What is the best way to clean wheels?
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Wishbone:
I have two methods, depending on the era of the rolling stock. For Postwar, I use a Dremel with the wire brush attachment. For MPC and newer, I use a Q-Tip soaked in alcohol. I've been reluctant to use the Dremel on newer equipment as I read somewhere that if you use too fast a speed setting, you can damage the needle point bearings on the end of the axles.
For engines, I fold a paper towel over several times and then soak one end with rubbing alcohol. I lay this on the track and position either the front or rear truck of the locomotive on the paper towel and turn the power to a very slow setting. This allows the wheels to spin slowly on the paper towel and works real well, so long as you have a dual power truck locomotive. This will also work with a single power truck locomotive, but you can only do one axle of the power truck at a time and obviously, you can't place the paper towel between the pickup roller and the track.
Curt
I use my Dremel with a homemade Scotchbrite wheel on it. I put a finger on the wheels to keep them from spinning too fast as I clean.
Guess the same process would work well with rolling stock.
Well, sure! 
