Commuting in a reasonably clean city should not cause your chain to get too dirty that fast. There is no better clean … WD-40 BIKE Chain Cleaner and Degreaser . more awareness training needed. I set out to evaluate degreasers based on three parameters: efficient grease removal, human safety, and environmental safety. Smoove Prep was the absolute best with a near spotless chain and no noticeable residue. And most importantly, it’s likely you’ll be doing the clean over grass or near a drain, and so you want a solution that’s environmentally safe – your bike isn’t worth dead marine life. Cheap, effective degreaser recommendations? Citrus Bike Chain Degreaser is formulated with We don't have that brand of dish soap here, but I wouldn't hesitate to use something like that on a bike. Keep it in a jar as spray bottles can get clogged (but might be worth a try for ease of application). Take the chain; for example, there is a lot of friction set in motion when you cycle. To restore the lube, use a fine layer of teflon after cleaning the chain, and you're ready to go. But whatever you choose, consider the seals in your bearings and those in the ocean. Given this, brands such as Pedro’s and Green Oil (not tested) should be applauded, and at least for the former, it seemingly works every bit as well as more potent products. Getting too strong of a degreaser can cause coatings on your frame and parts to wear off as well as can be harmful to breath and touch. Some examples of these hydrocarbon-based degreasers are Finish Line Speed Degreaser (Heptane, Acetone, Ethanol), White Lightning Clean Streak (Naphtha, Heptane), Morgan Blue Chain Cleaner (Naphtha), and Muc Off Dry Chain Degreaser (Naphtha). My bike chain gets really dirty since I commute to work every day - the bio-degradable tosh they sell in the store doesn't work and my neighbour introduced me to the effectiveness of diesel. lifehacker.com/when-should-i-not-use-wd-40-5891936, Opt-in alpha test for a new Stacks editor. I then looked at different degreasing methods, from brushing it straight on the chain to obsessive ultrasonic cleaning, as these methods all call for different products. There are other emulsifiers that are a bit stronger (including plain soap/detergent). White Lightning Clean Streak Bicycle Chain Degreaser (23 … This is the ultimate guide to cleaning bicycle chains… A bicycle-friendly degreaser can be held in an old bottle on the seat tube. I'd like to make my own degreaser solution instead of buying one. Best Bike Chain Degreaser. I never used to stress about what was in my cleaning chemicals and only recently have I started to pick products with low or no toxicity. Anndason 8 Pieces Precision Bicycle Cleaning Brush Tool Including Bike Chain Scrubber, Suitable for Mountain, Road, City, Hybrid,BMX Bike and Folding Bike 4.3 out of 5 stars 494 $28.99 $ 28 . BIKE DEGREASER FROM FUZE PRODUCTS. They’re not designed to lubricate chain links and so will fail in the attempt. There is an international solvent measurement standard, known as Kauri-butanol value (Kb value). Just wash away the remaining white spirit on the chain, or use paper and burn it afterwards if you want to save the environment. Whatever kind of lube you use, make sure it's designed specifically for bike chains, and never use WD-40 since it evaporates quickly and can cause dirt and grime to build up on your chain. 96 A friend of mien told me that he is using Coca Cola as a degreaser and rust remover. WD-40 BIKE Chain Cleaner and Degreaser's foaming action clings to bike surfaces to deeply penetrate and quickly remove stubborn grease and grime from bike chains SAFE FOR ALL FINISHES. “The fastest and most efficient chain degreasers found in local bike shops contain the heavy petroleum/hydrocarbon derivatives. (Interestingly, regular "axle grease" is also such a combo of soap, oil, and water, though in different proportions, of course. Being a petrochemical, like turps, you need to be aware that’s it’s highly flammable, not good for skin contact and needs to be washed off the part thoroughly. Any grime or grease that’s made your bike chain home will be evicted in mere seconds thanks to the whopping 120 different contact points on the scrubber. Dirtbusters Eco bike bicycle chain cleaner degreaser 2 x 250ml with powerful eco friendly mountain road bike cycle bmx chain cleaning to get the muck off 4.2 out of 5 stars 73 £11.95 £ 11 . The outcomes of these tests are based purely on qualitative results, such as visual cleanliness, perceived grittiness of the chain and how brown the grass went. Q: What household items can I use to clean my bike chain? Any suggestions on the best chain lube for my E Bike. But this product is a real game changer as it works as both a filth flusher … Kerosene is more flammable, less viscous and less smelly, but I have never used it for cleaning. However, unlike the endless marketing propaganda that follows chain lube selection; degreaser is left in the corner, a dirty product that few brands actively promote. Some soaking and/or scrubbing with an old toothbrush