Keep away from white spirit as this will leave an oily film. Hope says: 'We recommend either methylated spirits or isopropyl alcohol as these both leave no residue on the rotors. When it comes to cleaning bike disc rotors, the general consensus is to use a specialist product that doesn't leave any residue, such as isopropyl alcohol. We chatted with industry experts Shimano, Fibrax, SRAM, Juice Lubes and Hope Technology, to see what they recommend for cleaning brake rotors and pads and if there's anything that can be done to save a contaminated brake pad. First, you don't want anything that might leave a residue, but at the same time, you don't want to harm the braking surfaces and system you're cleaning. The obvious solution to the problem is to always have clean disc brakes and brake pads, but there's a lot of uncertainty as to what is the best way to clean your disc brakes. Oil or any other substances on the disc rotor or pads will reduce friction between the two surfaces, therefore, affecting performance which is as important if you're riding singletrack trails, downhill mountain biking or gravel racing. The common culprit to these brake noises is simple brake contamination or dirt on the disc rotor surface.

These are all indicators that you need to clean your disc rotors.

Whether you have mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes, the issues with disc brakes include all sorts of noise usually characterised by rubbing and squealing.

Talking disc brake technology with SRAM.

Best gravel tyres - tried and tested adventure rubber for all conditions.

Disc brakes are unquestionably the most powerful brakes you can have on your bike, but for them to be quiet, consistent and powerful, they need some dedicated and careful maintenance and regular cleaning. There are many opinions on how to clean your disc brakes, so we've talked to industry experts to clarify what really is the best way to keep your disc brakes clean and avoid brake contamination.

White canyon disk wipe