I hated getting grease on me, so years ago I started waxing my chains/drivetrains and then use dry silicone spray over the drivetrain to keep from collecting small dirt particles!
I had my bicycle on the trainer near a curtain. A wind blew and the curtain got chain oil stains. After I saw the video I used W5 chain cleaner from Lidl. I've damped the area and then scrub it with an old toothbrush. The stains faded almost immediately. Now the curtain is in the washing machine. Thanks guys for the tip!
You cover everything!!! You are amazing and you guys are psychic!! Just this morning I noticed a rather large chain stain on my shorts. This vid is very timely! Thanks.
I studied theatre and for my degree had to do a costume class- my instructor said the first 24 hours of that stain life will dictate if you will be able to actually remove that stain from the fabric so do not put off cleaning that stain. Theatre school also made use figure out common stains that befall actors like coffee and chocolate so this is where this advice comes from. In addition to bike grease, make a cheat sheet of what fibre content your kit is from socks to base layer to jerseys then consider what potential stains you might have while wearing your kit. Ie coffee, blood, tea, grease, grass stains, chocolate, beer etc for each type of fibre - Lycra, wool, nylon, cotton etc For food and drink considering how these are made or how you take them will help you figure out how to best remove that stain- if you drink black coffee, you will just have to consider how to remove coffee but if you add milk and sugar, you need to consider those elements are removed from clothing. You might have to spend sometime googling on the internet and I recommend doing this before not mid panic! Don’t use oxy on protein based fibres like wool- it fixes stains by eating protein. Also read laundry labels on kits to find out how to care for them best! I do appreciate that Conner used more home remedies to remove stains that you can buy around the world rather just items found in England or Europe.
Your experiment is mixing base with relatively high pH; acid with relatively low pH, and water with pH nearly balance as basically the solvent. The result is a solution with (relatively) close to neutral pH similar to drinking water, CO2 (that fizz), and some solids/salt, depending on the balance of the mixture. So that dirt you have might go away with only water from the beginning. May want to experiment 1st with soluble baking soda. Then 2nd with acid solution (lemon etc). Then 3rd continued with just water with pH balanced. Different type of dirt and material will react (soluble) differently with each high, low, or neutral pH solution. Some dirt will just be layers of different materials require different pH to clean them. For example stain from chain is made from grease, road dirt, sweat, etc. The 1st wash will may only get grease away. 2nd solution will kick road dirt..etc
If you live in the US Murphy oil soap is my go to for stain. It is excellent for getting out blood, dirt and grease. Just put it on the stain and work it in then rinse. Repeat if necessary then wash. Thanks
Hi guys! Do you have any suggestions for getting tubeless sealant out of cycling kit? I had a MASSIVE puncture and got absolutely covered. I'm really sad that my brand new Rapha kit took the worst of it...
I'm curious of these suggestions, which of them came from the manufacturers if cycling kit? Some of these seem like good solid tips from turn of the century house wives but I wonder if some wouldn't degrade the clothing prematurely. Also, highly recommend washing all kit in a garment bag on the delicate/gentle cycle and lay flat or hang dry. Some kit will say it's ok to put in the dryer but elasticity will degrade faster when exposed to the heat of a dryer. I've made the mistake of a piece accidentally slipping in to the dryer so once isn't going to kill it, just over time. I have two sets of kit: commuter kit and fancy kit. The commuter kit reeks. I think it's from not drying out properly after the ride in. Si was commuting in to GCN a lot, perhaps he has some insight?
Idea for a future GCN Tech Show - Explore the Pros/Cons of internal geared rear hub versus the cassette/derailleur setup. Especially with the single chain ring gaining in popularity due to it's simplicity, I think the time is right for internal gears to get some respect.
Not true. I use Squirt and there's gunk on the drivetrain until the bits fall off. Heaven help you if those bits get ground into items such as socks and carpet.
