Cleaning a bicycle chain can seem like a dirty and thankless task, but the regular removal of grit and grime will make the bike run smoother and save you money.
To clean a bicycle chain by hand, use an old toothbrush to scrub the links and then apply oil while you turn the pedals. Wipe away any excess lubricant with a dry cloth. The alternative is to use a chain cleaning machine like the Muc-Off X-3.
The kit uses abrasive cleaning teeth and rotating brush wheels to clean your chain as it passes through an enclosed reservoir. Any excess dirty fluid drops into a second lower reservoir so it’s kept away from the clean chain.
Muc-Off Drivetrain Cleaner is fully biodegradable and is safe to be disposed of down the drain if you previously used a bio chain lube.
Included in the kit is 75 ml of Muc-Off Drivetrain Cleaner.
Win a Muc-off Dirty Chain Machine
We have a Muc-off Dirty Chain Machine worth £29.99 to give away. If your bike’s chain has suffered in this week’s wet weather, leave us a comment below and we will pick a winner next week.
Environmentally friendly cycle insurance
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model.
For over 26 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered.
TheCyclist
A cyclist who uses his bicycle for everything and to go everywhere is in definite need of this chain cleaner. I get so tired of cleaning the chains on my bikes by hand. And the few chain cleaners I have tried simply ‘wash’ the chain in all the dirty fluid.
So yes please, one Muc-Off X-3. for me, thank you. 🙂
Claire McDaniel
When I got my road bike I embarrassed to say that I had no idea that you are supposed to keep your chain clean and now two years later I’m faced with the prospect of returning it back to its original colour!!
Ands
After a good soaking at the start of Prudential Ride London and battling the grime starting at 6am my bikes chain is more than ready for a deep clean a week later 🙂
Johnny Faro
Maintaining the family fleet could be made much easier if the lovely folk at ETA choose me.
Andy
This looks great for cleaning chains – it would be a great help with our family fleet of bikes!
Richard Scrase
But what will I do with my old toothbrush?
Paresh
I also use an old toothbrush for cleaning wheels and hard to reach parts on my bike!
Alastair Seagroatt
Not got a belt drive so this would do wonderfully
Steve Walsh
I’ll have one of those please!
Nathan R
Cleaned my chain last week and one of these would have come in very handy!!!
David Curran
We have seven bikes in our family (only three are mine), so we should be able to give this chain cleaner a good hard life!
Brent Whybro
Where’s the chain?
Mike Croker
Too many bikes, too little time (for maintenance): this would help!
Charlotte
This looks ace!!
Paresh
This would be much better than cleaning the crud and grit off with an old toothbrush and some rags. Cycling in the rain has definitely made Chain cleaning part of the regime this weekend!
Thanks and good luck to all who enter!
Mike Aplin
What a splendid idea – I never knew there was such a useful gadget!
Rachel Griffiths
This looks amazing! So much easier 🙂
Peter Clark
With Waterloo station half closed for the month of August, I’ll be commuting by bike more than normal so a great time to win a prize!
barry dillon
My wife is fed up with all my greasy mucky cloths from chain cleaning. So a chain cleaner would go down a treat 🙂
Michael Joy
I hate cleaning my chain, this might even make it fun.
Karina Rauff Meistrup
Wow. I love learning of new stuff you never know existed and suddenly they are a must have. Keeping a clean chain is my biggest struggle when maintenaining a bike and this sounds like a life saver.
Tom
My chain is always getting a drenching Manchester, always needs bit of a clean…
Pete
At last a clever machine to separate dirty cleaner from the reservoir. A must have !
Phil
Will this get the plaque off my teeth too?
Rick G
I might actually clean the chain(s) as often as I should do with one of these.
Christina
Would be great to try this.
Peter Chisnall
Squeaky clean
Rory Harkins
My bike would love you forever!
Scott
Yes please
Al Reed
Would love one of these.
Mark B
Something I should do more often. This would make sure I do it!
Francis Voon
I wanna a clean chain.
Ed Pearce
The missing link in my bike-care regime!
Matthew
Until I bought a an 11 speed bike I used to remove the chain and clean in a tub of degreaser. Unfortunately you can’t get reusable 11 speed missing link so removing chain would be an expensive weekly job. So, this device would definitely make my weekly clean less of a chore.
Helen Taylor-Carter
After a week cycling the cycling 100 miles round the perfect green lanes of jersey our 8 year old’s mtb is in need of a good scrub chain an all. Well done lad.
Sundeep Grewal
A chain cleaner that separates the dirty liquid from the clean chain… Surely a must have for the rain drenched commuters of Manchester. Good luck everyone!
Debbie Fuller
We would love this for cleaning the chains after mountain biking in the Pyrenees where we are now!
The next Lance
I’ve used other Muc-Off products before, but never tried the chain cleaning stuff, going my past experience this will work brilliantly too.
Kirsty North-Wild
Would love one – Will save my husband the dreaded job!
Ben
Would love one of these machines. I am meticulous about cleaning the chain, but it takes forever and is incredibly messy!
Roger Birchall
This chain cleaning kit would be so useful and timely!!, as the wife has just started to complain that there’s a “funny taste” every time she brushes her teeth!!!,
Ahh well as needs must! 😈
Matt Blackmore
Id love one! Thanks
Phil
There was a young man from Coleraine
Who cycled to work in the rain
His chain said “Get this yuk off”
So he used his “Muc off”
And now he rides smoooothly again.
James Russell
I discovered that my chain wasn’t black last week. Unfortunately I can no longer convince people that its a special carbon chain. Oh well!
Ruth
I need this as my bike needs cleaning regularly and this tool would be so easy to use!
Melanie Carroll
Ohh this would be very handy… My dad could use this on his new old bike, and the washing machine would be relieved not to have to fight the toothbrush related oil speckles that way 😉
David Hunt
A decent chain cleaner is essential (many just end up washing the chain in the dirty grime rather than actually cleaning it). I had a great one form many years, but sadly it doesn’t work as well. This Muc-Off chain cleaner would therefore be a great thing to win.
Kat Brown
I always seem to struggle to keep my chain in decent nick, this chain cleaner looks just the ticket! I have a few bike chains that would thank you for this win 🙂
Kwok
Fab! Love it!
Ema
No one likes to clean the chain, it is one of the worse jobs but it needs to be done and this def helps to make the job easier 🙂
Chris
Great idea, would love one to save time on this job
Kevin
Having this chain cleaner and bicycle insurance equals less worry and stress
Jean Grenier
YEs please.
Paul S
Yes please, Though will have to hide it from my son has he as a tendency to take my bike tools and break them some how and not tell me untill i need to use it the next time .
Christopher
My bike chain needs a good clean.
Inge
I’d love this just as much as everybody else to make my chain bling!
Colin
Another completion for something good that I won’t win. Good Luck everyone.