What is a good cleaner to use for cleaning the chain on my mountain bike?

Question

i'm looking for some common household products that may work.

Answer 1

your mom's toothbrush

Answer 2

Go to a bike store, and get some chain cleaner.  You cannot rely upon household products to get that gunk off.  While you are there, pick up some syn-lube.  DO NOT USE WD-40 or any other type of petroleum based lubricant.

Answer 3

I like to use that Orange colored citrus stuff you can find in the auto dept. at many big stores.  Its a bunch more cheaper then the stuff a bike store sells....

Answer 4

Simple Green and a toothbrush works great.

Answer 5

I use oil.

Answer 6

i use a citrus degreaser that you get a bie store and i also use soap and water, works like magic, i a actually just cleaned by whole drivetrain a few hours ago. once u clean it with soap dont use high pressure to rinse it off because soap is corrosive and if u use high press. then it blows it into the cracks and small parts and over time will rust in so just use a hose, no pressure, use a toothbrush too, it makes it sparkle and once ur done cleaning, take it for a spin and get ALL the water off of it and u MUST MUST MUST lube it up or it will rust

Answer 7

paint thinner, it will remove all the oil out of the chain so re-oil it after it dries