When I started it was common practice to use an electrical cleaner, known in the industry as "SS25". I forget the manufacturer, but I remember the little movie that was shown dumping a small running motor into a 5 gallon bucket of this stuff, and it would just continue to run.
We used to put this stuff in a pump sprayer and wash out generators, motors, controls, etc...
I hear it was pulled off the market as a known carcinogen...
Wonder what's finally going to kill me? The SS25, the Varsol, the numerous other chemicals, the carbon dust, the asbestos dust, electromatic fields, or my one pack a day ciggarette habit?....LOL...
I will not shed one tear when the last generator and DC hoist motor is pulled and replaced.