I bought the Silca bike spa suite on sale at some point and it works great.
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I have used Dawn for years. Itās good at cutting that road grease from vehicles that comes up when the road is wet. I finish off with a wipe down of Muc Off matte finish.
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I use Adamās Polishes Mega Foam Car Soap. I also picked up some Adamās Polishes Strip Car Wash Soap for more aggressive cleaning days when Iām planning on waxing the frame after. Given the higher acidity of the Strip Wash, I figure it will also be better at getting stubborn stuff like gel residue off. I havenāt actually used the Strip Wash yet.
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I bought the Muc-Off pressure washer a few years back during an end of season sale. Itās not the portable one, but rather the electric one, and looks like a little baby pressure washer. It comes with 3 wands, but one specific for bikes thatās a lot more gentle. It also came with a foam cannon that works great with the Muc-Off bike wash. I donāt use the pressure washer all the time, but itās great when the XC or gravel bike are really dirty.
Adamās makes some really great car cleaning products that also work well on the bike. Adamās Waterless Wash is my go to when Iām not using the pressure washer. You spray it on the bike and/or microfiber and wipe down. It has some lubricants that help to prevent scratching of the frame and it doesnāt require rinsing after.
I also use Adamās ceramic sealant on all my bikes when they are brand new. Itās super easy to apply and the whole process can be done in about 20 minutes. You just have to make sure the frame is super clean. The ceramic sealant adds a layer of protection, but it also makes the bike a lot easier to keep clean.
I have different brushes for the frame, wheels, and drivetrain. I spray everything with water, then Muc-off bike wash. Hit it all with the appropriate brushes, then rinse with water. I donāt intentionally spray my rotors with soap, but I donāt go out of my way to avoid them either. I donāt touch them with brushes either. Just the hose. Iāve never had any issue with squeeling that doesnāt burn off after the first few brake pulls.
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I use waterless car detailing wash. When chain removed to wax it i also remove wheels and light spray on frame. Rub off with rag and than polish with clean cloth. In 60 years of racing i have never used a hose on my bikes.
Iām gonna guess you donāt ride/race much off road? I donāt use a hose to clean too often, but when there is a bunch of mud, Iāll use a gentle stream of water from a hose to clean. And same thing on a rainy/gritty day if the bike is really covered after a road ride. With modern bikes and sealed bearings, a hose isnāt a problem unless you have it at high pressure. A pressure washer is madness in my opinion, but some people use them (and should be fine if you are careful).
Iāve never thought to remove brake pads when cleaning, but Iāve heard worse ideas (iāve removed pads to clean/deglaze the pads before). Really, the only things on a bike that need to be clean are brakes and drivetrain, the rest is all for looks.
And sometimes you need more than a rag and detailing spray (this was less than 10 miles into a 100+ mile gravel ride on a messy day)ā¦
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Iām basically exactly the same 
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I think itās fine if soap, dirt, mud, probably even oil gets on the rotors while youāre washing the bike. Mud and all kinds of contaminants gets on them anyway when you ride. I thoroughly wipe down the rotors with a clean rag and isopropyl alcohol after washing the bike. I also spray down the brake calipers and pads with isopropyl. I donāt squeeze the brakes until after Iāve cleaned up the rotors and pads with alcohol. Iāve been doing this for years and Iāve never had a problem with contamination.
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