Keeping your bike clean is a necessity if you want it to run smoothly throughout the year. This can mean a wipe over with a sponge and the application of some chain lube from time to time, but if you want a quiet ride with crisp shifting then you'll need to do a little more - and you’ll need the right equipment to do it.
The best bike cleaning kits allow you to tackle the major jobs and do it with less mess and greater precision. It starts with cleaning the drive chain, which not only makes it purr when in use but also prolongs the life of some pretty expensive parts. Here you’ll need a quality degreaser, specially designed brushes for the cassette and maybe even a chain cleaning aid - and of course a good lube to apply to the chain after it's been cleaned.
If you’re unsure of how best to clean your bike then you can check out our guide for some helpful tips. If you’re ready to roll but unsure of the right cleaning kit for you, then the following products have been selected by us as some of the best on the market.
The Muc-Off kit contains all you need to keep your bike running smoothly, including four brushes and a sponge plus its biodegradable Nano Tech cleaner.
With 11 different elements this is a kit full of variety, including a wash mitt, sponge and drying cloth. The cleaners, degreasers and lubes are all environmentally friendly, too.
Muc Off is the market leader - and it's easy to see why. We awarded this kit a 10/10 when we reviewed it Cycling Weekly magazine.
It comes with Muc Off's famous pink Nano Tech Cleaner, which the brand claims is the most effective formula out there, and it's biodegradable. You also get a bottle of 'Bike Spray' for post-wash protection against rust and corrosion.
The set contains four brushes and a sponge, and the box counts as one of the 'eight' - so the actual cleaning product to equipment ratio is quite low, and though the Bike Spray is a start, you'll need to purchase chain lube separately - but this will certainly set you up for long term bike care.
Weldtite's cleaning kit comes with all the basics you need to get to grips with bike maintenance - a litre of the Dirtwash Bike Cleaner, plus a sprocket brush to make sure you get into the nooks and crannies.
There's a lubricant spray, and an ceramic lube, which has replaced the all-weather lube we reviewed in the updated kit. Both help to ensure your results last and keep rust at bay - and there's a cleaning cloth to help get the job done.
This is a "mini" set, ideal if you're getting started and don't want to spend too much, or are perhaps low on storage space - though it's worth bearing in mind that smaller products mean more frequent refills and more packaging.
This set contains 500ml of Bikehut Cleaner, 250ml of Bikehut Degreaser, 100ml Bikehut All Weather Lube and a sponge.
Best for extras
Juice Lubes Scrub 'n' Buff Kit
Best for extras
Specifications
Number of items: 5
Reasons to buy
+
Includes frame protector spray
+
Cleaner dilutes to large volume
+
Chain cleaning tool
Reasons to avoid
-
Quite small volumes of some products
Juice Lubes make some great kit - and this set should have all your needs sorted.
The set contains some swanky additional extras you don't get elsewhere - such as the 'frame polish and protector' to complete the job.
You also get a bottle of degreaser, basic cleaner - which dilutes to create 10 litres of product, chain lube and a chain cleaner so you can get your silverware truly sparkling.
Best for variety
(Image credit: David Glover)
Crankalicious cleaning kit
Best for variety
Specifications
Number of items: 11
Reasons to buy
+
Very comprehensive kit
+
Good discount to price of products individually
Reasons to avoid
-
Pricy
-
May not have use for come products like the leather and vinyl cleaner
Crankalicious is a brand born from its creators' combined experience in automotive care and love of cycling. They aim to create effective products, with limited environmental impact - and most of them look and smell great, too - which is always a plus.
You'll save some money buying the set too, with the kit coming in around 20% less than if you bought all the products individually.
You'll get a litre of Pineapple Express spray wash, 500ml of Mud Honey bucket wash, 500ml of Limon Velo degreaser, Mayo Jaune frame polish, Gumchained Remedy chain cleaner, Epic Hide leather and Vinyl cleanser, Like Pneu tyre cleaner (100ml each) - plus a wash mitt, sponge and drying cloth. Basically - all bases well and truly covered.
Best bike cleaning kits buyers guide
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What basics do I need to clean my bike?
Most sets will come with a basic frame cleaning product that will help remove dirt and oil - ideally in concentrate form, so you can mix water with it at each wash.
A degreaser is vital - you won't your drivechain clean without one. Some bike cleaning products can be used in concentrate form as a degreaser, whilst other brands will supply a separate product. Either way, this is used to cut through built up oil and grease on the chain, chainset and cassette. You'll also want to clean the jockey wheels on your rear mech.
There's no point getting your bike sparkling clean, and putting it away without lube - the result will be miles of noisy pedalling, and even rust.
Apply a small drop of chain lube to each link - ideally opting for a "dry lube" in sunny conditions, and "wet lube" if you expect rain. Read our post on Wet or dry: which chain lube should you use? for more info.
Do I need bike-specific brushes to clean my bike?
Often a bike cleaning kit will contain one or more brushes. Bikes are full of awkward-to-reach nooks and crannies - around the drivetrain, brakes and behind the bottom bracket are particularly awkward to get to. A collection of brushes to get to these places is useful, but even one purpose-designed brush will go a long way. A chain cleaning device is also really handy to make keeping your chain clean that bit easier.
Be careful not to use a brush you've used on your drivetrain on your frame afterwards, or you'll end up with hard-to-remove oil stains on your frame. So keep a brush that's only used for cleaning your derailleurs or expect to give it a thorough clean before using it elsewhere on your bike.
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Like so many, Matt got his start in the bicycle industry wheedling allen keys and the occasional hammer at his local IBD. Matt grew up mountain biking the flint-strewn hills of the North Downs but was convinced during his time with Evans Cycles' in-house brand Pinnacle and Hoy Bikes, to take up gravel cycling and bikepacking. Spotting the changing industry, Matt jumped at the opportunity to become an E-Bike designer. Winning several awards with Cairn Cycles and their range of Gravel E-bikes.
These days Matt will more than likely have a toddler sat shotgun and balance bike lassoed to his back somewhere on the South Downs. What time he does get to ride for himself, he chooses to take his Sonder Camino to just about anywhere that's quiet, off the beaten track or has some historical point of interest.
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