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review
Cleaning products
Green Oil Green CleanGreen Oil Green Clean.jpg

Green Oil Green Clean

9
by James Whateley
UPDATED Fri, Jun 02, 2017 11:19

First Published Jan 9, 2016

8
£7.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Does exactly what is expected and it's better for the environment than most. What’s not to like?
Weight: 
373g
Contact: 
www.green-oil.net
How we test

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Through the winter months, a decent bike cleaner is almost essential. There are plenty of options and to be honest they tend to do a pretty similar job, but the Green Oil Green Clean is working its way up to the top of the list.

As with much of the Green Oil range, the product is made of natural ingredients and is fully biodegradable. The detergent, containing coconut oil and orange peel extract, is safe to use across the bike including your precious drivetrain. Used in conjunction with a good brush, it foams up well and is strong against the muddiest and grimiest of bikes.

> Buy this online here

It seems like a clever and well thought through product. The dual-mode spray, with both pistol and wide spray modes, makes for accurate aiming. And for any of you cleaning bikes on the lawn, there's no need to worry about damage to your treasured sward: the biodegradable detergent means no nasty chemicals to worry about.

As with most detergents, a large proportion is simply water. Here, though, Green Oil simply fills a third of the bottle with concentrate, leaving you to top up the remainder with water. This small change means less weight during transportation, reducing the carbon footprint of the product (and the price), helping the environment. As with most brands these days, you can also buy concentrate to refill when you run out.

> For more reviews of cleaning products, brushes, sponges and the like, click here

Another neat touch is using old fizzy drinks caps as the safety cap to prevent leaking during transportation. Having said that, I didn't find any leaking from the spray nozzle cap, even when thrown around during a vigorous bike clean.

So it may not be as cheap as your basic citrus-based detergent, but at a relatively modest £7.99, it's still cheaper than the equivalent Muc-off cleaner we've tested. When it's just as good and cheaper than its rivals, plus safer for your bike than some cheaper options, there's not much more you need to know.

Verdict

Does exactly what is expected and it's better for the environment than most. What’s not to like?

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Green Oil Green Clean

Size tested: 1 Litre

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Green Oil says: "The Green Clean formula is totally biodegradable, but not only that, its formula uses 100% natural ingredients. That means a minimal impact on the environment, and lower carbon footprint. Green Clean was developed in house and has award winning cleaning performance. It uses a special detergent derived from coconut oil, and orange peel extract among other natural ingredients. Curiously, the orange peel is a bi-product of the organic orange juice industry. All ingredients are sustainably sourced too."

A strong and yet safe bike cleaner to be used across the board. Removes the toughest of grime leaving a pristine looking bike. Great value for money and a well thought through product.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Sold in 1L bottles, they come filled with a third concentrate for you to then fill up with, ideally, rain water. The nozzle has two modes – pistol and spray options. The detergent is fully biodegradable and contains coconut oil and orange peel extracts among the ingredients. With these natural ingredients, it makes it safe for the environment and doesn't damage the bike either. The cleaner is made in the UK and utilises old fizzy drinks caps as safety caps during delivery so as to not leak from the nozzle.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Tough plastic bottle that can survive being thrown around during cleaning. The nozzle seems slightly cheap, but works well and hasn't failed on me. The bottle lasts and can be reused after finishing.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Strong cleaner that foams up well. Works against both a muddy frame and oily drivetrain. No corrosion or damage caused during use either. Does the job well!

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Bottle is strong and should last for a good number of refills.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Similar or cheaper price than its main rivals. Naturally more expensive than the cheap citrus based cleaners, but these can be harmful to both your bike and the environment. Nobody wants that!

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very effective cleaning detergent that acts fast and leaves your bike looking shiny again.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Foams up well giving you plenty to work with when scrubbing the whole bike. Clever little packaging ideas too by using fizzy drinks caps and only sending the concentrate – reducing weight and the product's carbon footprint.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 22  Height: 5ft 8in  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride: Cannondale CAADX  My best bike is: Scott CR1 Pro

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives

Green Oil Green Clean 2016
Green Oil Green Clean
Green Oil 2016
Green Oil

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