As we're based in Aus, a lot of the products listed online and recommended for the American market aren't available frame.
For general wipe downs, at the moment I use Meguire's Quick Detailer which is the same stuff I use on my car. It seems to work great at removing smears or any chlorine marks that might be in our water. You can buy this from Supercheap but it's cheaper off ebay.
I've seen some recommendations to use baby wipes as this do well at removing things like grime and oil. Personally, I'd steer away from BW use as some tend to leave an icky soapy residue to dry onto the frame depending on the type used. Some also have some bonus chemicals in there.
For protection, I don't like waxes as they tend to be a bit harder to clear off on bike frame's nooks once they age, so I'd prefer something additive that have UV protection. I'm unsure quite what to use here.
Other products I've seen recommended are:
- Simply Green (for washing)
- Lemon Fresh (for washing)
- SC-1 (for protecting)
The general cleaning process for the frame, I tend to enjoy this guy's procedure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPII5vCrcTo
Would love to hear your insight and recommendations!