is required for stubborn muck and grease, for example: when overhauling headset or BB bearings and it should work for derailleurs too. A bike chain lubricant; A quality degreaser; A chain cleaning device (optional) Warm soapy water; A couple of old newspapers, drop-cloth or tarp (to prevent mess when cleaning indoors) Steps to Spot-Clean the Chain. Bicycles Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who build and repair bicycles, people who train cycling, or commute on bicycles. The OMS does a great job dissolving any pre-existing coatings, lubes or contamination. Expectations from a violin teacher towards an adult learner. Jay Sycip says they use a similar thing at Chris King’s headquarters, with a Simple Kleen parts washer as the pick for the eco-sensitive company. Your wheels, chain and drivetrain will need regular cleaning to keep them in tip-top shape. Like its name suggests, Speed Bike Degreaser is the fastest way to clean a drivetrain. Whole bike washes or cleaners, such as the pink stuff from Muc-Off, will have some mild degreasing capability but are not intended to strip oils and grease like a true degreaser. Unable to select layers for intersect in QGIS, Why does find not find my directory neither with -name nor with -regex. Chuanyue Chain Cleaner Tool Bike Chain Cleaner Bicycle Clean Brush For Cycling Bike Road Bike Mountain Bikes By Blue. Personally, I’ve long used low-odor kerosene (Naphtha-based, toxic) in my parts washer. With a successful service business, Win Allen’s workshop is fitted with a premium electric heated parts washer (SmartWasher SW-23). The best lubricants will not only suit the chain but the weather. I'd put diesel in the same general category. It's concentrated so for general cleaning I dilute it 1:10, for chain etc 1:2. Cleans anything dirty, from antique finishes to phono records, laundry stains, grubby garage sale finds, you name it. That colourless liquid that comes out of taps does not degrease properly and, as well, risks penetrating the places where you are not going to dislodge it with a cloth and therefore risk corrosion and thus weak points. FWIW the solution may not make suds like dishwasher detergent alone, but it is foamy enough I have to stir or agitate and not shake to mix the degreaser. After the project is done, I'll pour off the "used" liquid into a smaller container (filtering as necessary) and reuse it for future degreasing projects. As the chain is being cleaned on the bike, you want a degreaser that’s safe on finishes. I am an industrial chemist, and manufacture commercial-grade degreasers and other cleaners. Make sure that your bike’s position is proper. And according to Pedro’s, this is because it’s a “solvent-free” product (as is Degreaser 13). The chain of your bicycle is the main component of your bicycle that transfers the energy of your pedaling to the wheels. Don't forget to re-lube your chain! “No fuss, never fail”, tells Wikstrom. For those of you who still may be looking for a cheap degreaser, search for Virosol. With hundreds of different degreasing products on the market, testing them all just isn’t plausible. If the dirt is too much, leave it in the bottle for up to 20 minutes. I used to use Diesel as it's cheep and cleaner than Gasoline. The Simple Green Bike Cleaner and Degreaser is a non-aerosol spray cleaner. Then run Pig Juice in the Chain Pig (chain cleaning device) on the chain, rinse the Chain Pig out, and run it again filled with water. (. The ultimate drivetrain cleaning solution. WD-40 Bike Chain Cleaner and Degreaser foams and clings to bike surfaces for deep penetration Foam cleans away stubborn grease and grime from bike chains I am having issues with the baking soda not dissolving. Naphtha is a slightly more volatile version of mineral spirits,” explains Jason Smith. Jay SyCip, design manager at Chris King is another proponent for Pedro’s Pig Juice. Spread the … These unique demands often require a chemical that won’t cause more harm than good. A small amount of WD40 and some car shampoo get the job done. I looked at which degreasers broke down the grime of a filthy chain with little manual input. Most common degreasers are shipped and so MSDS reports are available with a quick Google search. Naphtha [as is Mineral Turpentine] is commonly found as a paint thinner in hardware stores. They do a great job dissolving the chain greases, and also paint. So what are mainstream chemical options? For example, Win finishes his process by flushing the components in a large ultrasonic cleaner with heavily diluted Dawn dish soap – something that’s eco-friendly and safe on parts. Most industrial environments choose heavy and often unhealthy alkine solvent degreasers for grease-cutting efficiency and with little regard to other factors. In this article we will provide you all sorts of amazing and result providing degreasers which are best for removing the grease and chain oil type components which makes you able to remove the grease components from your bike chains and make them clean for the re-application of the new chain oil