Originally Posted by
Gresp15C
I've reached the stage in my life where I don't de-grease everything any more. It's usually easy to wipe old grease from bearing surfaces with a rag, mainly so I can make sure the surfaces are not worn out. If it's in a crevice and doing no harm, I leave it alone.
This.
When I overhaul loose-bearing hubs, I just wipe out the cups and cones with a clean rag. (An old t-shirt works well.) It's easy enough to get everything out that way, without using nasty chemicals. Bearings get replaced since they are inexpensive.
For more intricate parts, with nooks and crannies, I use whatever is handy - usually just soapy water and a little brush. (An old toothbrush works well for small parts.) Sometimes I use White Lightning spray degreaser or WD-40, but it's pretty rare that I need that stuff.