I see it recommended here often but am wondering which one people are talking about - original or motorsports?

You see it recommended here? This is the largest colony of Simple Green hate I've ever come across.

I use original. Be forewarned - soaking stuff in Simple Green isn't a smart choice, specifically finished aluminum. It will dull the appearance, and some manufacturers have claimed it'll make their metals brittle.

Taking a quick look at Simple Green's MSDS sheet, it's really non reactive. Just don't soak stuff in it and rinse parts off after they're shiny clean.

Cheers!

I use the original. I just soak the chain in it for 5 minutes rub it a little to free all the gunk. Rinse with water, and then dry it in the oven.

I have noticed that Mineral Spirits work better than simple green.

My friend used to soak his chain in simple green and it snapped at a light. I soak mine in citrus degreaser and use simple green motorsports to clean my bike.

I use the Simple Green general purpose cleaner from Auto Zone. You can buy a big tub, but I just went with the regular windex-sized spray bottle. Lasts a very long time. I haven't tried using it to clean my chain, but it works great everywhere else. I just dilute it with some water and wipe my carbon frame down with a rag every now and then. I use it to clean mud and grime off my brake calipers too. I haven't noticed any fading or problems using it on my black Red calipers.

I've read warnings from people online not to use it on metal too, but I think this is probably a case of just one or two horror stories that turned into widespread rumor.

They only have this one in shop. Is it too powerful?
https://canada.simplegreen.com/ca_products_ps_max_en.php

I noticed that all the grocery stores around here only have the concentrated simple green. I couldn't understand why it would come that way in a spray bottle. So I bought that and an empty spray bottle and the total at the register was $6.66.

Anyway, the recommended dilution for heavy grease was from not diluted to 10:1. I made up a mix of 5:1 and the grease just came right off. Once this bottle is done I'm going to try it at 10:1 and see how good that is.

With the chains snapping at lights, I'm sure it's just a matter of soaking it too long in too strong a solution. Even stuff that's normally good for you can kill you in massive doses (like water). You really don't need to soak it at all - just hit it with the spray bottle, give it a quick wipe with the rag, and then hose it off with water.

I used to use Simple Green from the automotive section of Canadian Tire ... and then I discovered that there is Simple Green in the kitchen section of Canadian Tire, and it is less expensive. It seems to work the same ... so why pay more for a product in a different section of the store.

Oh and ... don't soak anything in Simple Green, or at least not for any length of time. I just spray it on, give it a few moments to sit there, and then rinse. And that works.

You're supposed to dilute simple green with water (or mineral spirits I guess).

I've used even a 30:1 ratio with good success at removing grease and road grime.

Also, I use the original. Walmart carries it for a good price.

They actually make a version of it for bicycles. It comes in a can, and is a "foaming" degreaser. I use it for the cassette and crankset, but use Pedro's citrus stuff for the chain in one of the Park Tool scrubber things.

I use that....works great. Start off by spraying the cassette down, let it soak for about 5 min while I clean the rest of my bike with regular soap, then rinse - makes the cassette showroom clean!!

I use this stuff in my car too. It makes the inside of my engine and crankcase "showroom clean."

It makes just about that much sense to do this to the innermost parts of your bike chain.

Don't soak - https://velonews.competitor.com/2005/...e-green-2_9216

the responses from the Simply Green marketing guy and the 3M tech were both very interesting.

I use it on my chain and cassette but keep it away form any parts with bearings. I used to use it all over the bike and found my bearings were quickly going out. I think it penetrates into sealed bearings and eats the grease that is in there, killing the bearings. So I would suggest caution with Simple Green.

I use regular original Simple Green for all my on-the-bike cleaning. If I'm gonna soak something longer than ~5 minutes, I use odorless mineral spirits. My bike mechanic says he uses the new "aircraft grade" (?) Simple Green in his soak tank.

I use the motorsports version since I also use it on my cars. Full strength, brush in on a cassette and chain rings, rinse with water. Cleans them up nicely. If my chain is super yucky I'll use it in my chain cleaner. Works great!

Yep ... there seems to be no problem with full-strength Simple Green if you don't soak your parts in it. I don't have a bottle of it here, but it seems to me that the label on the bottle also recommends that people do not soak things in Simple Green. Someone else can check that.

Any problems I've heard with Simple Green have been stories where someone has apparently left a chain or something soaking in it over the winter, and came back to find the chain or whatever it was half gone.

That's only if you soak for extended periods. 5 minutes won't do much harm.

regular. it's that simple.

never seen this stuff. where'd ya get it?

Most of the LBS here use:

Regular simple green for cleaning
Pedro's Citrus for degreasing

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...s/09-00809.php


Extreme simple green. This is was the General Aviation community uses on airplanes since they are mostly aluminum. Stuff works great, but is pricey!!

Meh, internet drama. Chlorine free brake cleaner works better.

Orange oil polish on the bike, and kerosene for the chain. After you soak the chain in kerosene for about an hour, shake it around in the bottle and rinse it with clean water, dry completely, and lightly lube the inner circumference with Tri-Flow.

A local bike shop. It doesn't work any better or worse than the other stuff out there.