[richardj]

Any recommendations for cleaning light-colored sidewalls? (Please, no lectures about how righteous dudes let their bikes stay dirty.)

 

[qmsdc15]

I remove my wheels and wash the rims/tires in the bath tub with a bucket of soapy water and a nylon bristle brush.

 

[Poolie]

Welcome!

I don't have an answer for ya, so I'm also interested in what others have to say. I would think something like 'Simply Green' and depending on how dirty, a scrub brush would work well. Many of us on the site have bikes clean enough to eat off of so I don't think anyone will give you grief.

 

[rola643]

I have white hoods and until recently white sidewall tires and use Purple Power Citrus cleaner and a scotch brite pad. Always done the trick for me

 

[qmsdc15]

Citrus cleaner is an organic solvent. Personally I wouldn't it use on rubber, but it maybe OK. Simple green is more of a detergent I believe and probably safer.

Washing with soap and water as I do will probably not remove stains from light colored sidewalls, but it will clean them, which is what Richard asked about.

 

[davereo]

Our friends at Kimberly Clark make a product called "WypAll". They are hand cleaner towelettes that work great on white bar tape and white wall tires. Removes chain tattoo like it was never there also. I have been using them for about 5 years and never had any problems. I keep a few folded up in a ziplock bag stored in my saddle bag to clean up road side after any road side maintenance.

 

[richardj]

Our friends at Kimberly Clark make a product called "WypAll". They are hand cleaner towelettes that work great on white bar tape and white wall tires. Removes chain tattoo like it was never there also. I have been using them for about 5 years and never had any problems. I keep a few folded up in a ziplock bag stored in my saddle bag to clean up road side after any road side maintenance.

That sounds like what I'm looking for. If they work as you described, I may go back to white bar tape.

 

[richardj]

Update: WypAll cloth plus Simple Green is helping a lot. It takes more scrubbing than it would with a heavy-duty solvent, but I would like to avoid using those on my tires.