Method for purging hardened grease or sludge from a bearing and bearing housing

A method and apparatus for cleaning a bearing, where first, a purging fluid with a high concentration of surfactant is pumped through the bearing in repeated cycles, after which the bearing is flushed, preferably with clean oil, before new grease is provided. The apparatus is compact and comprises preferably a safety valve for preventing overpressure damage to the bearing. The purging fluid contains more than 50% surfactant and contains less than 10% water, and the flushing fluid is oil or contains more than 50% oil.