How to clean a filthy bike chain

A bike-specific degreaser will make cleaning the chain much easier. These are formulated specifically to break down the greases and oils used on a bicycle without damaging more delicate components that might get covered by overspray. If you are on a tight budget you could use something like WD-40 or isopropyl alcohol, but a word of caution: these will take more considered use. Keep them away from your brake pads and rotors if applied directly from an aerosol.

Mount your bike in a bike stand if possible as this will make it easier to access the chain and allow you the freedom to pedal both forward and backward. If you don’t have one carefully lean the bike against something soft to protect your bars and gear levers. When you apply the degreaser slowly pedal the chain to ensure full and equal coverage. You are looking to get every surface of the chain covered including inside the links and rollers.

To get the best results leave the degreaser on the chain for a few minutes to lift off the grime and contaminants. If your chain is particularly dirty you may need to repeat this process repeating a few times.

After a few minutes brush the chain with a firm brush to help lift off the persistent dirt. It is worth paying close attention to the internal surfaces of the chain where it interacts with the cassette and chainrings as the dirt there can cause accelerated drivetrain wear.

Once the chain has been brushed it is time to give it a good rinse. The best way to do this is simply with water from a hosepipe. When washing the chain, especially if it is particularly dirty, it is important to direct the flow of water straight down rather than across the bike. The degreaser solution will contain oil and dirt that can cause damage to other components, dirty your frame and contaminate your brakes.

With the chain nice and clean it is time to dry it. The best tool for this job is a clean microfibre cloth. This can help to pick up and draw out dirt that still remains on the chain in harder-to-reach areas. When the chain is completely dry it is time to lubricate it using a high-quality premium lubricant.

If you want to go one step further and really bring it back to looking packet fresh you will need to remove the chain from the bike before cleaning. This way you can put the entire chain in a cleaning bath and fully submerge it in a cleaning solution.

Putting the chain in a small jar or tub with warm soapy water is a good first step to prewash the chain. With the chain and the soapy water in the jar, refit the lid and shake it to agitate the dirt. Once this is done repeat the same again with degreaser. This step can be repeated as many times as necessary with the chain being brushed or wiped down with a cloth in between each cleaning cycle.