You may not give much thought to the products you use to clean your motorcycle, but not all cleaners are created equal. Some cleaning products and greases can be harmful to the environment, leaking pollutants into the water and soil. Others will outright damage your motorcycle.
Worse yet, some cleaning products contain chemicals that can be hazardous to your health, including naphthalene, which can damage your reproductive, respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. Others contain cancer-causing carcinogens like Perchloroethylene and Methylene Chloride. Using the wrong type of cleaning product can affect your ability to drive a motorcycle. You should always wear a Bluetooth motorcycle headset when riding to call for help in an emergency.
So, what are the best motorcycle cleaning products for your health and the environment? Use this guide to find out.
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What are Eco-Friendly Motorcycle Cleaning Products Made Of?
Finding the right cleaning products isn’t always easy, so it’s best to know what you’re looking for when shopping online or in person. The good news is that you don’t have to settle for a subpar cleaner just to save the plant. Eco-friendly cleaners tend to be just as good, if not better, as synthetic cleaners when it comes to removing dirt and grime.
Look for biodegradable cleaning products that can be broken down naturally in the environment. It should be free of synthetic detergents and chemicals that take up to a hundred years to break down.
Using biodegradable cleaning products will limit your impact on the environment. You don’t have to worry about releasing harmful toxins into the earth. If you’re going for 100% biodegradable, we recommend the following products:
Muc-Off Nano Tech Bike Cleaner
This cleaner is perfect for getting all sorts of dirt and debris off the sides of your motorcycle. For the best results, get your bike wet with a little bit of water let the cleaner sit for around five minutes before you start scrubbing. It comes in a pack that includes everything you need to wash your bike, including brushes and sponges.
Motul E2 Motowash
This is an all-surface bike cleaner that’s free of synthetic ingredients. It comes with a strong spray nozzle that will break up dirt and mud. You can also use it to shield your bike from rust and corrosion.
BikeCare Gel Motorcycle Cleaner
If you’re an avid rider with a motorcycle that never stays clean, go for the BikeCare supply bottle. It’s the best bang for your buck with five liters of cleaner. Completely biodegradable and tough on stains, it will last you several years or more.
Gtechniq W5 Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner
Citrus-based cleaners are known for their ability to cut through nasty smells and stuck-on stains. You can use it on any surface without damaging your paint job. Leave it on for three to five minutes for the best results.
There are lots of quality biodegradable motorcycle cleaners on the market to choose from, but not polluting the environment is only half the battle. If you’re serious about limiting your impact on the environment, you should also buy cleaners from companies that make a concerted effort to limit their impact as well. This may include using 100% recycled materials, limiting how much waste they send to the landfill, or conserving water and energy usage. Research the manufacturer or retailer in question to learn more about their business practices and stance on the environment.
That’s why we recommend using this motorcycle cleaner from Fragile Earth. It’s concentrated to reduce waste. Just add a small amount to a reusable spray bottle filled with water and you’ll be good to go. Their products contain beneficial bacterial cultures, enzymes, and plant oils that help protect and restore the environment. They turn toxic pollutants in the environment into harmless substances that degrade naturally over time.
The company also does its best to reduce water usage and packaging waste. Buying their products is a simple way of giving back to the planet we all love.
Regardless of which product you choose, try to limit how much water you use to wash your car. Keep the water in a bucket to avoid letting the hose run more than necessary.
Safety First
Wear the proper safety gear to avoid coming in contact with the cleaner. Use nitrile gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes from chemicals. Many products can lead to skin and eye irritation. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Before you start washing your car, make sure your chosen cleaner is safe to use and whether it will affect your health. Look it up on the Consumer Product Information Database for more safety details. It should tell you everything you need to know about using the product.
If you clean your bike right before you ride, give yourself a few minutes to breathe fresh air. Check to make sure the chemicals haven’t altered your ability to drive. And don’t forget to wear a helmet with Bluetooth motorcycle speakers while riding for more peace of mind on the road.
