New to bike care and not sure where to start? Or tired of cleaning your bike with kitchen products that aren't doing the job? Here's exactly what you need — and what you can skip.
The Essentials (Buy These)
You need five things to properly clean a bike. Everything else is a nice-to-have.
1. Foam Bike Wash The foundation of every clean. Choose a ready-to-use formula if you're doing individual washes, or a concentrate if you're cleaning frequently. It must be pH neutral and safe on carbon, aluminium and rubber.
2. Drivetrain Degreaser Non-negotiable if you care about your drivetrain. Foam wash alone will not cut through chain oil and dried lubricant. You need a dedicated degreaser for the chain, cassette and derailleurs.
3. Detailing Brush One good brush covers a lot of ground — cassette cogs, brake callipers, around cables, inside fork crowns. A brush with stiff nylon bristles on one end and softer bristles on the other handles both heavy grime and delicate areas.
4. Wash Mitt A dual-sided wash mitt protects painted and carbon surfaces during washing. The soft pile holds soapy water and cleans gently without introducing scratches. Don't use a sponge — sponges trap grit against the surface and create swirl marks.
5. Microfibre Drying Towel A large (400x400mm minimum) microfibre towel designed for bikes. Absorbs water fast, doesn't scratch, and leaves no lint behind.
The Upgrade (Buy Once You Have the Basics)
Ceramic Spray Wax: The single most impactful addition to a cleaning routine. Apply after every wash. Makes future cleaning faster and protects the frame long-term.
Tar & Contaminant Remover: For road cyclists especially, road tar is an occasional problem that regular wash can't handle. One bottle lasts a long time.
Iron & Rust Remover: Particularly valuable for cyclists with disc brakes (heavy brake dust) or coastal riders (salt air). Quarterly application keeps iron contamination under control.
Skip These (For Now)
- Frame protection tape — useful eventually but not a cleaning product
- Chain cleaning devices — nice but a brush and degreaser do the same job
- Dedicated spoke cleaner — regular bike wash handles spokes fine
The Smart Buy: A Complete Kit
If you want everything in one go, the Cyclone Customs 7-in-1 Bike Cleaning Combo covers the full cleaning process — wash, degrease and detail — and costs significantly less than buying individual products. It's the fastest way to get properly set up and is designed specifically for South African conditions.
Storing Your Products
Keep cleaning products out of direct sunlight and away from extreme heat — the Highveld summer heat in a garage or car boot can degrade certain formulations over time. A cool, shaded storage area is all you need. Most products have a shelf life of 2–3 years properly stored.