I volunteer at a local bike co-op. I mainly work to keep things clean and organized, helping with simple stuff when it comes in. But the bike co-op has a lot of waste which I've started taking home with me (till one loose chain just broke my bicycle) to make into things. Right now I'm turning spokes into key rings.

I'm taking the spokes off the rim and the chains are often already in pieces. They are generally caked in grease but just soap and water doesn't do it right now, and I'd likely to avoid dirtying my kitchen sink too much.

Is there a recommended solution I can just soak them in, to later be rinsed off and washed with any left over residue? Just throw them in there and let them soak while I do other things, type of thing.