Bicycle Mechanics - cleaning your bike

i was wondering what everyone here uses to clean their bikes. i use an old toothbrush to get in between the cogs n stuff and a towel to slide in between narrow places. to clean gunk off of wheels (and cleaning instruments) i use Goo Gone. that stuff kicks azz. gets off the grimiest messes in no time. what does everyone else use?

Soap and water

i was wondering what everyone here uses to clean their bikes. i use an old toothbrush to get in between the cogs n stuff and a towel to slide in between narrow places. to clean gunk off of wheels (and cleaning instruments) i use Goo Gone. that stuff kicks azz. gets off the grimiest messes in no time. what does everyone else use?

Park Tool has a very nice page on washing a bike:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=85

Clean top to bottom, cleanest to dirtiest. I take off wheels and chain. Spray citrus cleaner on cassette and chainrings. Lightly spray citrus cleaner on bike (check for paint dulling first). use sponge to clean bike, use hard bristle brush to scrub tires, rims, then scrub the cassette and chainrings. Rinse. You're done in ten minutes.

also, on one of my bikes, the rear brakes honk when i brake for a while (like down hills or going fast) i loosened the cable to place them farther and it helped, but they still honk when i squeeze em hard. and i recently cleaned them.

off the record, is there any difference between the shorter brake pads and the longer, skinnier ones? i actually have both on the same wheel. the guy before me must not have paid much attention to it.