The right bike chain degreasers make quick work of cleansing your chain and drivetrain, eradicating filth and restoring a glowing backbone.
Most chain degreasers work as a solvent, dissolving chain oil, grease and filth. Primarily in all probability probably the most extraordinarily environment friendly merchandise make cleansing your bike chain a straightforward train – you could possibly typically rinse (or wash) the degreaser away, together with the loosened filth. For others, only a bit agitation with a brush or chain-cleaning system – or blasting motion, inside the event that they’re in a pressurised aerosol can – will likely be sure the filth comes away.
Many bike chain degreasers embrace poisonous components, which aren’t choice to the ambiance. They carry relevant warnings in that case, though some citrus-based and biodegradable choices have quite a bit a lot much less dangerous outcomes.
I spent two months testing 16 devoted bike chain degreasers. My extreme choose is the Oxford Mint Chain Cleaner, as a consequence of how effectively it removes filth and its worth for cash.
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Editor’s keep in mind: this finest pointers was first revealed on 10 December 2024.
Greatest bike chain degreasers
Greatest on take a look at: Oxford Mint Chain Cleaner
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- £8.99 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Effectively removes gunk; good mint odour; good worth for cash
- Cons: Doesn’t rinse off together with fully totally different merchandise
Oxford’s Mint Chain Cleaner may be very atmosphere pleasant at eradicating cassette and chain gunk.
It’s not poisonous to aquatic life (in distinction to the model’s heavy-duty Bike Degreaser), nevertheless can nonetheless be used to blast soiled chain oil into submission.
As shortly as utilized, the weather stays at work on the chain for an essential jiffy ahead of drying out, though I discovered rinsing it off with water didn’t appear to clear it away fairly as merely as one different merchandise.
The mint odour is further good than the fumes you get from fully totally different solvents, nonetheless you could possibly nonetheless use it in a well-ventilated space.
The can will possible be purchased in 500 and 750ml variants and is nice worth – the bigger can is solely barely elevated worth (£17.32 per litre versus £17.98 per litre).
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Terribly helpful: Weldtite Jet Blast Degreaser
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- £9.99 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Extraordinarily environment friendly sufficient to shift cussed grease
- Cons: Lack of precision nozzle makes it really actually really feel wasteful
I’ve been impressed when utilizing Weldtite’s Jet Blast Degreaser prior to now, and it performs merely together with fully totally different solvent-based aerosol degreasers.
The dearth of a precision spray nozzle meant I felt only a bit further wasteful when specializing in specific areas, which is a priority given the product carries a correctly being warning for aquatic life. Normally talking, you’ll need to use such a potent degreaser sparingly.
The nozzle will settle for a tube applicator, though one isn’t offered.
There’s no doubting its vitality to shift cussed grease and oil, and it’s respectable worth at £19.98 per litre. Of the solvent aerosol degreasers, solely Oxford’s merchandise are elevated worth.
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Greatest worth: Morgan Blue Professional Chain Cleaner
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- £15.99 / €15.50 (1l) as examined
- Professionals: Good worth
- Cons: Dangerous to aquatic life
This Morgan Blue chain cleaner is utilized by the Soudal Fast-Step Expert Biking Workforce, amongst others.
It’s good worth on paper. A litre bottle is £15.99, which is the right worth we’ve come all by way of on a volume-to-pound foundation.
The cleaner works correctly on all nonetheless the hardest chain detritus, though scrubbing and extra capabilities inevitably assist to shift this.
The gear methodology differs with container sizes. The 1-litre bottle is an unpressurised container with a outfitted spray applicator, the 400ml measurement takes the sort of a pressurised aerosol can and the 250ml bottle will possible be poured correct proper right into a chain-cleaning system.
Morgan Blue recommends utilizing soapy water to assist clear the reply away. It notes that the cleaner is dangerous to aquatic life, even when the bottle doesn’t carry a selected ‘hazardous to the ambiance’ signal.
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BBB Bio Drivetrain Cleaner Degreaser
- £14.99 / €18.95 (1l) as examined
- Professionals: 100 per cent biodegradable
- Cons: Extra work required than solvent-based degreasers
BBB says the Bio Drivetrain Cleaner Degreaser is 100 per cent biodegradable and created utilizing solely plant-based components.
Accordingly, the product carries no environmental hazard warnings.
The reply is concentrated, requiring thorough rinsing after use, nonetheless it shifts most soiled chain and cassette grime. It’s a must to use it with a chain-cleaning instrument, brush or rag.
