Cleaning tube pins

I would caution against using a wire brush.  This will leave all kinds of micro-abrasions that will permanently damage the surface.  I agree with your concern that some products may do more harm than good.  Hard to go wrong with a foam or cotton swab and pure isopropyl alcohol.  

NEVR-DULL  is a cotton batting, with a chemical cleaner that is for cleaning only, solvent and a light oil (like @Rislone). You dip the pins several times into the batting. They will clean right up, with no material removal. 6-20.00 usd (depends on the size of the can)
If you are not going to use them right away leave the light residue on the pins and wipe the base. Be careful not to remove the labeling, Tellies, ect powdery labeling.

Take cotton balls about a fist full wrap them in cotton towel, take your valves and plunge them in several times into the towel, if your rough handed, you can use just large cotton balls.  Plunge the pins several times into the ball WALLAH, clean as an be.  I leave the residue.
Then tighten the pin sockets, clean them if they need. Use a very small bottle brush and Isopropyl with a vacuum cleaner.  Tighten the pins with a dental pick and miniscrewdrivers.

Easy Peasy.. I've done just about 10 trillion that way, ok more like
10 million.  OK ok A LOT.. LOL.. Yea lots and lots, clean right up..

Regards

Anybody tried the Zeiss lens wipes? Work great on glass lenses and camera lenses...on gold plated tube pins??

@ daveyf

I use Isopropyl alcohol.

Dampen a clean white cotton cloth with Isopropyl alcohol. (Like a piece of an old white T shirt). Wipe down the pins good with the dampened alcohol clean cloth. Continue cleaning the pins with a new clean part of the dampened alcohol cloth until there is no longer any residue on the white cloth. Wipe dry.

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