You'll get a ton of answers on chain cleaning solution, I take the chain and pulleys off and submerge them in diesel gas. Move things around for about a min and it all comes out sparkling clean. Then wipe down the cassette/rings in the same and everything else with a water wet rag, never had any issues and my bike is coming up on its 10th birthday.

I also make sure to clean things up whenever I have a part off that rarely comes off.. one day I'd like to do the cabling.