Washing up liquid for bike washing

Anything you like about motorbikes
Supermofo
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4246 times
Been thanked: 2757 times

Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Supermofo »

Seems its not as bad as everyone says. I've not used it for years as everyone says it rots your bike but seems maybe that's just one of them Internet myths.

User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 4854
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1448 times
Been thanked: 1331 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by ZRX61 »

Most dish soap is around 50% salt.. & is designed to remove oil/wax.

https://www.reference.com/world-view/in ... 0fa388c941

quote:
Some of the ingredients that are found in Dawn dish soap include methylisothiazolinone, sd alcohol, sodium chloride, sodium laureth sulfate and magnesium chloride
User avatar
Scotsrich
Posts: 780
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:46 am
Location: East Lothian
Has thanked: 71 times
Been thanked: 537 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Scotsrich »

I debated with myself for years about using cleaners that might damage my bike.

In the end I decided the safest option was just not to wash it :mrgreen:
User avatar
MingtheMerciless
Posts: 3462
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:42 am
Location: Scarfolk on Sea
Has thanked: 2914 times
Been thanked: 1846 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by MingtheMerciless »

I use Zymol, Auto Wash Original. No added salt, coconut bark soap and oil based, it smells nice, cleans the car well and doesn't strip off the wax.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
Supermofo
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4246 times
Been thanked: 2757 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Supermofo »

ZRX61 wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:41 pm Most dish soap is around 50% salt.. & is designed to remove oil/wax.

https://www.reference.com/world-view/in ... 0fa388c941

quote:
Some of the ingredients that are found in Dawn dish soap include methylisothiazolinone, sd alcohol, sodium chloride, sodium laureth sulfate and magnesium chloride
Did you watch the video?
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 22951
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5503 times
Been thanked: 12760 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by weeksy »

66 cleaners.... even i can't watch that.... But.... what's the best then ?

What makes him an expert by the way ?
User avatar
MingtheMerciless
Posts: 3462
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:42 am
Location: Scarfolk on Sea
Has thanked: 2914 times
Been thanked: 1846 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by MingtheMerciless »

weeksy wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:51 am 66 cleaners.... even i can't watch that.... But.... what's the best then ?

What makes him an expert by the way ?
Certainly not being sponsored by the slimy toads of Bennetts.
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
Supermofo
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4246 times
Been thanked: 2757 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Supermofo »

MingtheMerciless wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:46 am I use Zymol, Auto Wash Original. No added salt, coconut bark soap and oil based, it smells nice, cleans the car well and doesn't strip off the wax.
I used to use Sdoc and Maguires. Sdoc is £££s though, if very good.

I then switched to W5 Citrus cleaner after OCD recommended it. It's much cheaper but after a couple of years I might go back, it does the job but not as well and a couple of times it's left staining which has come off but a pain.

Even after watching this I think I might stick with Sdoc and Maguires. But it does a through job of proving that washing up liquid, or at least the Aldi one is fine
Supermofo
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4246 times
Been thanked: 2757 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Supermofo »

weeksy wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:51 am 66 cleaners.... even i can't watch that.... But.... what's the best then ?

What makes him an expert by the way ?
Most of the video is how he tested, not each test. Then groups into these are best, these are worse. The tests are fairly extreme and test if a cleaner will damage finishes if left on.

Sdoc100 was best or washing up liquid.

As he'd heard such bad things about washing up liquid he spoke to a professor of corrosion and carried out some tests himself and found that it appears fine

He's not a cleaning/detailing expert but just doing scientific type testing.
User avatar
Cousin Jack
Posts: 4283
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:36 pm
Location: Down in the Duchy
Has thanked: 2560 times
Been thanked: 2183 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Cousin Jack »

Supermofo wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:03 am He's not a cleaning/detailing expert but just doing scientific type testing.

Testing? TESTING?

We don't do testing, we prefer hearsay and rumour (and of course Internet 'facts')
Cornish Tart #1

Remember An Gof!
Supermofo
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4246 times
Been thanked: 2757 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Supermofo »

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:59 am
Supermofo wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:03 am He's not a cleaning/detailing expert but just doing scientific type testing.

Testing? TESTING?

We don't do testing, we prefer hearsay and rumour (and of course Internet 'facts')
I think that's what I like about his tests, similar to the one on corrosion protectors he went to a lot of effort to see which worked. And with bike stuff often all we get is hearsay which snowballs into fact.
User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 4854
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1448 times
Been thanked: 1331 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by ZRX61 »

Supermofo wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:49 am Did you watch the video?
Yes, he tested one dish soap. I also posted the main ingredients of Dawn which clearly shows salt...
User avatar
scottyuk
Posts: 227
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 6:43 pm
Has thanked: 168 times
Been thanked: 257 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by scottyuk »

I'm not watching it in case my recent purchase isn't high up the list :lol:
20210217_072522 (Custom).jpg
20210217_072522 (Custom).jpg (26.64 KiB) Viewed 1018 times
User avatar
ZRX61
Posts: 4854
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:05 pm
Location: Solar Blight Valley
Has thanked: 1448 times
Been thanked: 1331 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by ZRX61 »

Living in SoCal only requires the occasional fritz with instant detailer & waxing maybe once or twice a year. My ZRX hasn't once been washed with soapy water since I bought it home on May 7th 1999. It's also totally bereft of corrosion :)
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 11868
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9688 times
Been thanked: 9704 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Skub »

scottyuk wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:34 pm I'm not watching it in case my recent purchase isn't high up the list :lol:

20210217_072522 (Custom).jpg
I use that stuff too,it seemed to do well in the test.

Like him,I don't use any cleaner on my lid or visor,a damp bit of kitchen roll and leave to soak.

An interesting vid.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Scootabout
Posts: 568
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2020 10:41 pm
Has thanked: 469 times
Been thanked: 308 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Scootabout »

Had to trawl through a fair bit to get to the part where he said the Muc-off stuff I've been using for years is OK.
As for w-up liquid, all very well but how to apply it? Can't put it on neat. If diluted it's likely to create lots of suds.
Supermofo
Posts: 4889
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
Has thanked: 4246 times
Been thanked: 2757 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Supermofo »

Scootabout wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 10:43 pm Had to trawl through a fair bit to get to the part where he said the Muc-off stuff I've been using for years is OK.
As for w-up liquid, all very well but how to apply it? Can't put it on neat. If diluted it's likely to create lots of suds.
I think he stuck it in a spray bottle and diluted it. It was at the end of vid when he washed his bike, think he said something like 10 to 1.
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13264
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15610 times
Been thanked: 9850 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Taipan »

I need to get some bike cleaner. i normally use paraffin but the wife moans it stinks for days afterwards! :roll: Anyone used the Motul stuff?
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16279
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10117 times
Been thanked: 6649 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by Yorick »

Taipan wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:48 am I need to get some bike cleaner. i normally use paraffin but the wife moans it stinks for days afterwards! :roll: Anyone used the Motul stuff?
Do you wash it in the house?
User avatar
DefTrap
Posts: 4339
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
Has thanked: 2269 times
Been thanked: 2088 times

Re: Washing up liquid for bike washing

Post by DefTrap »

I use paraffin for the oily stuff and just washing up liquid or even clothes-washing soap for general dust, mud and rain. About twice a year. I used to stretch to 3 because everyone washes their vehicle before an MOT right? But we don't have bike MOTs over here.

If I had a really nice almost new vehicle I'd be remotely bothered if any of these products were slightly better.