BBB’s degreaser will take away further sturdy deposits with considerably little little bit of elbow grease, though a solvent-based degreaser will make lighter work of the job should you occur to have uncared for cleansing duties for a protracted whereas.
Worth is nice at £14.99 or €18.95 per litre in my take a look at bottle. The 500ml bottle comes with a sprig applicator and prices £17.98 per litre.
Fenwick’s Drivetrain Degreaser
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- £12 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Very atmosphere pleasant; dissolves thick grease shortly
- Cons: Chain nonetheless need to be dried regardless of claims of defending residue
Beforehand usually often called ‘Quick Blast Degreaser’, Fenwick’s Drivetrain Degreaser is a extraordinarily atmosphere pleasant solvent-based grease tackler.
Utilized to a unclean chain and cassette, the reply works shortly to dissolve thick grease, when helped by only a bit brush agitation.
The aerosol utility could be very environment friendly sufficient to emphasize away grime, and the mini-nozzle applicator enabled me to take care of components and keep away from spraying further delicate components.
Fenwick’s says the degreaser leaves behind a defending residue layer, though I’ve discovered I nonetheless wished to dry the chain shortly to keep away from rusting fully.
The standard warnings apply to this aerosol product, together with that it’s poisonous to aquatic life. Oxford’s Mint Bike Degreaser is cheaper and almost as atmosphere pleasant.
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Fenwick’s Foaming Chain Cleaner
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- £12 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Possibly the most effective water-soluble formulation
- Cons: Ought to be used usually to keep away from grime build-up
Fenwick’s Foaming Chain Cleaner isn’t fairly as instant-acting as a solvent-based product, nonetheless it’s among the many many most interesting with a water-soluble components.
Supplied in an aerosol container with a mini-nozzle applicator, it expands as shortly as uncovered to atmospheric stress to cowl the chain. You then ought to spin the cranks and shift up and down the cassette (or agitate with a brush), which I discovered best with some furthermore utilized to the cassette.
The froth breaks down shortly when agitated, although, so you may want a couple of utility to get your chain glowing clear.
A number of contained in the BikeRadar workforce use this product to acclaim, though it’s value noting it is very important make use of it usually to keep away from build-up and the necessity for numerous capabilities.
Do you must use a solvent beforehand to take away the worst gunk, you will need to undoubtedly rinse it away fully, on account of it dissolves the Foaming Chain Cleaner.
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Muc-Off Bio Degreaser
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- £12 / $17.49 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Better for the ambiance than others
- Cons: Further sturdy utility than some
Water-soluble and biodegradable, Muc-Off’s Bio Degreaser is healthier for the ambiance than many aerosol-based merchandise.
I’ve discovered it to be good at shifting free grime, and it breaks down further sturdy build-ups when left to do its concern. Some agitation with a brush is required at occasions, nonetheless that is frequent.
Understandably, it’s not as quickly atmosphere pleasant as perhaps in all probability probably the most extraordinarily environment friendly degreasers spherical, nonetheless I didn’t want copious parts to get the job executed.
The nozzle doesn’t carry out a directional applicator, so it’s tougher to be specific in your utility (and use it to blast at optimistic spots). The design obtained’t match a tube applicator, every.
At £24 per litre, it represents moderately priced worth, whereas it rinses away merely.
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Oxford Mint Bike Degreaser
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- £8.99 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Terribly extraordinarily environment friendly; good scent
- Cons: Correctly being warnings about aquatic life
An identical to Fenwick’s Drivetrain Degreaser, this degreasing product is very extraordinarily environment friendly.
The draw once more is it carries correctly being warnings about aquatic life, equivalent to the Fenwick’s fully totally different.
Oxford says it’s finest used on merchandise the place thicker grease and filth will assemble up. This incorporates derailleurs, nevertheless furthermore engine blocks and heavy-duty bike suspension fashions.
This implies it’s almost definitely only a bit too punchy for use liberally on a sequence, though I’ve had no elements using it sparingly to rid me of the worst winter muck (and, frankly, bail me out of being lazy).
The mint odour is nice, nonetheless equivalent to the model’s Chain Cleaner product, it is very important make use of it in a well-ventilated space.
The 750ml can doesn’t present the step up in worth one may hope for, nonetheless given the Mint Bike Degreaser’s effectivity, you shouldn’t have to make use of heaps to see outcomes.
