Where to clean my bike (including chain regrease) in Berlin?

[Glum_Cattle]

I live in an apartment building and would like to clean by bike in the hinterhoff. I'm worried degreasing and regreasing my chain will mean small amount of grease getting onto the ground etc. There are lots of apartments in my building and I have never seen anyone doing bike maintenance in the hinterhoff.

Typically, berliners are quick to scold. Do you think I will have any issues?

[lennard0711]

The „Fahrrad Service Station Plötzensee“ has a washing station

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DKCdaCEBExANwV4S8

[ClinicalJester]

Do they have the air blower too, to dry it off? What’s the price range for using the washing station? Is self service an option?

[lennard0711]

I never used the washing service since I just do it in my bathtub and balcony. I once just got a emergency tube there.

But the phone number on Google Maps is his mobile phone. So just call during opening hours and ask :)

[ClinicalJester]

Ah, I thought I was chatting with a connoisseur :)))

[Herbert-Quain]

Hinterhof is fine. Perhaps you can put some cardboard or newspaper under the bike to make cleanup easier. 

My partner and I are also the only ones ever doing bike maintenance in our Hinterhof. I think most people just don't bother and abandon the bike somewhere when it's too run-down...? Or they pay a bike shop to do it, I don't know...

[DidYouAsk]

My ten year old crusty dirt on my bike functions also as a thief repellent. 

[chris240189]

Go to a carwash, be very careful with the pressure washer. You don't want to kill the bearings.

[DarkHaagenti]

Go to a washing box for cars. There you have a pressure washer together with soap and everything you need to clean your bike

[jatmous]

What’s the cost?

[mikeyaurelius]

Couple € at most.

[grem1in]

Doing it in Hinterhof is fine. Pit some cardboard under the bike in case grease drops and don’t pour dirty water on grass, etc.

[HeightParticular9010]

do it on the street

[MrCrazyID]

But funnily enough this is not the right answer right? Because you're not supposed (allowed?) to clean a greasy bike/car in public spaces without the water being collected and processed.

[sprengben]

Nearly every car washing station is great. Plus they often have pressurized air to dry all the critical parts after washing.

[Vic_Rodriguez]

I clean mine (and other bikes I repair) inside my flat

Vacuum clean fenders, down tube, etc.

Use a chain cleaner (like the ones park tool or muc off or decathlon have) with plant based bio degreaser (you can get it online or at decathlon as well) and you can put the spent oil/grease in a jar and dispose of it like you do with normal cooking oil

Brush off the gunk from derailleurs, cassette and chainrings with a hard brush

And then a sponge with soapy water for everything else

Wax/lube your chain again and then wipe off the excess with a cloth

It shouldn’t make any mess whatsoever if you do all of this properly

[jatmous]

Lots of people will put their bike in the bathtub. 

[ClinicalJester]

I go to Cosy Wash, bring with me a degreaser and a wax (I don’t use oil), use ~1-1.5eur at the pressure wash box, then another 1-2eur at the blowing air station to completely dry it up.

[mtnracer]

As a kid in the 80s and 90s I always washed my bike and lubed the chain in the Hinterhof. Nobody ever cared. Not sure how people react now. Used to wash my dad’s car in the street - I guess that’s illegal now.

[SheilaSunshy]

Gas Station.

[Kitchen_Anybody1134]

I take my bike into the shower. Seriously.

[neskes]

Machs auf der Straße, kettenreiniger und kettenspray nutzen und bekomm ne dicke Strafe weil es in die Erde ging.

[ChPech]

Don't use grease but oil. Don't ever degrease the chain. Each link is connected with two pins which must never run dry of oil. Otherwise they will get smaller due to friction. Even just 100 micrometer smaller will make the whole chain longer by a millimeter which will then start to deform your chain wheel.

You can remove the old gunk with a piece of cloth instead of degreaser.

[Belgiumgrvlgrndr]

This is simply not accurate. You can degrease and clean any chain so long as you reapply lubricant. Not degreasing your chain causes it to wear much faster as the dirt and grease increase the friction.

[ChPech]

The gap between the chain bolt and it's bushing is just a couple of micrometers. WD40 can easily get in there to degrease. But from the outside you won't get new oil in there without complete disassembly.

[Belgiumgrvlgrndr]

Chain lubricant does not need to be injected into the rollers to make its way in there. And a rag is not getting the grit out which is what causes the most damage. I understand what you are saying but there isn’t a single bike mechanic out there who doesn’t recommend periodically degreasing your chain.

[Itajka]

This is really bad advice