I used to be part of the clean chain crowd, and was disappointed that my chains lasted only 1500 to 2000 miles. Everyone said it was because I was a commuter. During that era, nobody ever complimented me on how clean my chain was.

Now I use a rag dampened (not wetted or even moistened, dampened) with odorless mineral spirits (get it at a hardware store). I clean it before lubing, then a day or two afterwards. I don't mess with it in between. I now get 3000 to 3500 miles out of a chain on the commuters. This includes daily commuting in an Upstate NY winter--snow, slush, salt, twice daily.

I'm closing in on 4000 miles with my fair-weather bike and I still can't get the 0.75% side of the chain checker in.

Nobody's ever complained when my chain hasn't looked showroom new.

My conclusion is that overzealous chain cleaning either flushes grit into the chain or flushes out the lube (or both) leading to premature chain wear.

As for lube, try Chain-L from our own @FBinNY . His $12 bottle lasts me two to three years at 2000 to 2500 miles per bike, in my three bike fleet. Unlike the "clean" chain lubes, it stays where you put it, even through the wet, and the aforementioned Upstate NY winters.

For reference, these are cheapest 10-speed chains I can find, the KMC DX-10.