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10 easy steps to clean and lube your bike's chain

A clean chain is the heart of a smooth-running bike

Keeping your chain clean and lubricated makes for a better-running, more efficient bike, and prolongs the life of your sprockets and chainrings as well as the chain itself. Here's how.

Our guide below shows you what we believe is the best method to clean and lube your chain.  We've included a list of the tools and materials that you will need to complete the job and in some cases where you can buy them. If there are others that you prefer then feel free to let everybody know in the comments.

Tools & Materials

•Chain cleaning device such as Pedro's Chain Pig (see review) or Muc Off X3 Dirty Chain Machine (see review)
•Degreaser such as Morgan Blue Chain Cleaner or Green Oil Clean degreaser
•Chain lube in dripper style bottle such as Hunslet Cycles chain oil or Muc-Off C3
•Small flat bladed screwdriver
•Lint-free rag
•Hot soapy water
•Sponge
•Brush
•Old toothbrush

How to clean and lube your chain 01

1. Wash the bike, not just the chain. All you need is a soft brush and sponge and hot soapy water — the hotter the better for shifting greasy oily marks. Pay attention to the chain, working the brush into the derailleurs and rubbing the links to dislodge lumps of dirt and oily grime.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 10

2. Use a thin, flat-bladed screwdriver to carefully remove any dried on grime that has caked around the jockey wheels of the rear derailleur. Try not to let the bits fall into the chain. The aim is to remove not redistribute the dirt.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 02

3. A purpose-made chain cleaning device is the simplest way to get the rest of the grime out of your chain. You fill it with degreaser, clip it on to the chain and turn the pedals to pull the chain through the solvent bath and brushes. A chain cleaner won't always get the chain spotless, though, so read on for how to shift the rest of the crud and grime.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 04

4. Soak a lint free rag with degreaser and massage each individual link until spotless. To clean the inner link plates, use a toothbrush to agitate the stubborn bits until they fall out. You might need a spot more degreaser on the head of the brush to help soften it up. Another run through a new bit of rag and the chain should be spotless. Run your fingers over it, you shouldn’t have any oil on them.

How to clean and lube your chain 05

5. If your chain has a reusable master link, remove the chain and put it in a container such as a 500ml fizzy drink bottle that's half full of degreaser. Top it up and shake bottle to dissolve and dislodge the grime. If you're feeling adventurous put it in a dishwasher-proof plastic container and let the high temperature of the dishwasher rinse it spotless. Once you've washed it, hang it up to dry thoroughly.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 08

6. Once it's dry it’s time for the lube, which needs to be on the rollers of the chain and not the outside. Lube on the outside of the chain just attracts dirt, which in turn forms a gungy, oily paste.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 07

7. The trick is to apply the minimum amount of lube specifically to the inner link rollers only – anywhere else is a waste of lube. Don’t be tempted to use a spray. Even with a straw, it goes everywhere: all over the chain, the frame, brakes, floor. Instead, find a lube in a dropper bottle, one where a single drop is dispensed at a time.

Rotate the cranks backwards and allow a single drop to penetrate each of the rollers which separate the link plates. You’re looking to allow the lube to get inside the roller and form a protective barrier between the moving metal surfaces. You need a drop and not more. More will only lead to a chain that attracts more dirt, more quickly.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 09

9. When the lube has been applied, give it a minute or two to settle into the deepest recesses. Then slowly rotate the cranks for thirty seconds to help get the lube into the rollers. Continue to rotate the cranks and use a clean, dry, lint-free rag to clean away any excess lube. Pay attention to the outer plates which should be more or less free of any lube.

 

How to clean and lube your chain 06

10. Ride the bike for a few minutes, then wipe the chain down with your rag again to remove any lube that has dribbled out of the rollers. Wipe clean the sprockets and chain rings. You’re now carrying the least amount of lube necessary to do the job, in the cleanest and most efficient places in the chain.

