Cleaning Handlebar Tape?? Any Tips?

Masala

Hi

I have WHITE handlebar tape and it starting to look grubby! Any tips on cleaning same without damaging same????

Mycroft H

Masala wrote: »

Hi

I have WHITE handlebar tape and it starting to look grubby! Any tips on cleaning same without damaging same????

Flash All purpose cleaner.


Or its Lidl/Aldi/Tesco equivalent.

Wishbone Ash

It nearly easier to retape them than clean them.

ednwireland

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It nearly easier to retape them than clean them.

+1 replace

little swift

wd40 or some white spirits.

Mycroft H

ednwireland wrote: »

+1 replace

I'm a cheapskate, I'd chance cleaning them

Masala

Replacing !!!!! Don't think I up to that yet...... that seems to be an art in itself!!

Might try White Spirits.... I have plenty of that!!!!

mel.b

I've been told to use some cif although i've been lazy and haven't gotten around to trying it yet

route66

Masala wrote: »

Replacing !!!!! Don't think I up to that yet...... that seems to be an art in itself!!

Not really - I used this youtube video and it worked out fine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7BY4wKHTM

gmoorewest

Baby wipes can work up to a point, after awhile you have to replace.

tuxy

route66 wrote: »

Not really - I used this youtube video and it worked out fine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7BY4wKHTM

I used that too and managed to do a good job.

AstraMonti

CIF cream, no need to replace anything, makes it clean with 5-10mins scrubbing.

ROK ON

CIF

Great on bar tape. It's even better at getting stubborn stains off frames.

I have a White framed bike and use CIF to remove tar spots that washing won't remove.

Mycroft H

CIF is great probably better then flash in this situation.


Its also great for cleaning greasy grimy hands from cleaning the bike

Canis Lupus

Put your bike in the washing machine.

dermur

Bring it down to your bike shop and get them to put black handlebar tape on it!

Donnelly117

pledge furniture polish also works...

tuxy

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Put your bike in the washing machine.

Turn it inside out first so you don't damage the design.

km991148

mel.b wrote: »

I've been told to use some cif although i've been lazy and haven't gotten around to trying it yet

Read this after a long overdue clean and thumbs up for the jif/cif!

Got rid of all the annoying marks and the ol gal has never smelt this lemony!

ktz84

I just spray it FS10 like the rest of the bike and wipe it down. Harder to deal with the damage to the tape from leaning it against walls

stripeypaint

i work in well known Dublin bike shop and hear this question on a daily basis....over time the best stuff for the job is this stuff http://www.alibabike.com/13439-thickbox/weldtite-dirtwash-citrus-degreaser-aerosol-spray-400-ml.jpg comes in around 6 euro per bottle and cleaning bar tape is only on of its uses...good for brake pads and crap on your frame....that youtube link someone put up isnt the best....ALWAYS tape intowards the stem as over time the tape will tighten as opposed to loosen,also stretch it more as you put it on....my best advice though is to take the white tape off and fit black tape....then you can spend more time cleaning more important elements of your bike like your drivetrain or braking surfaces

07Lapierre

stripeypaint wrote: »

i work in well known Dublin bike shop and hear this question on a daily basis....over time the best stuff for the job is this stuff http://www.alibabike.com/13439-thickbox/weldtite-dirtwash-citrus-degreaser-aerosol-spray-400-ml.jpg comes in around 6 euro per bottle and cleaning bar tape is only on of its uses...good for brake pads and crap on your frame....that youtube link someone put up isnt the best....ALWAYS tape intowards the stem as over time the tape will tighten as opposed to loosen,also stretch it more as you put it on....my best advice though is to take the white tape off and fit black tape....then you can spend more time cleaning more important elements of your bike like your drivetrain or braking surfaces

Degreaser...is there anything it Can't do?

reilig

07Lapierre wrote: »

Degreaser...is there anything it Can't do?

+1

spray a bit on a cloth and rub it it. The tape will come out like new.

bazermc

Appreciate that this is an old thread, but just cleaned my white handle bar tape with WD40

Does an excellent job, I hope it doesnt damage or unstick tape..........next bike I am not getting white handle bars though!!!!!!!

smacl

I got annoyed with too much cleaning and replacing so just went with a high quality black bar tape, and never looked back. A bit of warm soapy water with some detol when I'm doing a clean to keep the germs at bay does the trick fine now.

letape

All you need is hot water, a nail brush and sone washing up liquid. Then go over it again just with water to remove the suds. Takes about 5 mins and the tape should be like new.

Crow92

Any tips for washing leather bartape? Got a lot of black dirt marks.