Is it dumb to use this stuff for cleaning my bike? I've been using it in my kitchen and bathroom for ages and it's great at getting rid of grease and making pots and kitchen/bathroom surfaces super shiny.

I know it's a mild abrasive, but I would assume a lot less abrasive than the grit I'm cleaning out of my drivetrain. I tried it out last night and I don't remember the last time my cassette looked so clean. I rinsed it off and there doesn't seem to be any residue left over.

Thoughts? Even if it's OK for general cleaning, is there anywhere on my bike I should absolutely not use this stuff? I tried it out on my steel-framed cross bike. Paint didn't suffer -- in fact, the bike looks brand new.

Thanks in advance.

I thought Jif was a peanut butter. Hey - whatever floats your boat...?

I assume that's the same stuff as VIM. We use it in our bathtub because it has a bit of abrasion. However I think it's starting to take the shine off the tub. I certainly wouldn't use it often on the bike.

Easier than carrying energy bars around for long rides, I guess


Yeah, I think that's the same (or similar) stuff. I'm not sure I'd use it as my standard cleaner, but an occasional clean with Cif isn't going to hurt the bike that much, is it? I'm still amazed at how clean the cassette looks...

i use simple green. idealy you want a citrus based degreaser that is non-toxic, biodegradable, and environmentally freindly. simple green is all the above and more. best part is that its cheap(was 10bucks for a half gallon, i can use it on anything, it doesn't smell horrible or stink for days.

even so you can google simple green and bike parts and find tons of articles about simple green destroying chains, eating threw metal, ect. i don't soak my chain, i have a simple chain cleaner from park tool and it makes the chain shine. i try to clean my bike every 100 miles or every 2-3weeks.

simple green works very well and I like it myself. BUT! Don't let it dry out on anything, it WILL etch paint and aluminium. Other than that...
Oh yeah! DOn't get it in your eyes! RIvals the day I got super glue in my eye for pain...

Citrus/ Goo Off(?) or something with d-limonene will do it for you and more. Won't etch paint or Al and will make your cassette shiny and edible smelling!

WD40 works well to cut the grease, and it evaporates fairly quickly. Sometimes I use it to wipe things down that have gotten grease on them.

Hmmm... I'd like to try that simple green stuff, but I'd be surprised if I could find it around here. Have had no luck tracking down WD-40 yet.