How to wash an e-bike?
Do you want to keep your electric bike always performing and make it last a long time? Find out with our tips how to wash an e-bike effectively and safely.
An electric bike is not like a traditional bicycle, so special care must be taken when cleaning it. That’s why we decided to dedicate an article on how to wash an e-bike. By following our advice, you can polish your pedal-assisted bike quickly and without causing damage. Electric bicycles, in fact, have parts such as the motor and the battery that can be damaged if they are not washed properly. Let’s get the best bmx bikes!
How to wash an e-bike: Everything you need
Before seeing how to wash an e-bike, it is a good idea to equip yourself with everything you need to clean your pedal-assisted bicycle. To make your work easier, we have prepared a list of what you need.
Here is what you need to wash the e-bike:
- A sponge
- A soft brush
- A microfiber cloth
- A cleaner
- Lubricating oil for the chain
You can buy everything you need in a specialized or hobby shop. To clean an electric bicycle, it is better to avoid using a pressure washer precisely in order not to damage the most delicate parts of the vehicle. The pressure of the pressure washer, in fact, can cause dirt to penetrate into the cracks of the frame, the battery, and the engine.
How to wash an e-bike: The different phases
Mud, dirt, and sand are your bike’s worst enemies. Let’s now move on to cleaning the electric bicycle, seeing step by step the different operations you need to perform:
Remove the battery and display
First of all, put your e-bike on a stand and then disconnect the battery and the display. If these two items cannot be removed, cover them well so that they do not get wet during washing.
Wash the e-bike
Take the brush, microfiber cloth, cleaner, and water. Then, apply the cleaner to the dirty parts of the electric bicycle, helping you with the brush in the areas where the dirt is most. Clean the frame and the chain, leaving the transmission for last, which, being the part closest to the engine, deserves special attention to clean it at its best. Remember to always wash the e-bike from top to bottom. Then, move on to the wheels, which are best removed from the bike so you can clean them more thoroughly. Once removed, wipe with the sponge soaked in water and detergent.
A tip: choose a non-aggressive detergent that does not contain ammonia so as not to damage the aluminum. On the market, you can find specific products for cleaning e-bikes made with polyvalent formulas that make them suitable for washing carbon and aluminum bikes and all painted surfaces.
Rinse well
After soaping the electric bike, you need to rinse it thoroughly. You can use the water hose, but always with a low-pressure jet. Also, the rinsing phase of the e-bike always proceeds from top to bottom. Once you’ve rinsed the bike, switch to the wheels.
Dry the e-bike
Once you have finished rinsing your electric bicycle, all you have to do is dry it with a clean microfibre cloth, wiping it carefully in every corner. When you finish this operation, always clean the battery and the display with a clean cloth and then mount them back on the e-bike. Now you just have to reassemble the wheels.
Lubricate the chain
To complete the job, you need to lubricate the chain of your electric bicycle with specific lubricating oil. During this operation, make sure that the lubricant does not get on the brakes. To remove excess lubricant, you can help yourself with a rag.
See, it’s not that complicated to wash an e-bike and this job won’t take you a lot of time. Thirty minutes are enough for a thorough wash. Washing the e-bike is essential to always keep it efficient and make it last longer, but it is also important to take care of the clothing and equipment you use when you ride a bike. Therefore, now we will give you some advice on how to wash a helmet, shoes and bike bottle.
How to wash a bike helmet
The helmet can save your life and having to wear it on your head is always a good idea to take care of it. Even if the Highway Code does not oblige you to use a helmet when you are driving your e-bike, it would be a good rule to always wear it. Therefore, its cleaning is also important and now we will see how to wash a bicycle helmet in the best possible way.
First, you need to get:
- A basin
- A detergent can also be used for dishes
- A specific cleaner to clean the outside of the helmet
- A clean rag
Once you have everything you need, proceed as follows:
Prepare the basin
Fill the bowl half full with room temperature water and then pour in a small amount of dish detergent.
Wash the helmet straps
Leave the helmet straps to soak in the basin for at least 5 minutes. Then, rub them in water to get rid of dirt and sweat. After you’ve scrubbed them thoroughly, all you have to do is squeeze them so that all the dirty water comes out.
Clean the inside of the helmet
The inner shell is the part of the helmet that tends to absorb the most dirt and sweat and should be cleaned more carefully. To wash it, dip the clean rag into the bowl and then wipe the inside of the hood to get rid of all the dirt.
Clean the outside of the helmet
To clean the outer shell, you can use a degreaser for helmets and spray the product to cover the entire outer surface of the helmet. Then, take a clean cloth and wipe it over the outer shell to get rid of any residue of the sprayed product.
Finally, all you have to do is dry the helmet. Just leave it in the open air so it can dry as well as possible. However, avoid putting it in the sun.
Wash cycling shoes
Even for shoes, mud and dirt are the worst enemies. Now let’s see how to wash cycling shoes so that they are always in excellent condition and last longer. If they’re not particularly dirty, just wipe them with a damp cloth. If, on the other hand, they are dirty with mud, you have to immerse them in a container always with water and washing up liquid. But first, remember to remove the insoles and loosen the snags and buckles. Then, with a brush, scrub them gently, but in order to clean them properly. After scrubbing them, rinse them in cold water and let them dry.
Finally, let’s talk about how to wash your bike bottle to eliminate any germs and bacteria that can cause unpleasant problems, such as intestinal problems. It is, therefore, an operation that should not be underestimated and must be carried out with extreme care. The bottle must first be cleaned to remove dirt and then sterilized. To clean and sanitize the bottle, you can use the amusing disinfectant tablets or even the microwave.
With our advice on how to wash an e-bike, helmet, shoes, and water bottle, you and your electric bike will always be ready to tackle any path.
Keep Reading: How To Assemble A Bicycle Wheel?