which provides better lubrication to all the gear components connected with the chain of the bike. And ‘Spray Nine’ is good for household cleaning, too. More Info Given you’ll be removing the parts, there’s more freedom in the chemicals you can use. However, it’s also not cheap and so diluting Pedro’s Degreaser 13 may produce an even better value, albeit more laborious, option. Hello, Sign in. Chain tool will make things easier but is not necessary to have one. The use of an ultrasonic cleaner has become popular, but it can also be done with a simple container, bucket or similar method of holding degreaser. Beyond simply using a damp cloth, when I'm doing maintenance, I'll wipe off any grease or oil using WD-40 or Liquid Wrench or Brake Clean (whatever I have on hand for cleaning bolts). rev 2021.1.26.38414, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Bicycles Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Does anyone have a recipe for a homemade bicycle degreaser solution? If the same kind of oily dirt is on your bike, the same kind of washing technique applies. Not yet reviewed. As long as your chain isn’t terribly dirty to begin with, washing it on the bike can yield excellent results. Please also note, that the methylated spirit will prevent (or nearly prevent) any foam or the like from forming. As the chain is being cleaned on the bike, you want a degreaser that’s safe on finishes. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. A good recipe for a cheap, simple homemade degreaser is water + borax + washing (laundry) powder, mixed in the ratio 12:4:1. Bicycle degreaser is known to be used in usual bike chain cleaning, but in this case, it will help us with getting the rust off the bike chain. If you want foam, you will have to substitute the methylated spirits with a mild solvent that is hydrophilic and not oil-based (lipophilic). “The degreaser is heated, which makes getting any brand of chain lube or bearing grease off very easy. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. $15.99. Most degreasers of this type contain heptane, acetone, naphtha, and/or alcohols. So which is best? It is therefore a safe and good solvent, as we all well know. Cape Town South Africa, will be cycling in bicycle lane as a commuter to work. And the best way to avoid the regular need for degreaser in the first place is by selecting a great chain lube. When not using Pedro’s Pig Juice for on-bike cleans, James Huang uses a safer, aluminum-friendly version of Simple Green and does so in a large ultra-sonic cleaner. Having your local bike shop clean your bike chain costs money and time. Shimano officially recommends the use of dish soap and warm water, a cheap, safe and well-proven method. Cleaning the chain on your bike is a key part of reducing wear, improving performance and showing love to your bike. I made this mixture, but substituted methylated alcohol with isopropyl rubbing alcohol; this recipe seemed to work better than the degreaser I had purchased, thanks for the tip! Use tongs to remove any large food chunks. Basically, 5L will last you for ages. Incidentally, I used to buy a small bottle of proprietary chain cleaner for $4.95 (plus tax). There are several ways to remove exterior muck from the chain while it’s still on the bike. The importance of greasing a chain can never be overstated. Solvents are not only bad for the environment (no I am not from Greenpeace) but also bad for your health. The chances are that you will end up replacing your bike chain at some point. You can use degreaser that is bike specific or products like simple green. If there’s still dirt and grime after, you should make a trip to your local hardware store to get a degreaser spray or isopropyl alcohol. Not only is it safe to use, it does an impressive job of cutting through tough grime. Once you are ready with all the supplies, follow this step-by-step procedure to clean the bike chain. No because soap and water does the trick - washing up fluid if soap is not enough. Most are diluted at varying percentages. However, very rarely is the base chemical sold in its pure state. Mix1/2 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of washing soda, and 16 ounces of baking soda in a bowl, then add 1/4 cup of water to make a paste. Citrus Bike Chain Degreaser is the industry's original orange peel based cleaner that has set the standard since 1988. These solvents are very aggressive when it comes to dissolving chain lubricants and the contaminants adhering to the lubricant. 1. For people who are worried about harsh soaps, there's Palmolive, which is well-known for being very gentle. It was less than £10 for 5L delivered (UK). What sort of wipes should I use to clean a bike with disposable wipes? This could be an unexplored line of inquiry. I also tested them undiluted on grass (30ml of each). Simply using a rag and lube, the lazy method is more about prevention than it is about cleaning. The main issue with WD-40 is that it is a LIGHT lubricant and so it will come off quickly if you’re riding in wet situations.