Ten numbered products, six kinds of vehicle. This matrix shows which of No.01 to No.10 you can use on a car, van, truck, motorcycle, mountain bike or bicycle. The notes for each vehicle say why, which formula to pick and what to keep each product away from.
- Yes Made for it. Pick the formula to suit the finish.
- Care Usable, with limits. Read the note under that vehicle.
- No Not for this vehicle.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Product | Car | Van | Truck | Motorcycle | Mountain bike | Bicycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No.01 Pre Rinse and Bug Remover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Care | Care | Care |
| No.02 Snow Foam | Yes | Yes | Yes | Care | Care | Care |
| No.03 Wheel and Rim Cleaner | Yes | Yes | Care | Care | No | No |
| No.04 Drivetrain and Chain Degreaser | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No.05 Contact Shampoo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No.06 Fallout and Tar Remover | Yes | Yes | Care | Care | No | No |
| No.07 Polish and Paint Prep | Yes | Yes | Yes | Care | No | No |
| No.08 Wax and Sealant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Care | Care | Care |
| No.09 Glass and Visor Cleaner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| No.10 Interior and Trim Cleaner | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
How to read it: a product suits a vehicle when the vehicle has the surface that product is made for. Paint is paint whether it is on a hatchback or a lorry cab. What changes on two wheels is how close the brakes, tyres, chain and bearings are to everything you spray.
Three rules for anything with two wheels
- Keep degreaser, sealant and polish off brake discs, pads and rim brake tracks, and rinse the brakes well after any wash. Test them at walking pace before you ride.
- Nothing slippery where you grip or stand. No sealant, polish or interior cleaner on tyres, seats, saddles, grips, footpegs or pedals.
- Go easy with the pressure washer. Keep the lance well back from wheel bearings, headsets, bottom brackets, suspension seals, the chain and any electrics.
Notes for each vehicle
Pick your vehicle. Each list runs through all ten products with the formula to use and the reason behind every Care and No. The letters are the formulas: S is Summer, W is Winter, X is Extreme and D is Delicate.
Car
- S for everyday washes. W from October to March. X for heavy soiling. D on matt paint, wraps and coatings.
- S for everyday washes. W in salt season, October to March. X for heavy soiling, with a shorter dwell. D on matt wraps and ceramic coatings.
- S is pH neutral and safe on all wheel finishes. W adds help against road salt. D for anodised, polished and painted rims. X is the heavy duty formula, for baked on brake dust on sound painted or lacquered wheels only.
- It is made for chains, drivetrains and motorcycle engine casings. It is not listed as a wheel or engine bay cleaner for cars.
- S for everyday washes. It is pH neutral and will not strip your wax. W helps neutralise road salt. D for delicate finishes and coatings. X only as a strip wash before polishing or fresh protection.
- S for iron fallout from brake and rail dust. X for tar spots, sap and glue. Use both on clean, cool paint and wheels.
- S as the all round polish. X for deeper defects. D as a light finishing polish for soft paint. Gloss paint only. Never use it on matt paint or wraps.
- S for gloss and water beading. W for a tougher barrier in salt season. D on matt paint and wraps, where it adds no gloss.
- S for everyday use. W in cold weather, for anti fog and light frost. Both are ammonia free and safe on tinted windows.
- S for plastics and trim. D for Alcantara, suede and sensitive trim. Spray onto the cloth, not onto screens or electrics.
Van
- S for everyday washes. W from October to March. X for a work van with heavy road film. D on matt paint, wraps and coatings.
- S for everyday washes. W in salt season, October to March. X for heavy soiling, with a shorter dwell. D on matt wraps and ceramic coatings.
- S is pH neutral and safe on all wheel finishes. W adds help against road salt. D for anodised, polished and painted rims. X is the heavy duty formula, for baked on brake dust on sound painted or lacquered wheels only.
- It is made for chains, drivetrains and motorcycle engine casings. It is not listed as a wheel or engine bay cleaner for vans.
- S for everyday washes. It is pH neutral and will not strip your wax. W helps neutralise road salt. D for delicate finishes and coatings. X only as a strip wash before polishing or fresh protection.
- S for iron fallout from brake and rail dust. X for tar spots, sap and glue. Use both on clean, cool paint and wheels, and test X on a hidden spot before using it near vinyl graphics.
