Ideally without hazardous chemicals.

Does dish soap and hot water work?

  • determinist@kbin.earth
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    8 days ago

    @Wahots@pawb.social

    I cleaned my bike chain a couple of weeks ago and it was caked in grease+dirt. First I used a flathead screwdriver to dislodge as much crust as possible, then an awl/pick to get into smaller spaces then I used hot soapy water + eco/biodegradable dish soap + stiff brush. I scrubbed the chain while it was on the bike then I removed the chain (and rear mech and cassette) and scrubbed them all again.

    After I dried them all using a towel then sprayed with WD40. Allowed this to evaporate, sprayed them with EPA, then greased them all with lithium grease spray.

    I disassembled the mech, cleaned all the individual parts the same way, then used lithium grease on the pivots and bearings. reassembled, refitted, and it’s all running like new.

    I probably could have used some bike degreaser however I didn’t have any and couldn’t be arsed going to buy some.