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Cleaning products
Muc-Off Dirty Work WipesMuc-Off Dirty Work wipes

Muc-Off Dirty Work Wipes

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Apr 14, 2011

0
£2.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Great for giving your bike a proper clean on the road or in the workshop, but not so gentle on your skin
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.muc-off.com
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Muc Off Dirty Work Wipes are convenience strips that come in a handy re-sealable pack, perfect for cleaning rider and machine following a roadside mechanical, around the workshop, on the trail and pretty much anywhere else. Requiring no water, they're a boon for touring and quite useful for impromptu polishing too-especially if you have limited space for full-blown bucket washing. However, kind to finishes, they're not so gentle on the skin so wash your hands in fresh soapy water at the earliest opportunity after using them.

Available in two sizes, our handy pack of 15 proved a little substantial for the jersey pocket but slipped unobtrusively inside medium seat packs. Plucked from the re-sealable pouch, their texture resembles that of a partially dehydrated baby wipe, impregnated with a citric cleaning agent and tiny abrasive beads. The former is designed to dissolve light oils, grease, finger marks and surface grime while the abrasives dig deep, purging stubborn gunge from suspension seals, spokes, components, tools and obviously hands.

Several weeks' testing suggests they're pretty effective and deliver what they promise, albeit with some compromise-after all, delicate paint finishes aren't really comparable with delicate skin and in the case of road/trailside duties, once the job's done, clean yourself first before giving the bike a once-over. Efficient use means one wipe will clean hands, chain/seatstays, spokes, rim etc following a rear wheel flat but messy trail side repair calls for between three and four.

Gentle abrasives seem particularly effective at rejuvenating white finishing kit-especially leatherette bar wrap/saddles. These also make very short work of intricate areas such as derailleur cages, jockey wheels, chain rings, behind the brake arms when the bike's a bit grubby but doesn't call for the full-blown bucket and water wash.

Also available in a tub of of 40.

Verdict

Great for giving your bike a proper clean on the road or in the workshop, but not so gentle on your skin

road.cc test report

Make and model: Muc-Off Dirty Work scrubbing wipes

Size tested: 15pk

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"Ideal for cleaning on the move

- Remove heavy grease, lubricants, oils and

other hard-to-shift grime from hands, tools

and metal parts

- Contain lanolin to condition skin and prevent

dryness and cracking

- No need to rinse hands after use!"

Very practical in the field but not quite so kind to hands.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Cleaning wipes impregnated with citric cleaning agent, tiny abrasive beads to tackle ground in dirt and lanolin to moisturise the skin.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
6/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

A real boon following roadside mechanicals, they're a great for day rides touring and workshop once-overs. Generally quite economical, the abrasive compounds whilstle through tough ground in grime and seem reasonably kind to painted and plated surfaces. However, regular use left my hands feeling quite dry.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Convenience.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

quite harsh on skin.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Muc-Off Dirty Work scrubbing wipes
Muc-Off
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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