Interview on the subject of bike cleaners: "Not all dirt is the same!"

Our Test of twelve bike cleaners clearly shows that there are major differences between the individual products. What makes a good cleaner and how do organic products differ from standard products? We asked Hartmut Hauber, Head of Application Technology at Dr. O.K. Wack Chemie GmbH, to find out. Hauber has decades of experience in the development and testing of cleaning and care products. He also sits on chemical industry committees that regularly discuss developments and test procedures.

Interview with Hartmut Hauber about bicycle cleaners

TOUR: What makes a good bike cleaner?

Hartmut Hauber: An optimum bike cleaner is able to remove all dirt automatically without mechanical assistance, i.e. road dust as well as grease and oil stains. At the same time, the bike cleaner is very gentle on all surfaces and materials.

TOUR: Are there different requirements for the cleaner depending on the type of bike?

Hartmut Hauber: Soiling in the bicycle sector is similar depending on the type. Although there are certain differences, e.g. between cross and road bikes, there are no fundamentally different types of dirt. The requirements are therefore the same. There are no special bike cleaners on the market for racing bikes, e-bikes or cross bikes.

TOUR: What should I look out for when using the cleaner?

Hartmut Hauber: Always follow the instructions for use! These include: rinse the cleaner thoroughly, do not use on hot surfaces or in the blazing sun, do not use home remedies or secret tips. Only quality products are designed for bicycle cleaning and have the necessary material compatibility.

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Differences between different cleaners

TOUR: What is the difference between organic and standard cleaners?

Hartmut Hauber: The raw materials for organic cleaners are usually made from natural or renewable raw materials, for example sunflower oil, rapeseed oil or similar. There are also organic bike cleaners that use bottles and labels made from recycled plastic. A high-quality organic bike cleaner has the same cleaning effect and material compatibility as a standard bike cleaner. The assumption of many customers that organic is more expensive and worse is fundamentally incorrect.

TOUR: What is the difference between bike and car cleaners?

Hartmut Hauber: Not all dirt is the same, the dirt on bicycles and cars is different. When cleaning bicycles, you have to reckon with more oil and grease stains, whereas cars often have stubborn insect stains, especially on the front. Bicycle cleaners are usually sprayed on undiluted and rinsed off after a certain contact time. Effective bicycle cleaners work automatically and only require mechanical support in the case of very stubborn dirt. Car shampoos, on the other hand, are usually concentrates that are not used pure, but diluted. As a rule, the car is always cleaned with the mechanical support of a sponge or washing glove.

TOUR: Many people wash their bikes with washing-up liquid. Is that an alternative?

Hartmut Hauber: Classic washing-up liquid is designed for household soiling. Soiling in the bicycle sector is sometimes completely different. As a rule, washing-up liquid is always used in diluted form. This automatically requires mechanical support, which entails a risk of scratching sensitive surfaces. Self-acting cleaning (spray on, soak in, rinse off) is not possible with washing-up liquid. Washing-up liquid is also not designed for sensitive surfaces on bicycles. For example, washing-up liquid can attack polycarbonate or Plexiglas on headlights or rear lights and cause stress corrosion cracking.