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Peaty’s Foaming Drivetrain Degreaser
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- £17.99 / $20 (1l) as examined
- Professionals: Straightforward to manage; performs very correctly; rinses away merely
- Cons: Must make use of upper than fully totally different foam-based degreasers
This foaming chain cleaner performs very correctly, and in distinction to Fenwick’s Foaming Chain Cleaner or Weldtite’s Thunder Foam Chain Degreaser, it doesn’t rely upon an aerosol can to grasp it.
Packaged in a plastic bottle with a closable spray applicator, it’s straightforward to manage how heaps you employ. That mentioned, I wanted to make the most of greater than fully totally different foam-based degreasers to grasp the an equivalent affect.
The product carries a corrosive warning uncover, nonetheless isn’t marked as dangerous to the ambiance. You’ll want a brush to get the degreaser to scrub drier muck. It rinses away merely to depart the chain clear.
You should buy it in an unlimited 5l workshop measurement for decanting into an acceptable applicator, which ends up in the right worth (£14 per litre). The 500ml bottle is £12.99, whereas the 1l bottle is £17.99.
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Weldtite Thunder Foam Chain Degreaser
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- £10.99 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Nozzle helps with exact utility; citrusy scent
- Cons: Scrubbing required for cussed oil
Weldtite’s Thunder Foam Chain Degreaser is rather like the Fenwick’s Foaming Chain Cleaner.
The pressurised can has a precision nozzle, serving to with objective utility on the chain, and the froth shortly expands as shortly as involved with the ambiance.
Some scrubbing is required to work away cussed chain oil and the like, and some utility may be wished should you don’t clear your chain usually.
It has a citrusy scent, and Weldtite claims it doesn’t carry any dangerous components. It’s barely cheaper than the Fenwick’s fully totally different.
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The opponents
The following bike chain degreasers scored fewer than 4 stars, so we haven’t included them in our essential pointers. Nonetheless, they might nonetheless be value contemplating inside the event that they fit your wishes.
End Line Ecotech Bicycle Chain Degreaser
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- £18.99 / $16.99 (600ml) as examined
- Professionals: Will shift cussed filth
- Cons: Not the right worth for cash
End Line’s Ecotech Bicycle Chain Degreaser is one totally different atmosphere pleasant product at shifting cussed soiled chain oil and grease.
The model specifies that the degreaser is “inherently biodegradable”, which suggests it should degrade over a protracted interval.
Hundreds the an equivalent applies to fully totally different solvent-based degreasers, though it’s value flagging correct proper right here given numerous the green-leaning language.
You should buy a pressurised can to blast away filth, though the 600ml can (as examined) presents the reply in a pourable selection. You will then use it with a sequence cleaner or paint it on.
The solvent works correctly, dissolving almost all chain and sprocket muck build-up with the assistance of a bristly brush. Though some will want the comfort of a sprig can, utilizing a further managed quantity in a sequence cleaner will enchantment to many.
At £31.65 / $28.32 per litre in a 600ml bottle, there are better-value choices obtainable. The 4.5l refill presents heaps greater bang for buck, although.
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Muc-Off Fast-Drying Degreaser
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- £16 (750ml) as examined
- Professionals: Extraordinarily environment friendly and atmosphere pleasant
- Cons: Dangerous to aquatic life
Muc-Off’s Fast-Drying Degreaser could be very environment friendly and atmosphere pleasant, punching via built-up chain oil with ease.
Drier mucky grime takes some brushwork to take away, nonetheless that is par for the course, and every time I’ve used it I’ve been left with a extraordinarily clear chain.
It furthermore does what it says on the tin, in that it dries shortly and doesn’t go away further residue. Muc-Off says you don’t ought to rinse it off, though I hottest to rinse the chain and cassette in case any errant muck remained.
The can is giant at 750ml, and is sort of equal in worth to Peaty’s XXX Solvent Degreaser (£21.33 per litre for a 750ml can), though cheaper choices exist.
This degreaser carries components dangerous to aquatic life, which can put some off.
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Park Gadget CB-4 Bio Chainbrite
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- £17.99 / $17.95 (474ml) as examined
- Professionals: Shifts chain oil correctly
- Cons: Worth isn’t the right
Park Gadget’s CB-4 Bio Chainbrite fluid is claimed to be 100 per cent biodegradable and plant-based.
There’s no spray applicator likelihood, nonetheless the CB-4 fluid is designed for use with a sequence cleaner system or brush.
