Most of us think we know how to clean things pretty well. I mean, if you're at least double-digit numbers of years old, you've probably been doing it for a long time by this point, right? So you probably know a few things. You know, like the paramount importance of diluting bleach, or that you probably shouldn't use steel wool on your nonstick pans (that is, if you want to still cook with those pans later).
And yet, there's always room to learn and grow. I remember one time, several years ago, where I got acquainted with a power washer that I had to use to regularly clean an area outside. It was part of my job, and it was a lot of fun. But unfortunately, it's also how I totally and utterly destroyed my first pair of motorcycle boots, because I fully underestimated just how strong a power washer really is. Hey, you don't know what you don't know until you learn, right?
Still, now I know better, so I understand that there are lots of things I'd never use a power washer on. Like, say, any motorcycle I care about, no matter how dirty it is. Usually some nice soap, a good sprayer head on a regular hose, maybe a bucket of water and a nice cleaning mitt or soft sponges, maybe some wheel brushes to get those spokes clean; you get the idea.
But what if there was another way? A way that's as satisfying to see as a power washer, but that won't do the kind of damage a power washer would do? That's exactly what the lure of this video of someone dry ice cleaning their Harley shows us.
Dry Ice cleaning a motorcycle
byu/silverr_bullet inmotorcycles
It's a cleaning method that's been making inroads in the car enthusiast community, particularly among collectors who like to actually drive their cars (not just stick them in a barn or basement somewhere that they never leave). Or those who want to preserve and maintain vintage car survivors that they've managed to get their hands on. And if learning about processes and really sinking your teeth into them is the kind of thing you're interested in, there's a lot here to love.
Why would you want to use dry ice to clean your motorcycle or collector car? There are a few reasons. For one, the name is actually accurate; it's not just a meaningless use of the word "dry." Since you're not bathing your vehicle in moisture, and getting it into weird places (like, say, fiddly electrical connectors) that you really shouldn't, it's a bit kinder to those parts while still being pretty ruthless on your caked-on-grime that you want to get rid of.
For two, according to dry ice cleaning experts, it's very safe to use on painted surfaces as long as your paint isn't already compromised. What does that mean? If you already have rust spots or bubbling paint, then dry ice cleaning can and will get underneath it, and can start to lift the paint from the spots where it's already damaged. Also, if you're trying to clean off an underseal coating on a car (maybe because you want to reseal it completely to freshly preserve the car), dry ice can absolutely be used to do that. See this video from longtime automotive journalist Jonny Smith's The Late Brake Show for more information.
For three, it's able to achieve stunning results without having to do a whole lot of the usual prep work that most people would associate with deep cleaning any vehicle. It's still all surface work, of course; if you want to take apart your carbs or your cylinder head or your bottom end and clean and rebuild everything with new gaskets and seals, that's obviously far beyond the scope of dry ice cleaning.
But if you just want a really shiny, clean exterior (including all those hard-to-scrub little nuts, bolts, and other hardware), it's difficult to deny the appeal of dry ice cleaning.
Of course, it usually isn't cheap, and you also have to go through the usual vetting process of finding someone that offers the service in your area—not to mention, one that you'd trust with your baby. Unless you're willing to sink a whole bunch of time, effort, and cash into doing the research and buying the equipment, it's a bit outside the reach of most consummate DIY-types.
Still, as long as people keep cleaning things this way and posting videos of it on the Internet, clean-obsessed bike and car enthusiasts will continue to find it oddly satisfying.
Have you ever cleaned a vehicle this way? Would you consider it if you had the option? Tell us about it in the comments.
