WD-40 Bike Degreaser

A good solvent is a worktop essential, and WD-40's Bike Degreaser does a great job at a sensible price.

• Pros: Very effective, great value
• Cons: Might be a bit aggressive for some uses

Degreasers come in various forms that can do different jobs (or the same job different ways). WD-40's is a high-pressure, volatile spray that liquefies oil, dirt and grime and flushes it right off the component of your choice.

> Find your nearest dealer here

This kind of high-speed spray is beloved by bike mechanics for its ability to clean out hard-to-reach places, such as inside rear mechs, behind chainrings and in between sprockets. It's most satisfying to see a river of black gunk come running off and the pristine surface underneath revealed.

The regulation label tells me that WD-40 Bike Degreaser is '30% and more aliphatic hydrocarbons', which means petroleum-derived. There's no water involved, which is good for cleaning water-sensitive areas such as chains and pivots. It evaporates quickly too, which means you can re-lubricate components pretty quickly after use.

I don't like to use any more solvents than necessary, so for most jobs I sprayed the product onto a kitchen towel and wiped to clean, which works just as well. WD-40 recommends that for plastics, rubbers and coated surfaces you should test it on an inconspicuous area first. I had no issues with any materials I tested this on, but I guess WD-40 wouldn't say it if it didn't mean it. If in doubt, use a citrus-based product on sensitive areas. Similarly, it's best kept away from any areas you really don't want degreasing, such as bearing seals because it will get past them.

> Read more road.cc reviews of cleaning products here

WD-40's aerosol is highly pressurised, which helps with the dirt shifting. For that reason I preferred to use the supplied straw to direct it, as straight from the nozzle it was inclined to clean the wall behind, as well as splashing back from the bike. This settles down as the contents reduce, but there was still plenty of propellant left at the end of the can to make sure none is wasted.

Also, WD-40 uses a good quality nozzle that doesn't leak or fall off in use. Sounds like basic stuff but some product manufacturers seem to have problems with it (hi, GT85!).

It's hard to directly compare products like-for-like because no two formulations are the same, but compared to something likeGT85 Bike Degreaser at £7.99 for 400ml, it's great value. Based on usefulness-per-penny outlay it's jolly good too, the 500ml can lasting me a good three weeks of pretty generous use in the workshop.

Verdict

Excellent solvent spray for hard-to-reach mucky areas, in a generous can at a great price