Cleaning and Degreasing on the Cheap: RECIPES

From Al Feng:
Briefly (for a change), you only need THREE solvents:

1) water
2) WD-40
3) paint thinner (optional)

Shooting from the hip, I would say that 95% of what you need to clean on
a bike can be cleaned with water and/or dishwashing liquid & water.

For your chain, specifically:

1) wipe it off with a dry/clean paper towel (folded in half OR quarters
to give it greater thickness) ... use an old toothbrush to knock off any
crud (dirt and/or the waxy crud which passes as some chain "lubes")

2) WD-40 on a paper towel (quartered) to WIPE the chain

3) 3-in-1 or equivalent household oil to actually re-lube the chain
(i.e., the chain's pins).
4) wipe off the excess

Lubricant on the outside of the chain:

a) keeps water off ... prevents rust

b) collects dirt

WD-40 can be used as a lubricant AND a solvent ...

Paint thinner (buy a gallon from Home Depot) is for when you are in a
hurry.

AVOID letting either WD-40 or paint thinner make contact with rubber
components ... i.e., don't spray WD-40 or other lubes directly on your
chain or other moving parts WITHOUT covering your tires with newspaper.
If you get any lubes (or, over-priced cleaners) on your tires/paint, wipe
it off ASAP/immediately and rinse with water/soap-and-water.

Supposedly, SIMPLE GREEN is capable of destroying a SRAM chain!?!
Environmentally friendly?!? Use "Palmolive" (or, equivalent) dishwashing
liquid.