How To Wash Your Bike (And Keep It Clean Longer) - Before you begin, remove the high-pressure nozzle from your hose because a powerful spray forces water where you don't want it. Instead, just use the hose for rinsing, letting the water run over the bike from the top, never from the side (also, don't invert the bike). Then, fill a bucket with warm water and some mild detergent that makes lots of suds and round up an inexpensive sponge (you might also like some different size soft nylon brushes). If you have one, you can first spray a bike-cleaning solution designed to cut any dirt and grime on your bike finish and parts. To clean the bike, rinse first with the hose to loosen any dirt that would scratch the finish if you just started scrubbing, or use your bike-cleaner spray. Then dip the sponge in the soapy warm water and go over the bike cleaning it and all the parts thoroughly. If it's really dirty you may need to change the water and do it again. Rinse when done and then dry your bike with soft rags. Finally, lube the chain, cables and pivot points to expel any remaining moisture and keep things working smoothly. You can also apply a bike-specific polish to keep grime and dirt from building up as quickly.