Have you examined the stylus and cantilever under a microscope? That will tell you how dirty it is now. Then you can have another look after whatever cleaning procedure you decide upon. Yes, the cantilever is very short (17mm), but I am not aware that cleaning the stylus is especially fraught, compared to cleaning styli on longer cantilevers. I'd use Stylast #4 followed by the Stylast stylus brush, carefully. ((I've got a 17D3 too, and for casual cleaning between sides I have used Magic Eraser.)