Cleaning absolutely everything - products and techniques?

I know the cleaning thread comes up pretty often on here, so I have done my searching but it most of the threads (understandably) refer to routine cleaning: wash/polish of the bike, degreasing the chain, WD40 and Autosol.

However my bike, the DR, is now fully in bits (wahoo!) and while the frame is off for strengthening & powder-coating, and parts are being shipped from the USA, I'm wanting to turn my attention to each individual system in turn. They need cleaning, inspection, possible replacement depending on what I find, and adjustment before/after being refitted. I'm hoping the wisdom of the .org might point me in the right direction on how the cleaning part of this may be done. Questions might include:

- What can you use to clean the outside of the engine, carb, starter motor etc. that are discoloured/not sufficiently Kwak clean?

- When I delve into the engine itself, or the carb, how do I clean up the inside? Are we talking a rag and WD40 still, petrol or diesel, paraffin, something else?

- What is the best technique for removing rust?

- What areas must you NOT use certain products or certain techniques? e.g. WD40 near brake discs

I know all this might sound like wanting to be spoon-fed but I genuinely don't know how to approach some of these more vital parts of the bike and hoped you guys might prevent me making a schoolboy error. Maybe everything is WD40 and Autosolable, but I thought it worth checking before I attack my brake disc with wire wool or start doing something unadvisable in the only cylinder I have!

Hopefully I'll be able to head off to Halfords or whatever with a full list of oils, lubricants, rags and brushes that will enable me to do a full clean of the whole bike. Much obliged for any advice you may have one and all.

I use this stuff for cleaning grease/oil/tar off awkward areas http://www.mykal.co.uk/pages/solvent_cleaning.htm - The Fast Dry Precision Cleaner. Just a little bit on some cloth and it works an absolute treat. I get it off my dad but you can get it from www.rswww.com. It even has a defence standard.

Mykal Industries, the United Kingdom, is offering De.Solv.It DSI 1000FD fast-dry precision cleaner, which has been awarded a DefStan number as approved for use within the armed forces in the country. Following search and trials with a variety of products, DSI 1000FD was awarded the MoD Defence Standard 08-121 (NES 844) for ‘Acoustic cladding treatment employing epoxide adhesive systems’ – essentially cleaning and preparation of surfaces prior to bonding. The DSI 1000FD fast-dry precision cleaner was chosen due to its excellent degreasing performance, fast drying capabilities and good safety profile.

[yorkie_chris]

Paraffin is pretty much safe anywhere, its fine in the engine and carb, however it will not remove petrol varnish, you'll need proper carb cleaner and to remove the seals from the carb to use this.
As for the engine casings then I like stuff called "gunk" spray on when the engines warm, leave it for a bit then hose off.