you will need. These include the following:

• Bike stand. This lets you set the bike in a height and position that are most comfortable to you.
• Water. Most bike experts recommend the use of the usual hose instead of high-pressure ones to deliver water. You can also get and pour water manually using a dipper and bucket if a garden hose is not available.
• Brushes. It would be ideal to have your brushes in different shapes and sizes for hard-to-reach places. You can get yourself a bike brush set. An old toothbrush would work too.
• Clean rags. Yes, you read it right―clean. Not only will you use this to wipe off oil, wax, and grease, the rag is also for drying the mountain bike when you are done.
• Soap or bike cleaner. If you are going to use soap, make sure to dilute it in water. It would be great if you could buy a bike wash shampoo.
• Degreaser. You need this product to remove the stain on gummy parts such as the bike chain.
• Chain Lubricant. Just like applying lotion for supple skin, applying either wet or dry lubricant on the chain will help prolong the drivetrain’s lifespan.

Frame Protectant, Lotion, or Polish. This will protect the paint and keep the frame looking shiny and new.

10 Steps Of How To Clean A Mountain Bike

Now that you have a place to do it and have gathered what you will need, let us get down to business. Do you want to know how to clean a mountain bike thoroughly? Read on for the systematic way to do it.

1. Position the bike in the stand at your desired height.
2. Using the hose or dipper, rinse down all the mud and dirt from all parts of the bike. You may want to step back to minimize the pressure that hits the bike and to keep yourself dry too.
3. Dip your brush on the soapy water or apply the shampoo and start scrubbing. Use the appropriate brush for the spaces you want to clean. You may want to start from the handlebars and then work your way down to the headset, top tube, seat post, seat stays, fork, and brakes.
4. Scrub off the dirt from the drivetrain, working your way from the chainstays down to the chainrings, cranks, and cogs.
5. Get the grime and stain off the cassette and derailleurs carefully, making sure not to miss a single spot.
6. Scrub the muck off the rims and tires.
7. When you are done scrubbing every part, rinse down thoroughly all the suds and dirt using the hose or dipper.
8. Pat the bike dry using your rag. You can use a blower to get the job done quicker too. This will also allow you to dry inaccessible spots.
9. Using a small brush, apply lubricant on the chain. Make sure to wipe off the excess product once it is done soaking in for a few minutes.
10. Apply the bike polish, lotion, or protectant on the frame using a cloth. See to it that it is evenly applied on all portions.

You can then tuck away your bike to a cool and dry place. Some bikers simply park it in the garage while others hang them in a wall rack or hanger to save space.

Extra Reminders

Listed below are useful nudges in cleaning your mountain bike:

• Allow your bike to get dirty before cleaning it thoroughly. It would not hurt the MTB to hold a bit of mud overnight. Washing the bike too often can even damage it.
• Warm water can help the soap or bike shampoo do a better job.
• Be careful when you use high-pressure hoses. Yes, they can rinse down dirt quickly. But too much pressure can cause damage to your bearing systems which are quite sensitive.
• Choose an environment-friendly solvent and dispose of it properly when you are done with the degreaser.
• Pick the appropriate chain lubricant for the conditions that you will be cycling the bike in. A dry lubricant is for a dry environment while a wet lubricant is for wet conditions. It should also be an oil specific for bicycles.
• When you apply lubricant, keep it away from the brake pads.
• If your mountain bike is fitted with disc brakes, keep brake pads and rotors away from the soap. You can use rubbing alcohol or a specific product to clean the rotors.

Wondering how to clean a mountain bike? Like how to clean every inch of it? You just read how to do so. A 15-minute quick clean-up will do when you are busy but the mountain bike deserves some tender loving care now and then.