squeaky belt after degreasing

I used a water based degreaser on the engine bay, targeting specific grimy areas but not the belts, but I'm sure some spray touched them. I hosed it all off I started the engine, and it sounded ok at first, then after 30 seconds a belt started squeaking loudly and kept squeaking for as long as I had it on for a few minutes. It looks like the squeaky belt is the one that goes over the power steering, fan, and something else.

So given the timing, I assume it's something to do with the belt surface or pulley surface and not a belt alignment issue. Would the squeaking be caused by any of these?

• Extra degreaser on the belt or pulley I should hose off again
• Grease that was dislodged by the degreaser and got on the belt or pulley, that needs to be degreased and hosed again
• Grease was keeping the belt quiet before, and now I need to spray something else on the belt

 

Berryman Products 0807 Tite-Grip Belt Dressing Can 7 oz.

 

Odds are good it will quit when dry.

But be sure to examine to see if replacement is in order.

 

Many years of washing engines, I degrease then change the belt, you can try to use dressing but it will likely squeal until replaced.

I use a BBQ brush on them while running to clean out the treads, this sometimes works as well.

 

Great, I'll go for a drive and if it's still squeaky I'll try whatever belt dressing/conditioner the store has. I notice some are called conditioner, no mention of dressing, but still claims to stop squeaks. Just a marketing terminology difference?

The belt looks in great condition to me, all replaced 30k miles ago. Just a tad dirty if I run my finger on them on the ribbed side.

Will try BBQ brush if need be. Also have heard windex? People use windex in some nonsensical ways so I'm always skeptical when I hear windex.

Also have heard squirting water on the belt to see if the squeak stops for a moment, to identify which belt (but I can tell where it's coming from in this case), but water seems to be what caused this, unless it was the degreaser or running grease, which I'm still confused about.

 

All good. Squeaking again today but it just needed to be driven and the squeaking went away.