Track cleaning options

[River Witch 14]

I know this subject has been discussed many times but I am still trying to find a kind of cheap method that works.
I have read many threads about the use of track cleaning cars that use a specific chemical for cleaning, cleaning blocks, cleaning pads that are suspended from under a car and
the use of both a metal cleaner followed up with polishing the rail heads with a stainless steel washer. I know that these methods and others all have their merits and that it depends on what works
best for each modeler.
Last night I was watching some model rr videos on youtube and ran across one on track cleaning and the person in the stated that he swears by the use of automatic transmission
fluid that he dabs on a rail and lets his locos and cars spread it around the layout. He states that with this meth0od he can go up to a year without having to re-apply the fluid and
that he has had no problems with dirt and the trains run fine.
In my opinion this method kinda scares the hell out of me. I was always under the impression that the use of something like ATF would attract dirt and dust transferring them to the wheels
causing operation problems.
I have been messing around trying to come up with something that meets my needs. What I did was to mount a piece of bass wood under a gondola. The wood is cut slightly larger
that the width of the rails. I run this car from both ends of my switcher. The car could be left on the rails and used as an idler for my car float or removed until the next time it is used.


You will notice on the underside shot on the top and bottom of the wood block that there is a light gray streaks that shows me that the block is picking up dirt on the rails.
This method works for me.
How about the rest of you modelers,what method do you use to keep your rails clean?