I’m wanting to degrease my chain and then relube. A lot of the stuff you can buy specifically for bikes is expensive. I’ve heard of people using a general degreaser (Citrus stuff, ect). I was just at the aut parts store and saw some degreaser on sale there. Is there anything to watch out for or is grease grease and any degreaser will do the trick?
There was a thread yesterday that give some ideas about this:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=465145;search_string=bike%20cleaning;#465145
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I’m sorry, I’m new. I know I should’ve searched first, my apologies.
…not off to a good start here.
The cheapest is to use mineral spirits. It will last years and only cost $4/gallon. A gallon usually lasts me several years, you can extend the life of it by using a coffee filter and a funnel.
i am a big fan of simple green. it works pretty well.
warning: do not leave surface anodized or certain other painted aluminum parts soaking in full simple green overnight. no damage, but color changes are possible.
I second the Simple Green.
I’ve always used Varsol. It’s pretty much the same thing as paint thinner, only I think paint thinner isn’t quite as strong. It’s hella cheap and works better than anything else I’ve tried - but responsible disposal is a royal PITA. It’s also hard on your hands, and has a lot of fumes, too. Best used in an open area (or at very least a garage with the door open) and while wearing gloves.
Still, nothing cleans better or costs less. You just have to find a recycling facility/hazardous waste disposal that will take it off your hands.
I use plain gasoline. It seems to be by far the most effective grease remover. I don’t understand why people don’t use it more. Yes it is caustic, but it really works and you just leave the container outside for a week and it all evaporates. (not completely environmentally friendly, I am sure, but seems a lot better than dumping other stuff down the drain.)
Simple Green…every time I use gas my neighbors bitch that I leave my siphon next to their car…
Finish Line Biodegradable Ecotech Degreaser. Hope that passing cars don’t flick their cig butts at you. 
Zep Big Orange is what I use. Smells a whole lot better than Simple Green. Both work equally well. But why smell that green nastiness when you can smell orange? It is MUCH cheaper than the fancy citrus bike stuff. But it is the same stuff. Talk to guys at your local garage or auto-parts store, as your not likely to find it on the shelf. Buy a gallon or two. Will probably last you as long as you have your bike. Zep makes great stuff overall – teflon lubes, cleaners. All very high quality. See if you can find a place that buys from them (most likely a mechanic) and see if you can order through them. Or see if they’ll give you the name of their “disposables” supplier. You can buy a huge aerosol bottle of Teflon lube for what a bike shop charges for a little tiny dropper bottle.
Any one ever use “Purple Power” (supposed to be better than Simple Green)
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Any one ever use “Purple Power”…<<
Didn’t know it was better. I’ll stick to what I normally use.
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