How To Clean A Rusty Bike Chain With Household Products

The first thing you are going to do is remove the chain from your bike so that you can remove the rust thoroughly because no matter how hard you try if your bike chain is still on the chainring you will not be able to remove all of the rust.

How to clean a rusty bike chain with household products. Now simply take the bottle of white vinegar and pour it into the container. Take a look at your chain up close. With a few things you ve probably already got around your house you can have rusty bike parts looking. With your bike in position apply solvent something like wd 40 or isopropyl alcohol to the chain.

Before you wash your bike spray the cleaner over all of the metal and plastic surfaces. To ensure the longest life and best operation of bike chains avid cyclists should clean their chain once. Align the pin of a link removal tool against a pin within a chain link. Crank the tool until the link loosens and pops out.

When your bike chain is rusty the normal motion needed to transfer power from pedals to the bike chain and then the wheels aren t possible. Evaluate the condition of the chain. You do this by slowly turning the pedals backward to move the chain a section at a time so you can clean it by either spraying on the solvent as you wipe down the chain with an old rag or by wiping down the chain with a rag that is saturated with the solvent. How to clean a bike chain with household products.

However some people use chainsaw oil or even extra virgin olive oil when they can t get a hold of the real deal. Few things look worse than rust on your bike but rusty parts don t need to be thrown out. Soak the chain in a bowl of lime or lemon juice for 60 minutes to two hours. If you notice your bike chain is excessively dirty and grimy with a crust of dirt and environmental sludge it s probably time to clean your chain.

It doesn t take much effort to fix it but is a better option than replacing it in an economical way. If you notice warping imperfections in the metal or similar deterioration you and your bike will be better off with a new chain surface rust buildup and crustiness can all be removed so your chain runs like new. Turn the bike upside down setting it on the seat and handlebars. We do not recommend using any alternatives to proper bike chain lube.

These are not recommended as they attract dirt like crazy but in a pinch it is better than a dry chain. Rubber gloves are recommended so you don t get your hands all dirty and rusty from the bike chain. Let it sit on the dirt for awhile to break it down and then wash your bike until all soapy residue is gone.