@@waisinglee1509 Never used this kind of chain lube, but putting your chain in molten paraffin will keep the chain clean. I use this method on all my bikes. Even if the chain comes off and you have to put it back on with your fingers, you don't even have to wash your hands after.
Bike degreaser keeps my white bar tape looking better, longer. A cafe stop solution to grease spoiled hands is olive oil and a teaspoon of sugar... work it very thoroughly into your hands as you would with swarfega, then wash hands with normal soap and water. Sugar can also be used to turbo charge the normal swarfega... better than the now banned micro plastic particles!
#askgcntech : now we’re on Giro helmets, maybe you can help me out: I own a Giro Synthe helmet in matte reflective black. I’ve been wearing it for a couple of years, and it has become full of scuffs and scratches. Have you got any tips on how to remove them?
Do NOT use heavy duty hand cleaner on your good bike clothes! They're an abrasive, they work on your hands by peeling the dirty outer layer of your skin! You do not want to sand down your expensive bike clothes, do you? Personally I haven't had a stain that withstood Beckmann and the usual wash cycle, but any degreasing agent (dishwashing liquid also does count as one) + detergent should do the trick.
Can’t wait to head back to Ireland soon so I can get some Chef Ketchup (the nicest in the world in my option). Will probably spill it all over my kit and will have to rewatch the video.
You could use a few drops of Guinness to remove the stains. If that doesn't work, then drink the rest of the Guinness and you'll not worry about stains.
You can just use hand soap let it sit for the night and in the washing machine. If that doesn't get it out i use hot water and soda crystals let it sit overnight and in the washing machine.
Professional (ok, former professional) advice: Oil is a non-polar substance, compounded by extra grit and dirt. So it's hard for aqueous solvents (i.e. water) to dissolve and remove very oily substances. Detergent helps by creating micelles that actually can remove and suspend the dirt in the water, but you can "help" by making the solvent (i.e. the wash) more similar to the thing you're trying to dissolve. So the no-brainer cleaners of choice are the degreasing agents, especially if they are also soluble in water such as the limonene in something like citrus degreaser. Other strong solvents will also work (e.g. goo-gone)- but may eat your kit. I've never had a problem with citrus degreaser. Apply, remove as much of the stain as you can, then laundry again. Source: former employee on the heavy duty powder detergent and hard surface cleaning divisions on a major multinational consumer goods corporation.
When I was in the service and we would get lube stains on our uniform we would stain the whole garment. Like magic, the stain dissappears. It may not be the same color, but it is all uniform in color..
A number of possible solution, but no idea of what will work. Anyway, vinegar, lemon juice and other acids will definitely damage your Lycra for good. Everybody knows that acids and conditioner will damage lycra clothes.
David Hellyer That’s an interesting point. Maybe it’s similar to when you use a fine abrasive metal polish and the rag you are using ends up looking black. The road grit suspended in the chain lube is acting the same and ‘polishing’ the gears and chain links? Sorry cogs.
I always wonder why the chain on my turbo trainer also turns black. It’s not dirt, I think it’s the wear of the chain roller, but maybe this group knows more.
Bike Hut chain degreaser from Halfords worked an absolute treat on my bright yellow soft-shell. Place a cloth under the material, dip a cotton bud into the degreaser, gently work into the stain, then dab dry with a piece of kitchen paper. It might take 3 or 4 cotton buds, but if you keep working it will eventually shift. Then just chuck it in the washing machine on a normal wash.
Tried them all and a bit of the stain is still there, grrr. I was disappointed with the Dr Beckerman oil stain remover, though, it does take away some of the stains but not all, which is disappointing for such an expensive product. The oxy stain remover doesn't work on oil stains, so forget about it. As for the rest, all of them do something but I can't say which is more effective.