It shifts soiled chain oil correctly, and any robust deposits that haven’t washed away come away merely sufficient when brushed. Whereas not specified, I hottest to rinse it off after use ahead of drying and making use of chain lube.
The worth isn’t the right, at almost £38 per litre.
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Peaty’s XXX Solvent Degreaser
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- £10.99 (400ml) as examined
- Professionals: Water soluble and biodegradable
- Cons: Atmosphere pleasant nonetheless quite a bit a lot much less punchy than others; need to be wiped away
This solvent degreaser is water-soluble and biodegradable, which is a bonus for many who take care of the pure ambiance.
The high-pressure utility via the mini nozzle allows you to be sparing and helps push away built-up crud.
I discovered it atmosphere pleasant at cleansing up a drivetrain, nonetheless quite a bit a lot much less punchy than perhaps in all probability probably the most extraordinarily environment friendly solvent cleaners. It’s finest left for a few minutes to work away at grime, then agitated – so don’t depend on rapid cleanliness.
Irrespective of being water-soluble, I wanted to rinse and wipe it away very totally to take away residue.
It’s furthermore dearer than some selections, though the bigger 750ml ‘workshop’ can is healthier worth (£21.32 per litre, as in contrast with £27.48 per litre).
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GTechniq Drivetrain Degreaser
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- £19.99 (500ml) as examined
- Professionals: Definitely one in all many simpler non-solvent degreasers
- Cons: Expensive; would possibly need numerous capabilities
GTechniq’s Drivetrain Degreaser is a water-soluble components, in a 500ml unpressurised bottle, which you apply with a sprig applicator.
It carries the equivalent outdated warning for pores and pores and pores and skin irritation, nonetheless is biodegradable.
It’s one amongst many simpler non-solvent degreasers I’ve tried, though it’s costly at £39.98 per litre. The 5l refill container delivers heaps greater worth, at £25.99 per litre – respectable widespread, nonetheless not wonderful.
The weather doesn’t evaporate too shortly, so it has an opportunity to work away at built-up soiled chain oil. Some encouragement with a brush or chain cleaner is required to get the right outcomes.
This will often nonetheless go away some cussed oil behind, so a updated utility is extra more likely to be wished for a sequence and cassette to return up spotless, nonetheless that is par for the course with related types of degreasers in my expertise.
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Weldtite Citrus Degreaser
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- £16.99 (1l) as examined
- Professionals: Respectable job of eradicating oil; rinses away merely
- Cons: Designed for use with a chain-cleaning system
This citrus degreaser is water-soluble, and it rinses away very merely. It’s obtainable in 4 container sizes, though the smallest 250ml is the one one with a sprig applicator.
Normally, it’s designed for use in tandem with a chain-cleaning system. That is high-quality in precept, though these have a restricted shelf life given they use bristles, so it is very important ponder the price of adjusting them usually.
It does an honest job of eradicating soiled chain oil, and a cleansing system will definitely assist guard in opposition to wasteful utility.
That mentioned, I wanted to produce the chain an additional scrub to shift further sturdy crud from the hyperlink faces. There are stronger selections obtainable. Weldtite says reapplication and scrubbing could also be obligatory, nonetheless this (in precise reality) requires the utilization of further degreaser.
This need to be borne in concepts, regardless of the eager £16.99 per litre worth seen from our litre-sized bottle.
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How I examined the right bike chain degreasers
I spent two months trialling all of the bike degreasers on this pointers, testing their means to take care of calmly and heavily-soiled chains, sprockets and chainrings.
I examined the effectiveness of all of the degreasers, even volunteering to scrub an excellent buddy’s bike chains, by following the producer’s directions for every product.
It’s value noting I had earlier expertise with 5 of the merchandise, which I took into consideration, and the broader BikeRadar workforce furthermore offered notion into the degreasers they’ve used.
No bike chain is equally soiled as the next, and the making use of model of every product will inevitably have an effect on how they work. Nonetheless my reflections are indicative of my lived expertise with every product, according to how they’re supposed for use.
Why you could possibly notion BikeRadar
BikeRadar has been an authority on bikes and biking tech since its inception in 2007, delivering the world’s finest driving suggestion.
We’ve received consultants testing each sort of bikes, components, clothes and niknaks, from street, mountain and gravel bikes to commuting, bikepacking and electrical bikes.
Our critiques are regularly editorially impartial – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively take a look at all merchandise inside the exact world, regularly reflecting on effectivity, worth and the broader market when delivering their verdicts and overview scores.
