Cleaning Bike Parts in the Dishwasher ?

[Sandersports]

Stripped down the training bike which has had a whole winter of abuse , which is still covered in salt and ste ..... Does it work putting the chainset , calipers , Rear & Front Mech through a standard cycle of the home dishwasher ?

Or am i busy really lazy in thinking of doing this ???

[SteveSteveson]

I wouldn't try it myself. It will strip all lubrication for a start(you may want this, but it may go deeper than you would want). I would then be worried about the damage the temperature would do to the finish and any plastic. I'm sure someone will be along in a moment saying they put their whole bike in once a week, but if it was me I would just leave them to soak in a bath of bike cleaner.

[rolex]

I think it would be okay as long as you put the parts in the tumble dryer afterwards. But don't do it late at night.

[rs4al]

Wouldn't the microwave be quieter and quicker to dry the parts off, especially if wrapped in tin foil...

[Fastpedeller]

If putting a bike in the washing machine, a folder (such as Brompton) is ideal, obviously folded! Beware of a fast spin cycle being too violent though

[Wacky Racer]

The "salts" in the dishwashing powder could corrode the aluminium parts, plus divorces are expensive when the Mrs finds out......

[craigthecoupe]

maybe a coke bath?

[Banana Boy]

What are you really trying to achieve, a quick clean or a deep clean?!

A good degreaser will work wonders in most situations. You could investigate parts washers and ultrasonic cleaning baths if you want to get into all the nooks and crannies etc.?!...

[Barchettaman]

Eh? Really?

A combination of wd-40, degreaser, rags and old toothbrushes will be safer and more effective.

[dudleybloke]

Burn the old oily crud off with an oxy torch.

[Timothy Claypole]

We 'ad it tough, we used to have to degrease t'chain wi'our tongues.

[Stickyfinger]

Force a Ginger kid to do it for you with a toothbrush

[BOR]

Buy a new set of parts.

[AndStilliRise]

Bike shops are full of horror stories of people jet washing their bikes. It removes all the lubricants, not recommended!

[Matt_N]

A guy I went to uni with stripped down his motorbike engine and put all the parts through the dishwasher, his Mum was not at all happy with him!

They came out well though.

[JEA1K]

Tell me you've been drinking ... I like my gear clean but that's nuts!

Get yourself the proper stuff you need to clean your bike and it's not that hard. If you get yourself a Fenwicks cleaning kit and a load of cleaning brushes, coupled with some elbow grease, you can have your bits looking like new in no time.

[SteveSteveson]

Matt_N said:

A guy I went to uni with stripped down his motorbike engine and put all the parts through the dishwasher, his Mum was not at all happy with him!

They came out well though.

It's not unusual with motorbike parts, but they are far stronger and more heat resistant than cycle parts, and apparently bikers have far more tolerant partners than cyclists. I hate to think what it does to the dishwasher.

[Sandersports]

Going to give it a go ... Lets see the Dura-Ace shine like its new.. It will be fine as long as i grease any moving parts after.

[Woody]

I contemplated putting my brake rotors in the dishwasher but thought better of it and just used brake cleaner and elbow grease....

Edited by Woody on Tuesday 7th March 12:32

[AyBee]

Sandersports said:

Going to give it a go ... Lets see the Dura-Ace shine like its new.. It will be fine as long as i grease any moving parts after.

Remember to take pictures