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71 comments

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Rixter replied to CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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If you don't have an ultrasonic bath, can also put in a jar atop of your front-loading washer. The spinning will also do a reasonable job of agitating the gunk out of the chain.

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stefanitely replied to CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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CXR94Di2 wrote:

Quick method
Take chain off bike, fit spare chain, job done  1

Now drop dirty chain in solvent/gunk. Place in ultrasonic bath leave 5 mins, place clean chain in water ultrasonic for 2 mins. Take ultra clean chain drop in tray of already melted chain wax, remove and wipe down. Longest job wiping excess wax from chain.

Ahhh yes ingenious to use the ultrasonic bath - something which everyone has lying around their house...  29

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CXR94Di2 replied to stefanitely | 9 years ago
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stefanitely wrote:

Ahhh yes ingenious to use the ultrasonic bath - something which everyone has lying around their house...  29

They should have one if they are a proper cyclist hairy chested man  4

They are very useful for cleaning items which have inaccessible parts aswell as delicate items. Small ones are very cheap

Avatar
Darkhairedlord replied to CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
1 like
CXR94Di2 wrote:
stefanitely wrote:

Ahhh yes ingenious to use the ultrasonic bath - something which everyone has lying around their house...  29

They should have one if they are a proper cyclist hairy chested man  4

They are very useful for cleaning items which have inaccessible parts aswell as delicate items. Small ones are very cheap

Pefect for cleaning jewellery, or at least that's how I sold the idea to er'indoors  3

Avatar
military_boots replied to stefanitely | 9 years ago
0 likes

I have an ultrasonic cleaner too. It's bloomin' great. Pick them up on eBay for a reasonable price. Buy degreaser from here in bulk too rather than paying a fortune for dedicated 'chain cleaner' : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004V3QIJY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1442426797...

Avatar
a_to_the_j | 9 years ago
0 likes

day 1 soak in petrol
day 2 soak in engine oil
day 3 wipe and ride

Avatar
yingyang20 replied to a_to_the_j | 9 years ago
0 likes

This is ALL wrong!

The bike industry needs our support. Cleaning chains is dirty and time consuming.

As soon as the chain starts to look dirty and black......simply change it.

Make sure you always buy at least five chains at once to ensure you have plenty on the go.

This supports the bike industry and will satisfy your natural human hoarding mentality. As for throwing them away, well the Earth's core is molten iron so metal back to metal, right!?

Avatar
JonD | 9 years ago
1 like

Funnily enough, the 'Mickle method' (see cyclechat.net) of wipe/lube/wipe (repeated multiple times if necessary both removes the main grot from the chain whilst keeping the existing grease within the chain - the new lube helps wash any crap out. And babywipes are great for the wiping bit cos they don't disintegrate in a hurry. .

Avatar
Ratfink | 9 years ago
2 likes

10. Ride the bike for a few minutes, then wipe the chain down with your rage
 14  14  14

Avatar
longinthe tooth | 9 years ago
2 likes

Don't think KMC chains agree with you about using a chain cleaning machine.

http://www.kmcchain.eu/maintenance

NEVER EVER use a so-called ‘chain washing machine’ in combination with solvent. This is the one and only sure way to instantly ruin your chain.

Avatar
Airzound | 9 years ago
0 likes

I would never clean a chain like this nor use one of those chain cleaner contraptions nor expensive rip off bike degreasers or lubes. £4.99 for a litre of chain saw oil, £1.10 for a can of Car Plan engine degreaser 750ml.

First check chain wear. No point cleaning a stretched chain. May as well put on a new one. If still within limits then clean and lube.

Nitrile oil resistant gloves are a necessity unless you like filthy dirty oily hands and fingernails. Remove chain from bike by splitting quick link using Park pliers. Degrease chain in car engine degreaser in a large tin tray with various brushes. Rinse with lots of water. Chain scrubs up like new. Dry in oven at 50C. Lube in a bath of clean chain saw oil. Hang overnight to let excess drip off back into container of oil. Re-fit chain using quick link.

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