Tried a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol for cleaning my drivetrain

I got tired of degreaser making a mess in my apartment kitchen sink, so I tried filling a spray bottle with 91% isopropyl alcohol from CVS. Sprayed it on the cassette and chain, let it sit for 30 seconds, then wiped it clean with a rag. It got off all the greasy grime without any sticky residue, and it dries fast so I can relube right away. Has anyone else tried this or found a better home alternative?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_craig19d ago

Yeah I feel you on the whole degreaser mess thing. I used to degrease my chain in the bathtub and it was just a nightmare trying to get that stink out. The isopropyl alcohol trick is solid, I do the same thing with mine but I use 70% since 91% evaporates too fast sometimes. Leaves everything dry and clean, and you don't have to worry about leftover chemicals messing with your lube. It's honestly way cheaper than dedicated bike degreasers too, which is nice.

the_sean19d ago

Spray some alcohol on your chain and call it a day. I mean, you're cleaning a part of your bike that's designed to get covered in mud and road grime anyway, not prepping for surgery. People treat drivetrain cleaning like it's some sacred ritual now. A little bit of degreaser in the sink isn't going to ruin your life, just rinse it down with some dish soap. If the alcohol works for you, cool, but I wouldn't go writing a blog post about it.