I always save my old toothbrushes. I use them with spray solvent to scrub the cogs and other greasy running gear components. I also purchase long wide laces which fit high top sports shoes. These, combined with solvent, are great for cleaning the rows between the cassette gears

I usually clean my bike once every six months, whether it needs it or not. ;-)

I like that shoelace idea!

I guess I will have to have someone show me how to remove the cogs without screwing anything up - something I have a facility for doing!

Use a rag and a spoke. Any bike shop will provide you with an old spoke.
Fits between the cogs just right.

Another great tip - thanks!

Totally agree. A thin long-bristle paint brush works just as well as some fancy schmancy brush from a bicycling company. Kerosene is my sovlent of choice. Also agreed about the dangers of doing any chain or sprocket clean while still on the bike -- the solvent wrecks grease on the hub bearings. Another case for a removable half-link such as SRAM or Conex.

Taking off and putting on a cassette is dead simple with a chainwhip and the right tool for the lockring. It is worth learning.

My method used to be to remove the rear wheel, prop it in the bathtub, spray the cassette down with Simple Green, wait a bit, then using the hand-held shower thing rinse everything off. And if there were some extra bits I didn't get, I'd use an old toothbrush (or a couple other brushes I picked up at a Dollar store), to scrub them.

However, where I live now, I can no longer use the bathtub. :( So I'm going to have to think of some other method.

Is removing the cassette really that easy? When I had my "removing the chain" lesson, I don't recall anything said about removing the cassette. ;)

You didn't ask. :p

How was I to know that it was possible to remove one of those things?? :o

Some WD-40 on a rag (arround some cardboard) works really well.

Are you saying you do this after every ride though? That's the kind of frequency the OP was after.

I use the white nappy shop towels from Costco. (60 pack) The edge is the perfect size to get in between the cogs. I wet the edge with some brake Kleen and floss it. If done regularly, your cogs will be plenty clean. It's a 5 minute job. bk

OK, but promise that you won't tell my bikes because they don't think that I know.

1. Remove the rear wheel from the bike. Set it horizontally on a workbench with the cassette up.
2. Spray the cassette with a de-gunker of your choice. Be careful not to spray it in the end of the freehub body.
3. Fold a shop towell and insert the fold between any two cogs. As you pull the shop towell from side-to side, the ratchetting of the freehub body will rotate the cogs.
4. Repeat for each pair of cogs.

i like to use the neck and arm hole "cuffs" of an old t-shirt. they rip right off most shirts and are just right for getting the major sludge. put a little bio-clean or whatever on first and then floss away. they're nice because there's no extra fabric to get caught on the cogs. i like the other poster's idea of cutting strips too. that won't get everything though. i monna try the cardboard thing. i wonder if a green scrubby thing would work...

Variation on a theme: A 2.5 or 3 inch plastic putty knife (may be called "plastic joint knife"), with an old t-shirt or other cotton material wrapped over the blade. Wet the fabric with cleaner, and slide it in between the cogs. Rotate the cassette in the same manner described by others. Move regularly to a clean section of fabric. Sure, the plastic putty knife is expensive ($1.29), but well worth it for the convenience.

Pipe cleaners
 

I've started using pipecleaners for this (easily found on Amazon or local smoke shop). I've found two types, one with sharp bristles mixed with the soft bits that are fine for cogs and chains. The other is smooth and soft that I use around the brakes, levers, etc. Soak in a bit of cleaning solution and they are great for getting into tight spaces.

Like my dentist says "just floss the ones you want to keep.

Actually I find it easier and quicker to clean the cogs and chain on the bike.

take it off , and put in a tray, with solvent.

brush off the crud , blow dry with compressed air.

clean often or replace more frequently, you choose.