degreaser
10-03-25 | 12:37 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,308
Likes: 1,048
From: Chicago area
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
I tried "Orange Solvent" years ago. This is a degreaser used in dentistry for removing debris from instruments and other equipment. It is possibly stronger than the "citrus-based" degreasers. I found that it forms a sticky precipitate if it gets mixed with petroleum products, so I stopped using it for bicycle degreasing.
Kerosene or Odorless Mineral Spirits work well, are cheaper and can be re-used after settling or filtration.
Kerosene or Odorless Mineral Spirits work well, are cheaper and can be re-used after settling or filtration.
10-03-25 | 01:20 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,435
Likes: 3,262
From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
spray on, on an assembled bike?
unless your freehub and axle is COMPLETELY sealed, you will end up needing to regrease them.
degreaser breaks down grease.. it doesn't care what the grease is intended for.
off bike, cleaning a headset, Bottom Bracket, cassette, chain rings, or derailleurs?
mineral spirits. I have a large peanut butter jar, 1/3 full, that i use for the smaller parts... and a metal paint roller tray or baking pan for larger parts.
i also clean parts by dabbing PB Blaster on them, then wait a few minutes and wipe away the grease... I just did some nasty old MTB chain rings in that manner.
greasy buildup on the bike frames? PB Blaster+ a couple minutes, and a rag.
Zep 45 does about the same as PB Blaster. I used it for years in various M/C and Tractor Dealerships.
there are any number of penetrant oils available... they all do a similar job.
i don't use WD40 around here... except for test running old engines. Yes, it can be THAT Combustible.
i use "Tuff Stuff" foaming cleaner on some donated bikes... i live in a Rain forest, and the neglected bikes get covered in algae if they sit outside for a couple of years... the Tuff Stuff breaks that and the older, dirty grease down fairly well, along with a quick wipe with a shop towel too.
Citric Acid can attack metal and some paint finishes, not just the grease.
unless your freehub and axle is COMPLETELY sealed, you will end up needing to regrease them.
degreaser breaks down grease.. it doesn't care what the grease is intended for.
off bike, cleaning a headset, Bottom Bracket, cassette, chain rings, or derailleurs?
mineral spirits. I have a large peanut butter jar, 1/3 full, that i use for the smaller parts... and a metal paint roller tray or baking pan for larger parts.
i also clean parts by dabbing PB Blaster on them, then wait a few minutes and wipe away the grease... I just did some nasty old MTB chain rings in that manner.
greasy buildup on the bike frames? PB Blaster+ a couple minutes, and a rag.
Zep 45 does about the same as PB Blaster. I used it for years in various M/C and Tractor Dealerships.
there are any number of penetrant oils available... they all do a similar job.
i don't use WD40 around here... except for test running old engines. Yes, it can be THAT Combustible.
i use "Tuff Stuff" foaming cleaner on some donated bikes... i live in a Rain forest, and the neglected bikes get covered in algae if they sit outside for a couple of years... the Tuff Stuff breaks that and the older, dirty grease down fairly well, along with a quick wipe with a shop towel too.
Citric Acid can attack metal and some paint finishes, not just the grease.
Last edited by maddog34; 10-03-25 at 01:36 PM.
10-03-25 | 09:49 PM
#5
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,094
Likes: 1,272
From: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.
I’ve been using Dawn Platinum Plus Powerwash. I use citrus degreasers too. But this Dawn stuff is even better IMO.
Dan
Dan
10-06-25 | 09:13 AM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,486
Likes: 4,563
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
10-06-25 | 09:48 AM
#9
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,174
Likes: 6,243
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-07-25 | 06:29 AM
#10
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 52
ultrasonic cleaner
Purely speaking for off the bike cleaning, you cannot beat an ultrasonic heated cleaner. No need for harsh smelly chemicals either or scrubbing. I run two of them, one for degreasing/cleaning and one for rust removal
10-07-25 | 08:18 AM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,486
Likes: 4,563
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Odorless mineral spirits works very well for cleaning chains and parts but only as a soaking agent. It’s not something that you should use as a spray on product like on a frame. For that Dawn Powerwash is about the best thing I’ve run across. Spray it on, let is sit for a few minutes and rinse with water.
