The best motorcycle cleaning products

Half price on 1- and 5-litre twin packs, £21.98 down to £9.99 and £59.99 down to £29.99.

Tested by Simon Relph, 4 months - Quality 5/5, Value 4/5

You can't really entertain the idea of a proper wash of your bike without a pressure washer and this one from Muc-Off will look after all your dirty kit. I've been using this for two years and it's great; three lances to give different spray characteristics, snow-foam sprayer, carry bag and a supply of the potions you'll need to get you going. It's not massive but is powerful enough and easy to use. I wouldn't be without it. For a more thorough assessment check out our Muc-Off Pressure washer review.

Alternatively, if you don't have access to an outside power socket or tap but still want to blast your bike with a pressurised cleaning spray then the Worx Hydroshot brushless makes the job of cleaning your motorbike much easier.

A brush or sponge is the usual method for applying water and shampoo but this wash mitt from Gear Gremlin is made from absorbent, soft material and is super-easy to use, allowing you to get to more places than you could with a brush or sponge. It is apparently good for wet or dry use and can be used for washing or polishing.

For a good-old bucket-and-sponge wash, you'll need a shampoo and this one from Autoglym is Amazon's Choice. It's a straightforward shampoo that will help lift dirt, grease and road grime from your bike and leave the paint and surfaces clean and ready for whatever next process you want to apply, whether it leaves it as it is or carry on with polish or wax.

Sometimes, you just want to give the bike a quick once over and can't be bothered to get the pressure washer, bucket, sponge or brushes out. In that case, you need a waterless wash and this one is Amazon's Choice for 'Showroom Shine'.

A best-seller at Sportsbikeshop, this cleaner from Wurth will keep your chain as well as your brakes in top condition. Use it on the chain (more effective when used with a brush, like any chain cleaner) to get rid of dirt, grime and old lubricant and on brakes to get rid of dust, oil and debris.

A winner when sister title RiDE tested combined wax and polishes, this one from WD-40 sprays on as a foam so it doesn't run off and brings both paint colour up nicely and adds a protective layer over the top, helping water bead off and reducing dirt's tendency to stick. Combines polish with carnauba wax for paint restoration and protection.

If you are going for a bucket and hose wash and don't fancy a wash mitt, then a set of cleaning brushes, like this one from accessory giant Oxford, will be essential. Four brushes cover just about every application; a soft, general paintwork brush, a long-reach wheel brush, a pronged brush for wheel spokes and a double-density general brush.

Muc-Off's motorcycle cleaner can be applied using this spray pump or, as I do, using the company's pressure washer and foam lance. You apply and let it sit for a few moments, then agitate with a brush and rinse. It's very effective on all forms of muck, including dead flies and is biodegradable with no acids, solvents or CFCs. It's also kind to all bike finishes, including carbon fibre and you can get five-litre refills to cut back on plastic use.

Billed as a simple spray-on, hose-off cleaner, this product from Silkolene is designed for road and off-road bikes, as well as quads and ATVs. It has been specifically developed to spray on and rinse straight off, breaking down dirt and lifting it off the bike's surfaces. It will also clean unprotected aluminium without promoting corrosion and bring the bike up with what the manufacturer describes as a 'factory finish'.

This cleaner from SDoc is a gel that goes on thick and needs spreading out but once done, it cuts through dirt and grime well, leaving a nice finish. The manufacturer says it dries without needing a chamois or leaving watermarks and protects the bike's finishes. However, worth noting is a warning not to use it on unlacquered aluminium, this means potentially all sorts of fittings on the bike.

Winning a RiDE Best Buy triangle in the magazine's cleaner test, the M16 Extreme is another spray on/rinse off product that cuts through grime well and with a little agitation from a brush or sponge, gets rid of the most hardened dirt. The manufacturer claims it will dry streak-free and also that it will not harm aluminium, carbon fibre, stainless steel or any anodised parts.

Billed a Proper Cleaner 'by Guy Martin', this starter pack comprises an empty spray bottle and two tablets of cleaning product, one of which is added to the bottle once you've filled it with water. Designed to remove road and track grime, bugs and brake dust, it's safe for all bike surfaces and is biodegradable, alkaline-based and contains no solvents or acids. Proper nice.

This spray from Rock Oil will get rid of dirt, oil and grease, is biodegradable and contains no caustic soda so should be gentle on bare finishes. The manufacturer says it works well with 'minimal' agitation, suggesting it needs working into more stubborn dirt and it can also be used through pressure washers. The manufacturer does specify it should not be allowed to dry on polished alloy finishes though.

If merely removing the dirt and grime from your bike isn't enough for you, then look no further than this polish from SDoc100. One application should be enough to remove fine scratches and leave your plastic and painted parts shining brighter than they did from the factory. It's solvent-free too, so you don't need to worry about your decals peeling off.