DMF wrote:I don't ever wash a bike with a hose of any sort, let alone a pressure washer. That is what kills bearings, not the part where you clean your bike every day. I found the most effective method for "dry cleaning" a bike to be baby wipes, the cheapest ones seem more effective, might not actually use those on an actual baby though.
What that method is a all about, is getting in a routine and being smart about it, i.e not using the wipe as a rag but more as a tool... For instance threading it thru a brake or derailleur and tugging on the ends, the same around tubes. Think dental floss...
Did I mention this is done in the living room with a minimum of floor cleanup up afterwards?
+1 on all that, though I do it outside
if pushed for time, baby wipe the crap out of the chain, the chainrings, and the jockey wheels, then re-lube
With more time, do as above, plus sponge, warm water and washing up liquid to clean everything else.
And remove cassette to clean individual sprockets