WD-40 Bike Cleaner Total Wash

WD-40 Bike Cleaner is a no-frills spray that is more effective on some parts of the bike than others, but not as effective or good value as other bike-specific cleaners our there.

• Pros: Can be used all over the bike for a one-stop shop cleaner
• Cons: Not the strongest solution, dries 'streaky'

It's straightforward to use, in that there's no dilution required, and it can be used all over the bike. It comes in a useful spray bottle, too, which feels more convenient than continually wetting a rag in a bucket of washing-up liquid.

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To test the cleaner I used it on a commuter bike that had seen one too many dirty puddles during summer flash storms, and on my summer bike and all its fancy gadgetry.

It was certainly effective on a frame caked in dirt – I wet the bike, sprayed on the WD-40, wiped it down, and then gave it a quick rinse with clean water. It's important to note that if you don't do that final rinsing step, or if the bike dries in the sun particularly quickly, you'll get streaks on a matt frame. Not a big deal, but a bit annoying.

On the more oily bits, the spray is a little lacking in oomph. Getting into the nooks and crannies of the bike, particularly greasy and grimy cassettes and chainrings required either multiple applications or that the WD-40 be left on to soak for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. To be fair, although WD-40 says it 'quickly cuts through dirt, oil & grime' the company also has a dedicated Degreaser in its range for cleaning gears and chains. Still, the Bike Cleaner felt a little lacking compared to some leading brands such as Muc-Off and Fenwick's, which cut through grease faster and more effectively and tend to dry 'cleaner'.

In terms of value, with a price tag of £4.99 for 500ml, the WD-40 is a little pricier than some of the trigger sprays we've tested on road.cc. Proper Cleaner, for example, costs £6.50 but dilutes to make 750ml, and Zefal's Bike Wash is £7.99 for a litre. You can buy a 1 litre option for £9.99, which puts it on par with the likes of Muc-Off and Pineapple Express Spray Wash from Crankalicious, which reviewed well here.

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Even better value, though, is Fenwick's concentrate, which costs £11.99 for what makes up to 11L (we tested it in 2016 when it was £9.99); if you already have a spray bottle, decant a diluted mix into it and squirt away.

To conclude, WD-40 Bike Cleaner does an okay job, and is probably better than the Fairy Liquid you 'borrowed' from the kitchen, but it's lacking a little punch compared to some of its rivals, certainly when it comes to the greasier jobs.

Verdict

Does an okay job but there are better and cheaper options