One trick of the trade is that acids mixed with bases neutralize each other. So lemon juice (acid) neutralizes baking soda (alkaline). A lot of people figure that the fizzing is the solution "working". Well, no, that's just the carbon dioxide from the baking soda being released by the acid in the lemon juice. The trick of the trade is that if you see baking soda being mixed with an acid, that is a lousy cleaning solution. It works great in cakes (see baking powder), but not for cleaning. A better idea would be to use baking soda and water to make an alkaline solution. This works great to break down fats. For oils, use a soap, which has a oleophilic end (loves oil) and a hydrophilic end (loves water) to the molecule. Rub that in and the molecules will bind to the oils, then wash and they will bind to the water, and wash the oils away. See Fairy liquid, hand soap, stain remover. And don't iron or use the dryer on your clothes. To set dyes in clothing they use acids and heat.
Have you got an oil stain you just can't get rid of? Let us know if this video helped 👇
Thanks so much,this is so helpful
@@davidbloom8854 Glad you found it helpful David!
White road shoes, argh nightmare to keep clean. Any tips would be awesome thanks
I hated getting grease on me, so years ago I started waxing my chains/drivetrains and then use dry silicone spray over the drivetrain to keep from collecting small dirt particles!
I had my bicycle on the trainer near a curtain. A wind blew and the curtain got chain oil stains. After I saw the video I used W5 chain cleaner from Lidl. I've damped the area and then scrub it with an old toothbrush. The stains faded almost immediately. Now the curtain is in the washing machine. Thanks guys for the tip!
Welcome to the Garment Cleaning Network!
Haha!
Chad Salazar 🤣🤣🤣🤣
amazing tips! The dishwashing soap and baking soda worked like a charm!
You cover everything!!! You are amazing and
you guys are psychic!!
Just this morning I noticed a rather large chain stain on my shorts. This vid is very timely! Thanks.
So Hank and Manon are meanies - and great video, thanks for the tips!
Lemon juice and baking soda with a bit of help from a toothbrush worked a treat! Was convinced my jersey was heading for the trash! Thanks guys
Swarfega. Successfully used it on oil stains for years!
Great tip!
5:44 Did connor just give us the finger salute? lol
SO COOL VIDEO! keeping your bike clean is an absolute must! 🤙🏾🤙🏾
Thanks!
This is great! I haven't tried anything on my stained garments yet but I'm looking forward to giving it a go.
Did I hear Nigel asking where his tooth brush has gone.
I studied theatre and for my degree had to do a costume class- my instructor said the first 24 hours of that stain life will dictate if you will be able to actually remove that stain from the fabric so do not put off cleaning that stain.
Theatre school also made use figure out common stains that befall actors like coffee and chocolate so this is where this advice comes from. In addition to bike grease, make a cheat sheet of what fibre content your kit is from socks to base layer to jerseys then consider what potential stains you might have while wearing your kit. Ie coffee, blood, tea, grease, grass stains, chocolate, beer etc for each type of fibre - Lycra, wool, nylon, cotton etc
For food and drink considering how these are made or how you take them will help you figure out how to best remove that stain- if you drink black coffee, you will just have to consider how to remove coffee but if you add milk and sugar, you need to consider those elements are removed from clothing. You might have to spend sometime googling on the internet and I recommend doing this before not mid panic!
Don’t use oxy on protein based fibres like wool- it fixes stains by eating protein.
Also read laundry labels on kits to find out how to care for them best!
I do appreciate that Conner used more home remedies to remove stains that you can buy around the world rather just items found in England or Europe.
Thanks for the tips! Going to try my Swarfega hand cleaner on my cycling jacket
Some good tips there Conor. I could have done with them a year ago though when the stain happened. ;-)
It's like watching a young Delia Smith...cracking stuff Connor
Haha! Thanks for watching!
Your experiment is mixing base with relatively high pH; acid with relatively low pH, and water with pH nearly balance as basically the solvent. The result is a solution with (relatively) close to neutral pH similar to drinking water, CO2 (that fizz), and some solids/salt, depending on the balance of the mixture. So that dirt you have might go away with only water from the beginning.
May want to experiment 1st with soluble baking soda. Then 2nd with acid solution (lemon etc). Then 3rd continued with just water with pH balanced. Different type of dirt and material will react (soluble) differently with each high, low, or neutral pH solution.
