I just installed my chain/cassette on my build and they were filthy. Which got me thinking. How do I even clean this? I tried rubbing the cogs with a paper towel, but it kind of just smudged the gunk around…
Thanks y’all.
i dont clean my cassette or chain. they get replaced.
Yeah, I guess that’s what I’ve been doing…except I replace them with your (the majestic plural, but not actually referring to you) dirty ones 
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if you really want to clean them, you need to take them off the bike and take apart the cassette. soak everything in some kind of gentle degreaser (simple green, dish soap, etc…you’ll get all kinds of recommendations) and scrub them with an old toothbrush or paintbrush or something. then rinse them off and you’re good. re-lube when you’re done, of course.
otherwise, just use a chain lube like prolink that also rinses out old crap. apply it after a ride, wipe off the excess, and let it soak in overnight. wipe down one more time before your next ride. repeat every few rides.
You say re-lube.
I’ve never lubed before (always bought used).
What do I lube with?
oh. yikes.
any bicycle chain lube will work. progold prolink (what i use), finish line, white lightning, etc. prolink claims to act as a cleaner and wash out old grime and it seems to work pretty well, so that’s what i use, but there are lots of choices. you should really lube the chain every few rides; no need to be obsessive, but it’ll last longer if you keep it well lubed. read this to understand why chains wear out…and actually, just read the rest of the page, too. it’ll pretty much answer your questions.
I tried the pro link method, didn’t like it, chain was too noisy. I use tri-flow and clean it with clamp on gizmo and simple green. If I’m in a rush or just being lazy, I just reapply lube and wipe off.
I just get degreaser from my local hardware store, spray it on little sections of the chain each time wait 30secs for each section and give it a good wipe down once I have finished the whole chain. I then spray some more degreaser onto a rag and give it a second wipe down. I then cut a rag into a 2-3cm by 20cm strip, spray some degreaser on the strip of rag and floss the cassette with the rag. the cassette and chain look pretty darn good after that. Pretty simple and cheap
Cheers Alex
If the cassette or chain are off the bike, then follow the recommendations already given. However, if mounted, the easiest way is to wipe the chain down after every ride with an old sock. That’ll keep 90+% of the road grime at bay. I will remove the rear wheel every month and floss the cassette with an old towel or using the waistband of an old pair of underwear. Very easy.
I like to use 409 or some other equivalent citrus based bathroom cleaner in a spray bottle. I take the cassette off, spray some cleaner on the rag and wipe the gunk off the cogs until they’re nice and clean. You can use a rag to ‘floss’ between the bottom three to get crap out of there. Don’t kid yourself. If you want to do a good job cleaning the cassette, it has to come off. Tools are cheap and it something everyone should know how to do.
For the chain, I use the above mentioned cleaner, spray on, wipe chain off with a rag with some more cleaner, try to scrape the crap off the plates. Let dry thoroughly before applying any lube. Helps to clean regularly before stuff builds up.
i use GT85 (equivalent of WD40)every month or so and it takes care of most of the grime … then soak it when i am changing wheels (racing time) … make sure you relube after wd40 treatment
Rock n Roll Gold
The best thing I ever discoved.
Keep a pile of shop rags handy (I prefer those red ones you can buy cheap in auto pars stores but whatever works). After every ride or 3, start with a clean rag. Hold it lightly around the chain and spin the until it stops coming away ridiculously black with dirt. Then wipe the derailleur pulleys and chain rings. Use the rag to wipe between the cassette teeth like dental floss. Throw the dirty rag on to a pile somewhere. Thats 90% of the cleaning you’ll ever need.
Far less often, use something like that Park tool cleaner. Their chainbrite isnt cheap but need not be used that often anyway and has all the lube your chain will ever need.
I use wd-40 to clean the cassette and chain. I take the chain apart and put it in a coffee can,spray wd-40 on the chain. Let it soak for awhile,brush the extra gook off,then spray it with a hose. Same with the cassette. Then re-lube.
I use the Park Tool Cyclone Chain Scrubber filled with De Solvit liquid cleaner. Simple and highly effective. Chain will look and ride like new. De Solvit may be difficult to find locally but you can always find it on eBay.
+1 for Rock n roll products; they clean and lube the chain each time you apply it. You just need to apply it and run the chain through a shop towel and it looks like new.