A clean bike chain isn’t just for aesthetics—keeping your chain clean will help it perform better, run quietly, and prolong its life. Plus, it will save you money!
If you ask ten different bike mechanics how to clean a chain, you are likely to get ten slightly different answers. Like with everything else in cycling, people have preferences, but the tips collected in this article are broadly agreed upon, even if folks will put their own personal twist on them.
Soap or Degreaser?
Your first step in cleaning your bike chain: Picking your cleaning agent, like a soap or bike-specific degreaser. You don’t actually need anything fancy to get the job done, and you can even pick up what you need at your local grocery store. Dawn liquid dish soap is Nankman’s go-to.
Dawn is a great way to go if you aren't planning to remove your chain from the bike for a deep clean. Commercially available degreasers are great if you can soak your chain in them. But for an on-the-bike wash, Dawn does a great job of removing old lubricant and built-up gunk without harming paint finishes. Plus, unlike many bike specific products, it's cheap and easy to find almost anywhere.
If you are after a bike specific product, you have many options. So feel free to shop, ask your local mechanic and riding buddies, or experiment to see what you prefer. Currently, the staff favorite cleaner at Bicycling is Silca's Chain Stripper.
Select Your Scrubber
Bike-specific companies like Park Tool make brushes just for this purpose, and even devices that can fit over your chain to clean it. But any kind of cleaning or scrub brush will do just fine. You can even use an old toothbrush in a pinch.
A great cost-effective and readily available alternative is a dish brush. We prefer one with long and stiff bristles. These help get road grime and old lube out of hard-to-reach places like inside your cassette while offering plenty of cleaning power for easier-to-reach surfaces like derailer pullies.
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Our Top Picks For Cleaning a Bike Chain
Silca Chain Stripper
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
How to Clean Your Bike Chain
Here’s a step-by-step rundown of how to do an on-the-bike chain and drivetrain cleaning.
Clean the Cassette
Shift gears so that the chain is on one end of the cassette. Apply plenty of soap or degreaser to the brush and thoroughly scrub all the cogs, except for the one with the chain. Next, shift the chain down to the other end of the cassette and clean the remaining cogs.
Clean the Chainring(s)
Once the cassette has been cleaned, it’s time to clean the chainring(s). Like with the cassette, apply lots of soap or degreaser to the brush and scrub away.
Clean the Jockey Wheels
And don’t neglect to clean the jockey wheels on your rear derailleur—these can get really gunked up over time. Scrub them thoroughly and rinse.
Clean the Chain
Now it’s time to clean your chain. If you have more than one chainring, shift your chain onto the largest one. Apply a liberal amount of soap or degreaser and scrub all sides of the chain until clean. Scrub the side plates of the chain using the chainring as a surface to push the chain against.
Gently Rinse With Water
Once everything has been scrubbed down, rinse your drivetrain off with a gentle stream of clean water. Stay away from using a high-pressure hose, which can blast water into areas you don’t want, and remove grease from areas you want it in.
Let It Dry and Reapply Chain Lube
Your chain may now be clean, but you’re not done yet. Before tucking your bike back in storage, you’ll want to completely dry your chain off before applying a fresh coat of chain lube. Make sure to check the application instructions of whatever chain lube you are using, as different lubes have different application methods for optimum performance.
If you want to be good to your drivetrain, never lube your chain right before going on a ride. It’s best to add new lube after you’ve cleaned the chain (or at least wiped it off as much as possible). Then re-lube following manufacturer instructions, allow it to sit, and wipe away any excess lube before riding.
For a deep clean, you can remove your chain from the bike completely and either soak it in degreaser for about 5 to 10 minutes with periodic agitation every few minutes. If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, using that is as close to new as one can get a used chain. Removing the chain from the bike also allows for a more thorough cleaning of other components, but the added time demand makes it less practical when you're after a quick clean.
When she’s not out riding her mountain bike, Jessica is an editor for Popular Mechanics. She was previously an editor for Bicycling magazine.