Some dirt will just be layers of different materials require different pH to clean them. For example stain from chain is made from grease, road dirt, sweat, etc. The 1st wash will may only get grease away. 2nd solution will kick road dirt..etc
Solid tips! I use oxyclean, works great 👍
If you live in the US Murphy oil soap is my go to for stain. It is excellent for getting out blood, dirt and grease. Just put it on the stain and work it in then rinse. Repeat if necessary then wash. Thanks
I've found that the aerosol SpotShot cleaner can get out bike chain grease from carpet. Fantastic job.
Try wax based chain lub, like Squirt !
What a game changer !
No more black and dirty drive train !
I use the the washing machine with normal detergent. Job done.
Hi guys! Do you have any suggestions for getting tubeless sealant out of cycling kit? I had a MASSIVE puncture and got absolutely covered. I'm really sad that my brand new Rapha kit took the worst of it...
Do you have a suggestion for getting leather saddle wax out of cotton shorts? Thanks!
Thank you for the good tips
Another plus for waxing, no chain stains.
I'm curious of these suggestions, which of them came from the manufacturers if cycling kit? Some of these seem like good solid tips from turn of the century house wives but I wonder if some wouldn't degrade the clothing prematurely. Also, highly recommend washing all kit in a garment bag on the delicate/gentle cycle and lay flat or hang dry. Some kit will say it's ok to put in the dryer but elasticity will degrade faster when exposed to the heat of a dryer. I've made the mistake of a piece accidentally slipping in to the dryer so once isn't going to kill it, just over time.
I have two sets of kit: commuter kit and fancy kit. The commuter kit reeks. I think it's from not drying out properly after the ride in. Si was commuting in to GCN a lot, perhaps he has some insight?
Another video idea... general laundry advice including which types of detergent to use, disinfecting, etc.
Would have been good to see how all these methods compare.
Info you came here for starts at 1:40
I use baking soda and dish detergent, always works a treat.....or even better, if they are old clothes...I go shopping!
does this also work for post-ride pizza grease stains?
Thanks Connor but we really want to hear Nigel’s advice! 😆 PS what is the storey behind the leopard?
brake cleaner also works exceptional
Idea for a future GCN Tech Show - Explore the Pros/Cons of internal geared rear hub versus the cassette/derailleur setup. Especially with the single chain ring gaining in popularity due to it's simplicity, I think the time is right for internal gears to get some respect.
Thank you these stains are unacceptable
I have got an oil stain, somewhat now dried in, on my Goretex jacket (it wasn't easy but I managed it). Is it safe to use any of the tips on it?
Use Squirt. Your chain will always be clean, just as your shorts
Yep. This, or wax
that is why I moved to waxing chain rather than oiling it - it is never ending story with oil
Best tip: Waxing your chain. Never again will anything get dirty, neither the clothes nor the bike.
Not true. I use Squirt and there's gunk on the drivetrain until the bits fall off. Heaven help you if those bits get ground into items such as socks and carpet.
It is true. Wax your chain, not squirt whatever that is.
@@waisinglee1509 Never used this kind of chain lube, but putting your chain in molten paraffin will keep the chain clean. I use this method on all my bikes. Even if the chain comes off and you have to put it back on with your fingers, you don't even have to wash your hands after.
Wai Sing Lee Squirt is still a lot cleaner than a wet lube. But not as clean as a proper waxed chain.
Bike degreaser keeps my white bar tape looking better, longer. A cafe stop solution to grease spoiled hands is olive oil and a teaspoon of sugar... work it very thoroughly into your hands as you would with swarfega, then wash hands with normal soap and water. Sugar can also be used to turbo charge the normal swarfega... better than the now banned micro plastic particles!
#askgcntech : now we’re on Giro helmets, maybe you can help me out: I own a Giro Synthe helmet in matte reflective black. I’ve been wearing it for a couple of years, and it has become full of scuffs and scratches. Have you got any tips on how to remove them?
