In the past I've used acetone to remove grease, oil, and gunk buildup, followed by an alcohol rinse to remove the acetone residue. It's worked well, but I'm curious what Y'all use. That reel maintenance time of year is just around the corner and I have a new ultrasonic cleaner on the way. I have several that are in need of a complete teardown this year.

I have used acetone on bearings but prefer naptha.

Coleman camp fuel, AKA white gas.  A gallon runs about $16 at Walmart, very effective for degreasing and doesn't leave anything behind.  That said, I wouldn't use it in an ultrasonic, for that I use aircraft instrument panel cleaner, Simple Green sells a variant of it that works great.  It's non-caustic so you can use it on every reel part, even side plates and anti-reverse bearings.

Of course all of these are solvents rather than solutions. 

Mineral spirits is the most effective solvent for dissolving waxes that result from oxidizing grease. 

This was put together for dealing with 70-y-o decomposed grease.  Note, however, you don't want vinegar solution around magnesium frames. 

https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1385

Be careful with Acetone and Lacquer Thinner.  Both can attack plastic parts.  I use mineral spirits and WD40.  

Beautician grade acetone is the cleanest drying solvent I've found. 

I use acetone for bearings in an ultrasonic cleaner and Simple Green for everything else, especially plastic parts.

I don't really have a strong preference.  I probably use naphtha more than anything, since it's cheap and relatively safe on most paint and plastics.  But I've used mineral spirits, acetone, iso alcohol, ethanol, and toluene in the past.   On painted or plastic parts, I usually use Dawn dish soap.  

Acetone for bearings and I have tried two cleaners for reels.... Reel Butter (it's not bad, don't like their oil and grease though) and Lucas Oil Reel Cleaner. This stuff does a great job.

 

I have also used Dawn. Works well but can leave a residue.

Forgot.....Simple Green and Simple Orange.  

I use acetone, sometimes Zippo fluid(naphtha), and ultrasonic cleaner for bearings only.  4 min for each side on 30W setting would usually clean most of bearings, even the permanently sealed ones.  Everything else will be good ol' Dawn and a used toothbrush. Only a good scrub satisfies my OCD.  Dawn does leave a residue of scents sometimes, but I don't think that amount would affect general reel parts.  

In an ultrasonic cleaner I wouldn’t be surprised if you could get away with something as mild as Dawn dishwashing liquid or some similarly mild cleaner. I used an ultrasonic cleaner at work for years on corroded/dirty parts and I never ceased to be amazed at the results. Tractor Supply probably has some kind of industrial cleaner that you mix 10:1 and rinse with water.

 

I use diluted Simple Green in an ultrasonic cleaner.  If OT is good, I send them to Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle.  He does great work.

This is by far the best degreaser I've found. 
 

https://rotundacleaning.com/rotunda-store/perfect-solution

Straight gas homie 

 

just kidding although someone once told me diesel worked 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Straight gas homie.  just kidding although someone once told me diesel worked 

 

Ask Jay Leno!  ?

Too soon!

51 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

 

Ask Jay Leno!  ?

Warning: reel cleaning products are flammable. Do not use near open flame or heat source 

Simple Green, Dawn dish detergent, and WD-40. Won't hurt any plastic, metal, or graphite parts. If that does not work, then the reel is most likely beyond repair. Also, the only flammable part is the WD-40, and it is not very volatile. On a side note, if you are working on the kitchen table, it is all very easy to clean up so you will not get in trouble with the wife, and it doesn't stink like acetone or other industrial cleaners.

 

An lot of assumptions on this thread that aren't exactly correct. 

Most soaps contain ammonia. 

Magnesium is reactive in even mild acid, just as aluminum is reactive in even mild alkali. 

It's only anodizing that protects either. 

If you see white chalky deposits on magnesium or aluminum, especially around screw holes, you're doing something wrong. 

On 11/28/2022 at 10:38 AM, J Francho said:

Beautician grade acetone is the cleanest drying solvent I've found. 

Might be the way to go in the ultrasonic. I'm only planning to use it to clean bearings and degrease gears. In the past I've put a little acetone in a 1/2 pint jelly jar, put gears or bearings in, and wiggled it down into the media in my case tumbler and run it for awhile. It worked well, so I thought I'd go ahead and buy an ultrasonic.

 

Isopropanol for fine cleaning over metallic stuff, like bearings. Water and detergent over other metal stuff like the worm shaft...

 

Plastic stuff should not be cleaned with organic solvents.