I use to them with a  tooth brush, yes, mostly in winter time.
Shitty job.

Now, i still do the final part, but before, the big stuff goes out with a
water pressure machine, the cheap one, or the 5000$ steam one (no mine, my
neighbor).

An easy trick is to buy good stuff, not Gunk (Gunk is ok but not that much),
go to a good auto part place, ask for their best engine cleaner. Spay the
engine, comme back later... now use one of those cheap water pressure
machine, BUT, pug it on the HOT water tap (or a mix of both)! It's gonna be
pretty clean. Not enough for me but good for NORMAL folks.

I'm just out of a "rush", almost a blackout (7/7-12hr per day)... 2.5 weeks
have past and i didn't see nothing... 3.5 engines done.

To show just a few.... (over 94 done)

http://www.benplace.com/gilles/gilles46.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/78bus/78bus17.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/72blanc/blanc_72_35.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/bjp/PICT0021.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/amc_head/amc23.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/78blanc/78_41.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/syncro/syncro93.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/85rouge/rouge128.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/79beige/79beige25.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/83westy/blanche24.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/83westy/blanche21.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/85westy/taupe50.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/85westy/taupe52.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/84westy/brune_30.jpg
http://www.benplace.com/engine_73/engine_bay1.jpg

And, yea, i guess this one...
http://www.benplace.com/subaru/vanaru55.jpg

Ben
ps.: leaving in 2 days for Nova Scotia to install a Vanaru... another lucky one.