Peaty's XXX Solvent Degreaser

Peaty's XXX Solvent Degreaser is claimed to be a "max strength water soluble and readily biodegradable solvent degreaser", one designed for the complete removal of bearing greases, waxes and oils, yet kind to all surfaces. In short, I've been distinctly underwhelmed.

• Pros: Seemingly kind to all surfaces
• Cons: Pedestrian and relatively expensive

Science bit

Like many manufacturers, Peaty's is very coy when it comes to the specifics, preferring to focus on the biodegradable, surface-friendly elements. However, the key word here is solvent. Solvents, along with the gas propellant, make chemical components sprayable and then get to work on the host surfaces, gobbling the grot.

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It's reputedly safe on all surfaces, including paint, rubber and carbon fibre. Nonetheless, there's the caveat about testing small, discreet areas first. Peaty's has also gone to great lengths to make distinctions between this and its foaming drivetrain degreaser. Spoiler alert: It will strip a chain when delivered via solvent bath but, in my opinion, it's right to make this distinction.

How to use

Generally speaking, when doing a thorough degrease I strip parts and either place them on an old tray or, if rinsing's required, on an old section of concrete in my back garden.

Either way, give the Peaty's a vigorous, 30-second shake to get everything nicely mixed, pop the cap and spray over the chosen areas.

For heavily encrusted parts, repeat applications in close succession. Peaty's also recommends agitating with a suitable brush to help things along. Regardless, leave things marinating – ideally for a couple of minutes – before rinsing off with clean water.

Although evaporation has been less problematic than I expected when the temperature's been around 23-25°C, almost without exception – regardless of lubricant or grease – I've needed two or three helpings to get components stripped.

Case studies

A quick rummage in the 'to be purged' stash uncovered some ready candidates: a 9-speed chainring with some congealed chainsaw oil and embedded contaminant, a cassette still wearing some residual wax lube, and a lockring that had been treated to a stoic but simple lithium grease.

I later progressed to an old headset (also treated to lithium grease), an old UN55 bottom bracket's threads (treated with polymer grease), and the oily spattered legs of my long-serving workstand. Some bars, pedals and other painted/anodised surfaces followed, to test its kindness and prowess on polymer/similar wax products.

Performance

Given the blurb and general experience with solvent-based products, I was expecting something special. Credit where due, it's done the job but it's not a patch on other products, let alone living up to the hype. Donning latex gloves, I shook the aerosol for 45 seconds then delivered three generous helpings to the cassette, rotating to ensure even coverage.

Following the 'few minutes' guideline, I filled a clean bucket with hot water. Flushed through, scuzzy black gunk oozed from the sprockets. However, a gungy glaze remained, so I delivered another liberal blast, left it 30 seconds and began scrubbing with a transmission brush. Doing so released another layer of grime, but it was still rather disappointing.

Another 15 minutes and three rinses later, it was clean but far from gleaming.

Contrast that with B'Twin's degreaser which can strip cassettes bare in 30 seconds or so. GT85 Bike Degreaser takes a little longer, requiring more elbow grease than the B'Twin but still comparatively efficient. 

This theme remained unchanged when I tackled the chainring and the workstand's legs.

Compared with these products, white spirit, or degreaser stocks such as Fenwick's FS1, cleaning prowess was pedestrian. Four rounds of spray, marinate, scrub and rinse, results were similarly disappointing.

It consumed 20 minutes of my time before I'd got it acceptable. Twenty minutes is usually enough for me to get a bike washed and transmissions stripped, ready for re/new lubricant.

With this in mind, I decided to test Peaty's XXX Solvent Degreaser on painted/anodised surfaces. While products such as Green Oil Agent Apple Extreme Immersion are extremely efficient, they can also take a bite out of cosmetics.

Aside from softening some residual bar tape adhesive, left for 15 minutes there's been no hint of fadng or similar damages. Good news, if you were using it to consume some residual grot, as part of a working bike's weekly clean. That said, I stopped short of letting it dry out.

Value

There's a lot of choice, and while Peaty's XXL Solvent Degreaser Spray is within the competitor ball park at £7.99 for a 400ml can (apparently chosen for its toolbox compatibility), others represent much better value. GT85 Bike Degreaser, for example, is the same price, £7.99 for 400ml, but in terms of effectiveness it knocks the Peaty's XXL Solvent Degreaser into a cocked hat.

I've also been impressed by WD40 Bike degreaser, and that's £6.99 for 500ml.

These are all outdone on the value front by B'Twin's degreaser, though. I reviewed it as part of a pack a few years ago, now £12.99, but it's available separately for £4.99 for a 500ml can.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Peaty's XXX Solvent degreaser has been very disappointing. Aerosol degreasers are relatively expensive and, to some extent, wasteful. However, speed and convenience are their main draw. The relative impotency here, though, when pitted against the blurb, coupled with the need for rinsing, means it meets neither need convincingly.

Verdict

Very disappointing given the hype