Washing up liquid chain degreaser?

[MrSimmo]

Does anyone use washing up liquid as their chain degreaser/cleaner? (Obviously washing off afterwards before lubing)

Seems a bit bonkers paying for special degreaser if good old Tescos best will sort it...

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Standard thinners and a 1/2 lt plastic milk carton.
If you go to one of the bigger car parts dealers, you'll get a 5lt tin of 'standard thinners' for about £14-£15. If you go to b&q or anywhere else you'll pay about £7 for a small 250ml tin. So buying the big tin is way more economical. And of course you can use it to clean everything from your hands to paint brushes.
Place chain in carton, add thinners, replace lid and shake like you're on Copacabana beach.

 

[MrSimmo]

Nice one, will grab one

 

[yorkshire89]

Yeah I use fairy liquid with a park tools chain cleaner, works well

 

[Marcm]

Pretty sure has salt in in it.....I could be wrong as kitchen cleanliness not my best of subjects

 

[MrSimmo]

Pretty sure has salt in in it.....I could be wrong as kitchen cleanliness not my best of subjects

Yup it does, but not a lot (if any) more than riding in mud/usual slop; so my thoughts were as long as I wash it off straight away after cleaning it should be ok; fingers crossed

 

[MrSimmo]

Yeah I use fairy liquid with a park tools chain cleaner, works well

Cool - yup same for the PT chain cleaner; cheers mate

 

[GolfChick]

Considering the cost of this degreaser and the fact you dilute it down I dunno why you wouldn't just get this. I think I'm about 4 years down the line now, one of these days I'll actually use it up!

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

I have the PT chain cleaner and it depends on what lube im using.
if ive been using wet lube the washing liquid doesnt stand a chance but for normal riding and using dry lube - no problem
I have given up using wet lube now as it just gunks everything and attracts grit but I used to get it off with road film remover (truck wash) in the PT cleaner.

 

[apac]

I use Cif foam oven bathroom mouse. Remove chain, squirt over chain. Leave for five minutes then rinse. Brand new chain.

 

[Gary]

Washing up liquid is BOTH a degreaser and a detergent.
Used neat and combined with elbow grease it'll do a fairly decent job of breaking down chain oil and removing grit/paste from chains/cassettes/chainrings etc.
Assuming you're going to rinse the bike and any components after properly any wet cleaning. then dry and re-lubricate any moving components I honestly wouldn't worry about the sodium content in WUL.

CIF bathroom foam mouse is awesome for getting chains and cassettes sparkling clean.
Been using it for since it was JIF Mouse 20+ years ago
when cleaning it to sell I'll spray the entire bike leaving it gleaming so prospective buyers are blown away by how good they look. (Even shitters and kids bikes)

 

[Mikerb]

Unlike most degreasers washing up liquid will not remove decent lubricants and for lighter oils it only works effectively if left to soak and if used with hot water. If you did the washing up by hand you modern "just chuck it all in the dish washer" ..." what do you mean its wasteful doing a 2 hour cycle just for a one cornflakes bowl and a coffee cup??" ....whippersnapers ...........you would know that!!.

 

[Repsol]

There's no way I'd be putting thinners on my bike to clean the chain, the solvents are far too powerful, over time it will ruin the paintwork and etch into the lacquer dulling the paint finish. Try it on your car bodywork and see the effect it has. No matter how careful you are, splashes will go onto the paintwork, not to mention the plastic motor covers that will eventually become damaged taking on a white bloom appearance. Far more safer to use a water based degreaser or better still use GT85 ptfe lubricant on the chain.

 

[MrSimmo]

Cheers all

 

[apac]

Cheers all

If using Cif bathroom mouse. Wear gloves as it can sting/irritate hands.

 

[Walkea]

Quote from Revolubes manual for their chain lube
Detergent containing SLS soaps (Sodium Laureth Sulphate), e.g., cheap shower gel - see the ingredients on the label. SLS soaps are being used in the industry for machinery cleaning from greases and oils. These act as degreasers and coagulants. You will also find them in cleaning agents used by car washes.
1. Put the component in the container and fill it with a solution of hot water and detergent. 2. Wait for 10 minutes for the solution to penetrate every nook and cranny. 3. Shake the container vigorously for about 1 minute. 4. Remove the cleaned element and rinse thoroughly with fresh water. 5. Allow to dry for about 1 hour

 

[Binhill1]

Does anyone use washing up liquid as their chain degreaser/cleaner? (Obviously washing off afterwards before lubing)

Seems a bit bonkers paying for special degreaser if good old Tescos best will sort it...

Used it for years never did any harm . If your out a lot and always covered in mud the chain etc is never going to last long anyway. Its only clean in shed usually and filthy within a few mile of riding. Some will argue. Drying is a problem if not in a warm area.

 

[steve_sordy]

Halfords sell 5l of car wash liquid soap (no detergent, no salt, no wax) It does a very good job on my bike and it is cheaper than 5l of Fairy Liquid.

See this EMTB thread for a full exploration of substances used to clean bikes.

I’ve been using washing up liquid on ebikes and here’s what happened.... - EMTB Forums

Nothing. Other than a clean bike. Every time. Oh, it also saved me time, money and hassle. I put it neat onto a micro fibre car wash mit, give it a good lather, pre soak the bike in water then scrub the bike. Rinse with clean water. The bikes didn’t dissolve into thin air, corrode or rust...

www.emtbforums.com

 

[taxidriver50005]

35 yrs in on washing liquid, works well... Squirt onto stiff bristle brush... Rub away then rinse

 

[Gary]

#dishwashing101

 

[taxidriver50005]

I am a man of many talents.... Most have yet to be discovered