Smoove Prep Chain Cleaner

Before you lube a chain you need to clean it, and doing that dirty little job is made much easier with Smoove Prep, an impressively powerful chain degreaser that brings a shine back to even the most stubbornly dirty chain.

• Pros: Highly effective and very powerful chain cleaner
• Cons: Flammable and toxic ingredients, a higher price than other cleaners

Smoove Prep was specially formulated (aren't they all?) to clean, dissolve and neutralise the company's own Universal Chain Lube and be far more effective than other degreasers, so you need less of it. A bottle contains enough degreaser for cleaning the drivetrain 10 times. I was able to make it last longer by using it more sparingly with satisfying results.

I tried two different methods for cleaning the chain. The first was with an old chain cleaner device, being sure to follow the company's instructions to not fill the device and use one measure, as indicated by the clear ruler on the side of the bottle. This worked effectively, the brushes and rollers clearing the chain effectively.

My other technique, if you don't have a chain cleaner, is to pour a small amount into an old cut-in-half water bottle and use a combination of a scouring sponge and an old toothbrush to work the solution into the chain and cassette. I find this works well and has the benefit of providing targeted cleaning; it also uses a bit less degreaser so you can make a bottle go a little further.

> How to clean and lube your chain

The parts of the bike you want to use it on are primarily the chain, cassette, rear mech and chainset. You don't want to be using it on your disc brakes; there's a big warning on the back of the bottle about doing that. You've been warned!

The results are instantaneous and near-miraculous. Even the most neglected chain and the cassette was brought back to showroom condition, with the accumulated dirt and gunk just falling off. I've not seen this sort of tenacity since testing a Morgan Blue bike cleaner many years ago.

The reason for its potency is down to that special formulation, the details of which Smoove doesn't give much away. There are some strong warnings on the label: keep out of reach of children and animals; this product is flammable; if ingested seek medical advice; prolonged skin contact will dry and irritate sensitive skin; gloves and protection required.

If you're environmentally conscious there are more eco-friendly cleaners available such as Green Oil's Clean Chain Degreaser Jelly.

It's a little more expensive than other bike cleaners like WD-40 Bike Degreaser or Duck Smart The Black Stuff which are both half the price, but the sheer tenacity of the Smoove Prep for me outweighs the price difference. It has a really powerful action that will clean the most stubborn chains, though the toxicity of the ingredients is a concern.

Verdict

Very effective chain cleaner but pricey, and toxic ingredients