Wash 'n' go: Best motorcycle cleaning products

Muc-Off's motorcycle cleaning product 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.

Tested by Simon Relph, 4 months: "I still don't know how I use to get by without disc brake cleaners, especially this one from Muc-Off. Very easy to use, simply give the can a good shake, then give the disc a good blast all over, concentrating on the dirtier areas and places where the dust collects in the hard-to-get-at corners."Make sure this is down outside or a well-ventilated space, as however nice it smells, it is still inflammable. Once the disc and calliper/pads look clean, leave enough time to dry off before wiping down with a dry clean cloth. Quick and easy to use, leaves everything sparkling."

Alternatively, if you don't have access to an outside power socket or tap but still want to blast your bike with a pressure washer (read our review of the Muc-Off pressure washer), then the Worx Hydroshot Brushless makes the job of cleaning your motorbike much easier.

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'. It gets good reviews online, and cleaning involves spraying it on, wiping it off and buffing up. Water beads nicely, and it brings paintwork up well, apparently.

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.

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 S100 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.

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 motorcycle cleaning product.

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 S100. 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.