urbanknight

I have been reading some threads claiming that Simple Green needs to be rinsed off with water, but they also seem to be in the context of soaking something in it. That still got me thinking though, am I doing it wrong?

Every two weeks (more if roads/bike are more grimy) I take a shop towel and spray some Simple Green (diluted 1:3 with water) on it, then wipe the frame, cages, cranks, derailleurs, seatpost, and maybe the handlebars/stem/saddle if they're also grimy. Clean the chain in undiluted Simple Green and brush it with a toothbrush. Wipe any excess cleaner off the bike with a clean shop towel, wipe the chain clean with a rag and lubricate it.

While I'm sure everyone has their own favorite method, I'm asking if there is anything particularly wrong with mine? It seems to have worked for me for decades, but I'm wondering if I'm expediting the plating wear or dulling the finish or whatever people seem to think happens if you don't wash Simple Green off thoroughly.

rsbob 

It is an excellent de-greaser and cleaner used in the correct proportions. Can’t knock what you are doing. I would probably spray the bike with water and then wipe it down.

After cleaning my chain, I use a compressor with a fine nozzle to blow out any remaining water/cleaner. It’s amazing how much still resides in the links after you think it has been thoroughly wiped down.

Polaris OBark

I see nothing wrong with it. I just use water on a shop towel, but a bit of soap helps with grease.

As long as you aren't flooding the bottom bracket or other sealed (or unsealed) bearings, you should be fine. Normal bikes are designed for all weather. Water intrusion, especially when contaminated with salt or very fine grit, is the enemy to avoid.

I wax my chain, so I don't bother with having to clean it (apart from wiping it with a paper towel).

icemilkcoffee 

Start reading here:
https://velo.outsideonline.com/gear/...imple-green-2/
And here:
https://www.autopia.org/forums/car-d...-aluminum.html

TLDR: Simple green bad for steel and bad for aluminum. Simple Green aircraft, Pro HD and bike degreaser apparently don't have these issues.

wheelreason

Simple Green doesn't play well with most paints.

Fahrenheit531 

It's worked well for decades, apparently. Who are you gonna trust, all those years or a bunch of fools on the internet?

SkinGriz

You should wash your bike with the urine of baby angels.

delbiker1 

No critiquing here, but I never use Simple Green. My normal solution is simply warm water with just enough Dawn detergent to suds up the water. I will use diluted Goo Gone for tough grease and grime. My quick method is to spray the bike off with a garden hose, then spray on LA's Awesome Cleaner, 1 part in 3 of water, wipe with a soft cloth and rinse. Then bounce the bike on a hard surface a few times to remove excess water, let it air dry, lubricate and wipe off excess oil. Maybe a total of 10 minutes. I wax my bikes maybe once a year.

urbanknight

You'd be surprised the number of things I did the wrong way for too long. Actually, you've probably seen enough of my posts to not be surprised.

It's actually ironic, but I worked in a bike shop for a while as a teen and we cleaned the bikes with a spray on bike polish. Degreaser was just for drivetrain parts. I don't know why I never adapted something like that for my bikes at home, maybe because I already had a routine there. With all the posts going through this forum about how SG is bad for aluminum/paint, it certainly took a long time to inspire the idea that maybe I could improve my method.


Too expensive, feeding the cherubs and all.

Maelochs

Put Simple Green in your pressure washer ......

I have also used Simple Green for a long time, and I have yet to see any of the rumored bad effects. As far as stuff on the Internet .... I will check out the links, but i can probably find links to studies showing Simple Green is a Superfood, Simple Green turns people into lizards, Simple Green was the poison Jim Jones used, or Simple Green prevents heart attacks. Not saying there is misinformation on the Internet ... just that there are mutually exclusive truths there .....

The one thing I am pretty sure about is that your chain needs to dry a day or two after washing. The water/solvent/urine/whatever gets inside there and keeps the lubricant out.

urbanknight

Oh the one thing I will never use is a pressure washer. I don't like replacing bearings.


Hmmm, I didn't know it needed that much drying time. I usually give it an hour or two. I'll try giving it a full day, but will probably just forget to lube it and will end up running the chain dry.


I have been drinking and using Simple Green for 30 years and I look and feel great.

Koyote

I think that would depend greatly on one's local atmospheric conditions, among other things.

cyccommute 

There’s nothing wrong with Simple Green but I find that there’s not much right with it either. It’s just not all that effective in my experience. The problems that people report are usually due to extended exposure to it. I can see why a chain would be damaged by soaking in it for a long time but that is more likely due to the water in the solution rather than anything else.

For spray-on/rinse off cleaners that are removed with water, I’ve found that Armor All Extreme Wheel and Tire Cleaner does a much better job of cutting grease and oil than Simple Green does. It’s much faster and cleans better. I use it primarily on frames and wheels that are difficult to clean physically. If I’m cleaning a chain, I still prefer mineral spirits but for quick washes, The Armor All works really well.

urbanknight

I know it would raise the cost, but would making the Simple Green solution with distilled water solve the problem? I recall that the water itself doesn't cause oxidization in radiators, which is why antifreeze/coolant manufacturers specify distilled water and not tap water.

cyccommute 

Not really. Oxidation occurs when oxygen is dissolved in water. Spraying the solution on to parts mixes the liquid with air which means it picks up as much oxygen as possible. Agitation of a chain in the solution would alos mix in oxygen. Radiators are closed systems so oxygen which may be mixed during addition of the coolant mixture is quickly consumed and no other oxidation occurs unless air is introduced.

Polaris OBark

Does Simple Green contain any oxidizing agents?

If not, I don't see why this would be any more of a problem than using some other soapy water.

rekmeyata

Why use Simple Green with all you need is Dawn for Dishes (non citrus version)?

Simple Green contains buffered citric acid in it, so leaving it on aluminum will tend to oxidize it which then will lead to pitting, which is the same reason you don't use Dawn for Dishes Citric version. How long will it take to damage the aluminum, I don't know, but prolong use will do the damage.

MarcusT

How greasy does your bike frame get that one needs a degreaser? Chain, cassette, crank, der., maybe even the rims and spokes, But warm water and a rag for the frame has always done the job. In fact many bike manufactures state to only use water

urbanknight

I think the reason I started using it in the first place was because I already had it around for the purpose of cleaning my drivetrain. Pretty sure I always had dish soap around as well, so just too lazy to go back to the kitchen vs use something that was right there in the garage.

rekmeyata

That's fine, but now you know about what citrus acid could do your bike using it over the long haul.