josh_whit Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 Hi all I'm pretty new to the mtb scene and am looking for some advice. I was informed that Dirt Nurse (pink one) can damage the resin in carbon frames. Is this true. The same guy reckons some soaps can damage kashima coating. I find this hard to believe though. Anyway, looking for an eco-friendly and affordable soap that is safe on all materials found on bicycles. Thanks in advance! Joshua
JBK Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 You're gonna get loads of comments and should search these forums for previous discussions... As always, my suggestion is ecologic - non toxic, non corrosive and food safe - that kinda says it all... https://stealthhealth.co.za/ecologic/ Steady Spin 1
Steady Spin Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 Never had issues with Dirt Nurse on any of our carbon bikes and also no issues on forks, shocks, or dropper posts. I switched to Ecologic recently. Superb product. As with everything you should read the instructions and don’t let the product sit on the bike for too long. JBK 1
Grease_Monkey Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 No soap is going to damage your frame or kashima coating. It's not like you leave it on the frame for ages anyway. When looking for a soap the only thing you should really consider is that it does not degrease your bearings. Eg: something like sunlight will. TNT1 1
Barry Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 You're gonna get loads of comments and should search these forums for previous discussions... As always, my suggestion is ecologic - non toxic, non corrosive and food safe - that kinda says it all... https://stealthhealth.co.za/ecologic/+1 ecologic JBK 1
JBK Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 No soap is going to damage your frame or kashima coating. It's not like you leave it on the frame for ages anyway. When looking for a soap the only thing you should really consider is that it does not degrease your bearings. Eg: something like sunlight will.The biggest thing to consider is that it's non corrosive...
JBK Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 Ecologic starter bundle https://stealthhealth.co.za/product/ecologic-bulk-5l-with-750ml-trigger-pop-top/
Frosty Posted March 9, 2021 Posted March 9, 2021 To the OP, you mention eco-friendly, which is a term used loosely - many will refer that it's biodegradable, i.e. safe for the environment. Yes, but for how long? If a product's ingredients takes 24 days to break down, then it's not friendly to the environment from day 1 until day 24. Food-safe means it complies to a standard where certain ingredients can't have ingredients in it that could affect the taste of the food, eg. no moisturizer allowed in a hand soaps used to wash your hands, or no fragrance allowed in any cleaning agent. For your bike, used a water-based degreaser, with a pH as close to neutral as possible. Sunlight dishwash can be used, but you need warm water and some elbow grease to clean everything - a diluted degreaser will work better. Make sure you rinse everything after washing to get rid of any residue.Dilute a degreaser if you use one, really soiled items can be used neat, or 1:1. My supplier recommends 1:50 or 1:100. Ispeed_V 1
TNT1 Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 What on earth? Remember the bad old days when Johan Bornman told us all he'd leave a carbon fishing rod in a bucket of acetone for a week to show us all how robust carbon and resin is? What could possibly be in a product sold as a bike wash that it would damage a carbon frame? I think the OP is confused here. Wannabe, GrahamS2, Wil6 and 5 others 8
Grease_Monkey Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 What on earth? Remember the bad old days when Johan Bornman told us all he'd leave a carbon fishing rod in a bucket of acetone for a week to show us all how robust carbon and resin is? What could possibly be in a product sold as a bike wash that it would damage a carbon frame? I think the OP is confused here. Exactly what I am thinking. Even with a super damaging product (if it exists), it's not like you leave it on for ages. My only concern with soap and washing in general is taking the grease off places it is supposed to be prematurely. Unless my bike really needs it I tend to just wipe it down with a soft brush between rides most of the time. Ever since I have started doing that and washing less I am finding I can get away with longer intervals before things need regreasing. TNT1 and ChrisF 2
PhilipV Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 Hi all I'm pretty new to the mtb scene and am looking for some advice. I was informed that Dirt Nurse (pink one) can damage the resin in carbon frames. Is this true. The same guy reckons some soaps can damage kashima coating. I find this hard to believe though. Anyway, looking for an eco-friendly and affordable soap that is safe on all materials found on bicycles. Thanks in advance! JoshuaStop lending your ears out to whomever gave you that advice. danievj and TNT1 2
Blokeonabike Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 Your bike will be properly covered in paint and a clear coat over that. So you'll have to find something that eats through a few layers of paint before it touches the carbon/resin. Don't worry about that, honestly if you feel comfortable with it getting on your hands you definitely shouldn't worry about it getting on your frame. I use a household product called "Pine gel" it works like a charm! Degreases properly if needed and also washes nicely if you dilute it.It's also water soluble and safe for the environment. Smells nice too.
Frosty Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 (edited) Your bike will be properly covered in paint and a clear coat over that. So you'll have to find something that eats through a few layers of paint before it touches the carbon/resin. Don't worry about that, honestly if you feel comfortable with it getting on your hands you definitely shouldn't worry about it getting on your frame. I use a household product called "Pine gel" it works like a charm! Degreases properly if needed and also washes nicely if you dilute it.It's also water soluble and safe for the environment. Smells nice too.Was waiting for someone to mention pine gel. It’s the biggest waste of money, and the chemical companies selling it are making thousands off people who think it’s amazing. There’s a pine fragrance and a pine oil - the latter is expensive and hard to get hold of. Chances are most companies are making it from pine fragrance, so you get a blob of gel with a nice smell. There are better, cheaper products out there that do a better job, and also water-based. Edited March 10, 2021 by Frosty JBK 1
Gen Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 We've always just used diluted Cleen Green Koos Likkewaan 1
JBK Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 We've always just used diluted Cleen GreenYou know that Cleen Green is corrosive...!! Has Sodium Hydroxide, caustic soda, and another acid with a name to long to type... Shouldn't be allowed within 10m of a bicycle... DieselnDust 1
Gen Posted March 10, 2021 Posted March 10, 2021 (edited) You know that Cleen Green is corrosive...!! Has Sodium Hydroxide, caustic soda, and another acid with a name to long to type... Shouldn't be allowed within 10m of a bicycle...Well guess not using it anymore then.. But most soaps have Sodium Hydroxide in it though? At this point it would probably be best to use a vacuum cleaner though Edited March 10, 2021 by Gen
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