Wow, that was fast. 17 responses so far, with some good ideas and some, ah, shall we say, curious ideas.

The problem I have isn't really with chains wearing out as much as it is with them making everything around them dirty. I don't mind paying for a worn-out consumable, and anyway replacement doesn't happen so often as to break any play-money budget (such as it may be). But no matter how much I wipe them down, spraying with any sort of solvent as the last treatment leaves a film of organic material which attracts dirt like a lightning rod, dirt which at the least provocation will quantum-jump from the chain or chainrings to my hands or clothes. However I do like the idea of soap and water followed by WD40 for the really bad boys.

The idea of mineral spirits "embitterment " of the side plates is curious. Beer is good with an embittering agent (like hops) but I've never tried eating a side plate so I don't know what effect it would have. I also have a hard time believing that an mineral spirits would cause embrittlement of any metal component. But then, I've never played a metallurgist on TV, let alone be one.