I've found Tide or ALL Clean and Clear work for me. No pre-treating needed.
I have a bigger problem removing the chainring tattoo.
Use Dawn detergent. Works every time to remove greese, marker, etc.
Dish soap and baking soda brushed in. Done
In the States use Simple Green for the clothes and hands.
Damn if that didn't work perfectly ... thanks!
Do NOT use heavy duty hand cleaner on your good bike clothes! They're an abrasive, they work on your hands by peeling the dirty outer layer of your skin! You do not want to sand down your expensive bike clothes, do you?
Personally I haven't had a stain that withstood Beckmann and the usual wash cycle, but any degreasing agent (dishwashing liquid also does count as one) + detergent should do the trick.
Can’t wait to head back to Ireland soon so I can get some Chef Ketchup (the nicest in the world in my option). Will probably spill it all over my kit and will have to rewatch the video.
You could use a few drops of Guinness to remove the stains. If that doesn't work, then drink the rest of the Guinness and you'll not worry about stains.
5:45
Best tip for chain stains on your shorts: only wear black shorts
running out of content are you? Building bikes are always a joy to watch.
You can just use hand soap let it sit for the night and in the washing machine. If that doesn't get it out i use hot water and soda crystals let it sit overnight and in the washing machine.
Dampen, small amount of liquid Tide, let it sit for a few minutes, rinse, then launder. I never let my dirty kit sit around.
I’ll have to try this on my joggers hopefully it’ll work I’ll let you know after it’s happened
Did it work ??
Cooking oil (or any other fat) should work to dissolve the chain oil as well.
WD-40 and laundry detergent!
Good tip!
This is my go-to option, just spay on the WD-40, leave it for 5 mins then throw it in the wash
Dishwasher liquid is my go to solution for dirty greasy hands.
lifesaver
Just wear black. Also, brown underwear stays clean for longer.
Yikes!
GCN Tech - personal experience...
Professional (ok, former professional) advice: Oil is a non-polar substance, compounded by extra grit and dirt. So it's hard for aqueous solvents (i.e. water) to dissolve and remove very oily substances.
Detergent helps by creating micelles that actually can remove and suspend the dirt in the water, but you can "help" by making the solvent (i.e. the wash) more similar to the thing you're trying to dissolve. So the no-brainer cleaners of choice are the degreasing agents, especially if they are also soluble in water such as the limonene in something like citrus degreaser. Other strong solvents will also work (e.g. goo-gone)- but may eat your kit. I've never had a problem with citrus degreaser. Apply, remove as much of the stain as you can, then laundry again.
Source: former employee on the heavy duty powder detergent and hard surface cleaning divisions on a major multinational consumer goods corporation.
Pro cyclist gets the dreaded cat 5 tattoo: proceeds to downgrade back to cat 5.
When I was in the service and we would get lube stains on our uniform we would stain the whole garment. Like magic, the stain dissappears. It may not be the same color, but it is all uniform in color..
I've found soap and water can work.
It does work sometimes, but some tougher oil stains can require more innovative techniques!
Yea btw vinegar can bleach the Garmin being cleaned so be careful with it
Heavy duty handcleaner tip: put used coffee residue & dish soap on your hands, rub them for +-30 sec before applying water & your hands will be clean.
This actually does work! Great tip!
Put it in a tub, fill it with water and put it in the freezer. The next day, defrost it then wash it like normal. No more oil stain.
Fr?
I'm waxing my chain, so it and me can't be oily 😉
The easiest solution is the same one Coppi used....black wool shorts
A good solution for some!
My cycling gear is the most expensive clothes that I own. Tips like these can really save some $$$ so that you can spend your $$$ on more A$$0$ gear
Yes cycling gear is definitely worth looking after well!
Wait....people iron their cycling kit?
No! it's lycra. Don't iron it
We certainly don't but we thought we'd get it in there just incase!
