I leave the chain as is and just lube normally, once every 2 weeks or as cleaning requires. It prematurely takes away inner mechanism lube to clean intensly. Too much and too often lube also serves as a media for dirt and grime to stick too. Look at your jockey wheels - when they are have build up and are dirty enough to clean then it is time to wipe/brush/clean the chain as well. I get about 5,000 miles (1 year) out of a chain with this methodology.