Rims, just clean with bike cleaner / degreaser & water, have never needed to scotchbrite or any abrasive on them, make sure you clean the brake pads as well.

Chains, you will get lots of opinions from Simply Green to Petrol & diesel. I use a foaming degreaser, similar to this http://industrial.simplegreen.com/in...ystal_foam.php and find it works well, as I don't need to remove the chain or casette / cogs from the bike; adjitate then was off. each to their own on this.