The brand of tape makes a big difference in how easy it is to clean. LizardSkins are some of the easiest to clean and some of the most expensive.

Up to this point I've been running black tape but am expecting to try white this year. Lets face it - the consumer has never has such an opportunity to color match bicycle components before. Paint jobs AND accessories have come a long way. I'm thinking gloves with white palms might help keep things clean. Dye does transfer when damp.