How to clean a bike chain with household products?

The love for biking comes with a few responsibilities, such as maintaining your vehicle for optimal performance. Whether you ride around town or go for an intense biking experience in the mountains, you need to clean your bike for a joyful experience. Buying specific products for cleaning the bike can be expensive, such as degreaser and lubricants. You find a lot of cheaper alternatives to chain cleaning products in the market. However, you can make your bike as good as new with household items. Here is how to clean a bike chain with household products: 

A step-by-step guide to clean bike's chain with household products 

To clean the bike's chain, you need a few things to get a good result. If you are using household items, you will need a good cleaning agent or dish soap, a toothbrush, a protective, a cleaning rag, and a lubricant. Here is how you can easily clean a bike's chain without taking it for professional maintenance service: 

1. Position the bike 

The first step to clean the bike's chain is to remove it if it's removable. To inspect the chain, you will need to stabilize the bike using a stand. Most bike's come with a stand that you can use during the process. If your bike's stand is not stable enough, you can rest it against the wall for more support. Sometimes, it is hard for you to work when the bike moves a lot. In such cases, you can rest the bike on the floor in an upside-down position so that it does not get scratches. 

2. Locate the master link of the chain 

Before you go ahead and remove the chain from the drive train, you must see everything correctly. It gets hard to fix the chain; hence, it is better to take a picture. To remove the chain, you have to locate the master link. Remove the chain and prepare for the next steps. 

3. Add cleaning agent to the chain 

If the chain is not removable, you can make a concoction of dish soap, lemon juice, and vinegar. Before applying the cleaning agent on the chain, make sure you wear a glove. The cleaning agent is potent, and it can cause your hand to sting. Apply the cleaning agent on the chain and leave it for a few minutes to loosen up the dirt. If your bike's chain is removable, you can soak it in a cleaning agent and warm water. It helps in loosening up dirt and debris. Sometimes, soap and dishwater may not work as effectively if the chain is very dirty. In such a case, you need a degreaser to get the grime out properly. Leave the degreaser on the chain for a few minutes. Re-apply the degreaser a second time to clean the chain properly. 

4. Clean and rinse the chain 

 If your chain is not removable, you can rotate the pedal to clean the chain with a rag dipped in water. You can easily clean the whole chain using a wet rag. Make sure to clean chains in every corner and not let the cleaning agent sit any further. If the chain is removable, you can wash it off using water. If you have a hard time getting the degreaser off, let the chain sit in water for a few minutes. You can use a wire hanger to hang the chain to dry. 

5. Clean the drivetrain 

 Most people forget about the drivetrain when cleaning the chain. Cleaning the drivetrain is equally crucial as it also collects dirt and debris. After taking out the chain, you can clean the drivetrain using a sponge. Soak the sponge in dish soap and vigorously clean the drivetrain with it. You can also use a toothbrush to get in the curves of the drivetrain. Use a wet cloth to clean it thoroughly. After using the wet cloth, use a dry cloth to get the excess water out. If the chain is not removable, use a dry cloth to clean it. 

6. Insert the chain back (If removable) 

 After you have cleaned the chain thoroughly, you have to let it completely dry. Remember, we suggested that you take a picture before removing the chain. You can use the picture as a guide to insert the chain back. After placing the chain, insert the master link back in place to secure it. To see if the chain is functioning correctly, rotate the pedals. You don't need an expert's help to replace the chain as it does not require any tools. 

7. Lubricate 

After cleaning the chain, it has a lot of friction and does not rotate properly. You need to grease it with a lubricant to move it quickly and lightly. There are a lot of lubricants available in the market at cheaper rates. One bottle can last you for years. A good lubricant helps in providing optimal performance and a smooth-riding experience. It also helps in protecting the chain from external damage. If you don't have a lubricant available, you can use cooking oil to grease the chain lightly. However, we don't recommend doing it often as it can damage the chain. 

Conclusion

A well-maintained bike fosters an optimal riding experience and outstanding performance. You must clean your bike's chain at least once a month for smooth performance. Maintaining a bike may seem like a hassle to many, but you can easily do it yourself. It will take a little bit of effort, but you will be able to do it quickly. The article discussed how to clean a bike chain with household products. To maintain the bike, you will have to run to your kitchen to grab a few items. However, we suggest getting your hands o a good-quality lubricant; it will last you ages.