I too use a small fine-chisel tip artists brush for general dustball removal after every side. In addition, I also use the Magic Eraser (ME) on a toothpick cut into a wedge shape which is excellent for scrubbing the diamond sides. The ME is an excellent cleaning tool, but it misses one critical area - the junction where the diamond is attached to the cantilever. This angle gathers all types of grunge which is very difficult to reach (even with the ME).
I recently began using Lyra SPT which is a marvelous liquid cleaner supplied with a brush designed for the job. I'm no great fan of liquid meets cartridge, but this stuff works as advertised. After 6-8 sides, it is amazing the quantity of black goo that the SPT removes that is completely missed by the ME. I know about liquid migrating up the cantilever and all that, but if used according to the directions, I think this is a non-issue with the Lyra product.
I used to use the short-bristled LAST brushes long ago, but I think they place undue strain of the entire cartridge. They are too rigid for the task (IMO); if you see the cantilever flexing in any direction while cleaning, I believe you are applying too much pressure.
The final item I would like to recommend for cleaning around the cartridge is a pair of bamboo tweezers - if you get a long piece of lint or a hair wrapped around the cantilever or stuck to the underside of the cart body, these are the ideal item to grab hold of the offender and remove it. Bamboo is non-magnetic - using any ferrous forceps in this capacity (especially with a MC) could result in catastrophe.
-Richard