We’ve received greater than 15,000 product critiques obtainable at your fingertips, together with knowledgeable searching for, repairs, instructing, expertise, correctly being and effectively being suggestion.
Our annual Bike of the Yr take a look at is an commerce benchmark and the BikeRadar workforce consists of numerous in all probability probably the most knowledgeable riders and testers contained in the enterprise.
What to hunt for in bike chain degreasers
Utility methodology
Degreasers are sometimes utilized via a pressurised aerosol can or as an unpressurised liquid.
An aerosol packs further degreasers inside than a bottle, and the nozzle will help ‘blast’ away cussed grime. It’s value remembering that the making use of via a nozzle will possible be wasteful on account of the degreaser is solely sprayed into the air.
All through the case of a pressurised foaming product (such because of the Fenwick’s Foaming Chain Cleaner), the stress differential permits the froth to broaden as shortly as expelled from the nozzle. It obtained’t bodily shift the filth by stress, nonetheless it’d preserve spherical in your chain and sprocket longer to dissolve it.
Some liquid- and foam-based merchandise are unpressurised (Peaty’s Foaming Drivetrain Degreaser, for instance, makes use of an easy spray applicator). Whereas they work on the an equivalent dissolving precept, further scrubbing will possible be wished to get them to work as effectively as potential.
Lastly, some degreasers are utilized utilizing a brush, or a chain-cleaner instrument with a reservoir. Chain-cleaning units might have some agitating bristles (or related) inside, and for the reason that chain passes via the degreaser reservoir and bristles, the soiled oil may be labored away.
Environmental considerations
There’s little question about it, degreasers are sometimes a nasty bunch of merchandise for the ambiance and our correctly being.
Some merchandise, resembling BBB’s Bio Drivetrain Cleaner, are plant-based and biodegradable, though this does come at a small value to effectiveness, in our expertise.
It’s honest to say that I’ve not at all wished to make the most of as numerous a poisonous degreaser to grasp the an equivalent outcomes as I can get with a less-polluting product.
Worth
In our suggestions, listed above, we degree out the worth you get with every product, on a cost-for-volume foundation.
That mentioned, real-world worth is principally decided by how you employ a product. A pressurised can with a precision applicator usually is a sparing methodology to go, nonetheless it’s straightforward to overuse it in its place of agitating what you’ve already utilized.
Citrus-based degreasers are sometimes quite a bit a lot much less atmosphere pleasant than perhaps in all probability probably the most extraordinarily environment friendly merchandise, so you could possibly find yourself needing to utilize further of them to grasp the an equivalent outcomes.
Perceive that regular repairs is smart. Permitting your drivetrain to gunk up fully is a surefire methodology to make the most of up further product than would in another case be obligatory.
Bike chain degreasers vs common degreasers
Bike chain degreasers are typically formulated to work finest on a motorbike chain, which has smaller hyperlinks and additional delicate components than you’ll uncover in quite a few conditions.
Degreasers are usually described as protected to make the most of close to bearings, which suggests they shouldn’t as readily dissolve bearing and meeting grease.
Nonetheless, some merchandise such because of the Oxford Mint Bike Degreaser are further extraordinarily environment friendly and will merely break down thicker greases, so further care have to be taken should you employ these on a sequence.
Can I exploit WD40 to degrease my bike chain?
Sure, you could possibly, though it’s not the right product to make the most of.
That is totally on account of furthermore it is a lubricant (which has been dissolved in a solvent choice). The solvent half expels most filth and chain oil, nonetheless leaves a lubricating movie behind.
This residue usually mixes up with any remaining filth and attracts further. It’s furthermore not very long-lasting as a sequence lubricant, which suggests it’s not the one-hit-wonder product many have in mind it to be.
In our expertise, you are quite a bit higher off with separate cleansing and lubrication merchandise.
Can I exploit washing-up liquid to scrub my chain?
Sure, family washing-up liquid (typically in a warm-water choice) may be utilized to scrub a sequence, nonetheless it’s not very atmosphere pleasant.
It’s because of the cleansing brokers – those who dissolve food-based oils and fat, for instance – aren’t as atmosphere pleasant on bike chain lubes.
Numerous elbow grease may be wished to scrub a motorbike chain with dish cleaning cleansing cleaning soap, and the product is further extra more likely to go away further build-up on the comb you’re utilizing on account of it obtained’t dissolve it as effectively.