Mountain Biking - Cleaning Rims!

I just got a new bike and it has v-brakes. Ive only used it for a few hours now and theres a thin layer of greasy black liquid on the rims. Iam guessing its coming from the brake pads. I was wondering how whould I go about cleaning them. Whould plane old water do the trick or should I use something else like rubbing alcohol. (I heard that you can use rubbing alcohol to clean your disc brakes, i though that it might be the same with rims). Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!

Rubbing alcohol works, but so does some soapy water and a Scoth-Brite pad. (Pot scrubbing green pads).

You can sometimes find just the green scouring pad without the sponge. I buy those. Wedge one between the rim and the brake pad and ride for a couple hundred yards. Then switch to the other side of the rim and repeat. Do this to all 4 sidewalls. It'll polish up the rims nicely!

I use Muc-Off, Finesse or another bike specific cleaners', they do an alright job IMO.

Ill try the green pads. Thanks guys!!!!!!

I have only used the rubbing alcohol like a2psyklnut suggested. I also check the pads for glazing. If the pads look glazed over, I use an emory board to buff it out.

Simple Green and Scotchbrite.

Non-chlorinated (automotive) brake cleaner sprayed onto a rag works well.