That was aimed at my mother in law 😂😂😂😂
'Dishwasher liquid'? I'm guessing Conor is not allowed to cut the grass or operate the dishwasher 😉. #youknowwhy
i am Irritated by the nose of the tiger... XD
Haha!
And best of all - you can drink lemon juice + soda + water!
Not sure it's Conor's beverage of choice but you can drink it I guess!
A number of possible solution, but no idea of what will work.
Anyway, vinegar, lemon juice and other acids will definitely damage your Lycra for good.
Everybody knows that acids and conditioner will damage lycra clothes.
Any chemist out there know why All chain lubes turn black even though they started out clear or brown or green...
It's because they get contaminated with dust or dirt from the road
David Hellyer Dirt.
GCN Tech But dirt and dust is NOT naturally black color
David Hellyer That’s an interesting point. Maybe it’s similar to when you use a fine abrasive metal polish and the rag you are using ends up looking black. The road grit suspended in the chain lube is acting the same and ‘polishing’ the gears and chain links? Sorry cogs.
I always wonder why the chain on my turbo trainer also turns black. It’s not dirt, I think it’s the wear of the chain roller, but maybe this group knows more.
Shorts, and sleeves.
Bike Hut chain degreaser from Halfords worked an absolute treat on my bright yellow soft-shell.
Place a cloth under the material, dip a cotton bud into the degreaser, gently work into the stain, then dab dry with a piece of kitchen paper.
It might take 3 or 4 cotton buds, but if you keep working it will eventually shift. Then just chuck it in the washing machine on a normal wash.
Doesn't everybody starch and iron their spandex?
Why?
and when it happens, it only happens when I'm wearing white socks.
The tiger is weird🤔🤣🤣
Joe Exotic is going to be the next GCN Presenter.
😂
Why does the tiger have a penis for a nose?!
Tried them all and a bit of the stain is still there, grrr. I was disappointed with the Dr Beckerman oil stain remover, though, it does take away some of the stains but not all, which is disappointing for such an expensive product. The oxy stain remover doesn't work on oil stains, so forget about it. As for the rest, all of them do something but I can't say which is more effective.
I never put my cycling kit in the washing machine, hand wash only.
Mother In-Law??!! Would that be the woman that reared Nigel? We must meet her!!!
LOL oh shoot, should've proof read..., or red maybe.
Hey it let me edit. Thanks Paul Wieringa!!
I thought for sure there would be a fire...
One trick of the trade is that acids mixed with bases neutralize each other. So lemon juice (acid) neutralizes baking soda (alkaline).
A lot of people figure that the fizzing is the solution "working". Well, no, that's just the carbon dioxide from the baking soda being released by the acid in the lemon juice.
The trick of the trade is that if you see baking soda being mixed with an acid, that is a lousy cleaning solution. It works great in cakes (see baking powder), but not for cleaning.
A better idea would be to use baking soda and water to make an alkaline solution. This works great to break down fats.
For oils, use a soap, which has a oleophilic end (loves oil) and a hydrophilic end (loves water) to the molecule. Rub that in and the molecules will bind to the oils, then wash and they will bind to the water, and wash the oils away. See Fairy liquid, hand soap, stain remover.
And don't iron or use the dryer on your clothes. To set dyes in clothing they use acids and heat.
Waxing for the win! No stains, healthy for the environment and it works great.
Goo Gone
Just give it to the mother in law to wash!
The best solution for chain oil stains is to prevent them in the first place. Keep your chain clean.
Where's brother-in-law Nigel to steal the comedy hour?
He'll be back!
@@gcntech Would've been funny if Conner got in trouble with mother-in-law via brother-in-law Nigel for using the good spoon.
@@carolc704 Haha!
Hopefully perhaps what crap
Just wear Black clothes.
For all in the U.S.A., Lesoil! case closed
We've not used it, but there's plenty of household products out there that will work!
I think all of this stuff should be mixed together to make a "SUPER CLEANER"!!!