- S as the all round polish. X for deeper defects. D as a light finishing polish for soft paint. Gloss paint only. Keep it off matt paint, wraps and vinyl graphics.
- S for gloss and water beading. W for a tougher barrier in salt season. D on matt paint and wraps, where it adds no gloss.
- S for everyday use. W in cold weather, for anti fog and light frost. Both are ammonia free and safe on tinted windows.
- S for cab plastics and trim. D for Alcantara, suede and sensitive trim. Spray onto the cloth, not onto screens or electrics.
Truck
- S or W for regular washes. X for heavy soiling, kept off bare and polished aluminium such as fuel tanks and chequer plate.
- S or W for regular washes. X for heavy soiling, kept off bare and polished aluminium.
- Many truck wheels are bare polished aluminium and X is the strongest formula. Use S or D on those. X is for sound painted wheels only.
- It is made for chains, drivetrains and motorcycle engine casings. It is not listed as a wheel or engine bay cleaner for trucks.
- S or W for regular washes. D on matt or wrapped cabs. X only as a strip wash.
- S for iron fallout on painted panels and wheels. X is a solvent, so test it on a hidden spot before using it near vinyl graphics, wraps or curtain sides.
- For gloss painted cab panels. S as the all round polish. X for deeper defects. D as a light finishing polish. Keep it off matt finishes, wraps and graphics.
- S for gloss and water beading. W for a tougher barrier in salt season. D on matt or wrapped cabs, where it adds no gloss.
- S for everyday use. W in cold weather, for anti fog and light frost. Both are ammonia free and safe on tinted windows.
- For the cab. S for plastics and trim. D for Alcantara, suede and sensitive trim. Spray onto the cloth, not onto screens or electrics.
Motorcycle
- S everyday, W for road salt, D on matt paint and anodised parts. Bare metal and the chain are close to everything you spray, so skip X, work on a cool engine and lubricate the chain afterwards.
- D on matt paint. The foam is fine on paint, but it goes on with a pressure washer. Keep the lance well back from bearings, the chain, switchgear and electrics, and let the engine cool first.
- Bare aluminium hubs, anodised parts, plated fasteners and the chain all sit close to the wheel, so skip X. Rinse the brake discs thoroughly and test the brakes before you ride.
- S for regular chain cleaning. W for winter grime. X for heavy build up. D for anodised parts. Keep it off brake discs and pads, and lubricate the chain once it is dry.
- S for everyday washes. W after salted roads. D on matt paint. Rinse gently and lubricate the chain afterwards.
- Painted panels and wheels only. Keep both formulas off tyres, the seat, grips, the chain, screens and visors.
- Start with D, then S if needed. Gloss painted panels such as the tank and fairings only. Not on matt finishes, bare metal, screens or anything you grip.
- D on matt paint. Painted panels only. Spray it onto the cloth, not the bike, and never let it reach tyres, brake discs, the seat, grips or footpegs.
- For visors, screens and mirrors. W adds anti fog in cold weather. Use a soft, clean cloth.
- There is no cabin, and it is not made for seats, grips or footrests.
Mountain bike
- D on carbon and anodised parts. Apply it with a pump sprayer and rinse with a gentle hose, because a pressure washer drives water into bearings and suspension seals.
- Keep the pressure washer well back from hubs, headset, bottom bracket and suspension seals. A pump sprayer of No.01 Pre Rinse and Bug Remover is the gentler choice.
- Mountain bike wheels do not collect baked on brake dust, and disc rotors and rim brake tracks must stay free of cleaner. Wash them with No.05 Contact Shampoo.
- X is the stronger mix for mountain bikes and winter riding. S for lighter use. D for carbon and anodised drivetrains. Keep it off rotors and pads, and lubricate the chain once it is dry.
- S for everyday washes. D on matt frames, carbon and anodised parts. Rinse gently and lubricate the chain afterwards.
- Not made for mountain bikes. The solvent formula would sit too close to tyres, seals and brakes.
- Not listed for mountain bikes. Many frames are matt or carry decals on top of the paint, and polish marks both.
- D on matt frames. The frame only, applied with a cloth. Never on rotors, rim brake tracks, tyres, the saddle, grips or pedals.
