Right now I only have a carpet Central loop.
I can say that I cleaned the track when I laid it and not since. It's been there 8 months now.
I run the train nearly every day and I'm not running smoke until I get some more fluid my wife does not object to.
Only once in all that rime have I cleaned the track in any way and that was right after I changed the layout, I had to clean the added track, nothing else.
It gets oxidation sitting around in a box, Trains running every day or two will keep that rubbed off.
Now, when I do clean I run a pair of Cars made with Dennis' design, front one with Scotchbrite pad, other with paper towel pad, change / refold the paper towel until it comes back clean. How many laps depends on track condition when you start.
One of these days I'll make that Vacuum car with the carvac I have for the purpose. It looks like I'll need 2 cars together for it, it's pretty long.
