Originally Posted by HillRider

I almost never remove and soak a chain. I wipe off the exterior with a rag, lube/clean it with a home-brew of OMS and Mobile 1, wipe it off again and relube. Takes maybe 2 minutes about once a week. I get over 8,000 miles on a chain before the "stretch" approaches 1/8" over 24 pins (nominally 12").