BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Avoid gel saddles?

ew. I have no idea about cleaning... other than test it to see if it's water soluble, if not, use something with a degreasing agent, and steer clear of enzymatic cleaners as they can break down dyes and cause bigger problems. The gel probably has some protein to it though, so I'd try whatever you've had success in getting blood out of similar fabrics with. Bad grammar, sorry.

It might be a stretch, but the first thing I thought of when I read this was running shoes. Bear with me...

I think the rule for running shoes applies here - the squooshier the substance, the more susceptible to breakdown (less durable) and will be in need of replacement earlier. With running shoes, I started buying shoes that fit the way I run (ridiculously even gait, unlike 99% of the under/over pronating general population) and could buy harder (more durable) soles. I admit I never bought gel soles because someone pointed out to me that if you step on a nail or a tack, you just popped your shoe sole bladder, and will leak gel. Kinda similar logic would apply here, I think...

How'd you end up with a gel saddle? Doesn't strike me as your style, somehow.

Do you know the seat brand? Try a google search. I looked up Selle and its promo material for several styles of seats refer to "RoyalGel a polyurethane-based gel that does not...." Poly base is a good start in terms of finding a cleaning product. Don't know your brand, but identifying the gel substance will be a big help in finding a cleaning product. (You knew this of course, but may not have thought to google it.....or googled it and did not find what you were looking for....) Last resort? If you know the brand, call the manufacturer's 1-800 number and ask. Can't hurt...

if the gel is poly based, try using 'bug & tar' remover. It's sold in auto stores (and walmart etc.) and I've had some success using it in laundry situations.

I second the bug & tar stuff. It's great for tape and other gooey things. If you have Lestoil on hand, I've had some success using that. Wash the item separately though, Lestoil stinks.

Try GoJo hand cleaner--the plain hand cleaner, not pumice or citrus.

==Nick on the "real" GoJo.

What kind of material are the pants? That's an important factor.

Without knowing that, I'll throw out that simpler soaps and degreasers are usually more likely to succeed without side effects than more complicated stuff. GoJo is a go-to for me. Plain soap, like a bar of Ivory, can also be very effective.

Dish detergents typically work better than laundry detergents for lots of oily or greasy materials. Dishwasher forumlae, like Cascade, can be particularly effective, although they can be rough on certain fabrics.