- There is no glass to clean.
- There is no cabin, and it is not made for saddles, grips or pedals.
Bicycle
- D on carbon and anodised parts. Pump sprayer and a gentle rinse only. Keep pressure washers away from the bearings.
- Keep the pressure washer well back from the bearings. A pump sprayer of pre rinse does the same job more gently.
- Bicycle wheels do not collect baked on brake dust, and rim brake tracks and disc rotors must stay free of cleaner. Shampoo and a soft brush is all a bicycle wheel needs.
- S for regular cleaning. W for winter grime. D for carbon and anodised drivetrains. Keep it off brake surfaces, and lubricate the chain once it is dry.
- S for everyday washes. D on matt frames, carbon and anodised parts. Rinse gently and lubricate the chain afterwards.
- Not made for bicycles. The solvent formula would sit too close to tyres, seals and brakes.
- Not listed for bicycles. Many frames are matt or carry decals on top of the paint, and polish marks both.
- D on matt frames. The frame only, applied with a cloth. Never on rotors, rim brake tracks, tyres, the saddle, grips or pedals.
- There is no glass to clean.
- There is no cabin, and it is not made for saddles, grips or pedals.
Which formula for which vehicle
Most products come in more than one formula. This is the short version of the notes above.
| Vehicle | Everyday choice | Step up or down when |
|---|---|---|
| Car and van | Summer, or Winter from October to March | Delicate on matt paint, wraps and coatings. Extreme for heavy soiling on sound finishes |
| Truck | Summer or Winter | Extreme for heavy soiling and trade use, kept off bare and polished aluminium |
| Motorcycle | Summer or Delicate | Delicate on matt paint and anodised parts. Keep the Extreme pre rinse and wheel cleaner away from bare metal |
| Mountain bike | Summer | Extreme degreaser for mud and winter riding. Delicate for carbon and anodised parts |
| Bicycle | Summer | Delicate for carbon and anodised parts |
The full list is in the formula guide. For what acids and alkalis do to each surface, see the pH and surface damage guide.
A wash routine for each vehicle
- Car or van: wheels with No.03, pre rinse with No.01, foam with No.02, hand wash with No.05, then dry. Decontaminate with No.06 and polish with No.07 when needed, protect with No.08, and finish with No.09 on the glass and No.10 inside.
- Truck: the same order, working one side at a time so nothing dries on the panels. The water tank calculator and dilution ratio calculator help with the larger quantities.
- Motorcycle: cool engine first. Degrease the chain with No.04, pre rinse with No.01, hand wash with No.05, rinse gently and dry. Protect painted panels with No.08, clean the visor and screen with No.09, then lubricate the chain.
- Mountain bike or bicycle: degrease the drivetrain with No.04, hand wash the rest with No.05, rinse gently, dry and lubricate the chain. Our chain cleaning routine has the detail.
Common questions
Can I use car shampoo on a motorbike or bicycle?
Yes. No.05 Contact Shampoo in the Summer formula is pH neutral, and a neutral wash is the gentle choice for bike and motorcycle finishes. Use a soft mitt, rinse gently and lubricate the chain afterwards.
Can I use snow foam on a motorcycle?
The foam is fine on the paintwork. Take care with the pressure washer: keep the lance well back from bearings, the chain, switchgear and electrics, and let the engine cool first.
Is the wheel cleaner safe for motorcycle wheels?
Use the Summer or Delicate formula and rinse the brake discs thoroughly. Keep the Extreme formula, the strongest, away from bare aluminium, anodised parts and the chain.
Which product cleans a bicycle chain?
No.04 Drivetrain and Chain Degreaser. Keep it away from brake discs and pads, rinse it off and lubricate the chain again once it is dry.
Are the products suitable for vans and trucks?
Yes. Vans and trucks have the same kinds of paint, glass and trim as cars, so the same products apply. On trucks, check the wheels first, and keep the Extreme formulas off bare and polished aluminium.
Can I put sealant on a bicycle frame?
Yes, on the frame only, applied with a cloth. Never let it reach brake rotors, rim brake tracks, tyres, the saddle, grips or pedals.
Not sure about a finish? Try the product on a small hidden area first, or ask us at hello@soapx.co.uk. Steps and dilutions for every product are on how to use our products.
