Ok, I can see that. You can get a bike pretty squeaky clean with just a towel, no water or soap needed. Rub everything, then tear off strips to clean inside the cassette. Maybe even break the chain and throw it away if that's a concern?
After you have wiped down the chain and re applied lube, where do you wipe the excess off from, the sides of the chain? the top and bottom of the chain? or both? I have only every wiped down the sides, thinking that the top and bottom of the chain is where you want to keep the lube.