Hi,
Let me tell you about Maas poli***o clean the rails…(if you already know bout this stuff then don’t read further). I used to use just alcohol. Wow, with the polish it is 100% better! I have to say that I am a bit tired. I have over 300 feet of steel track…not np track…just steel. I did it the old fashioned way. Put a dab of polish on a cotton cloth and spread it … then ran my finger over the rail…wiped it off…then wiped again…then used rail zip and wiped that … but left the rails slightly wet…watied a few(6) hours for it work its magic… then wiped it off…waited 20 mins…then wiped again…(dry) …then waited another 20 mins then wiped agian…now the track allows for excellent tractive force. I also spread some polish on cotton cloth and laid it tween the rails and cleaned the wheels on an old old bb Athearn trainmaster…then dry clothed the wheels…then rail zip and the unit really really pulls and runs great …no flickering light …no spark show from the wheels…(my son loves those) … it runs like a rejuvinated engine 
Anyway…I’m off to run trains again … looks like a sleepless night.
Sorry to ramble.
Jim
ps…use the stuff sparingly.
peco track cleaning rubbers are excellent too!
Thank you-thank you MR Jan 2003 for MAAS paste cleaning/polish.
Best stuff(cheap too) since the KD .
trainschnick74
I feel that you are not totally convinced that the metal polish alone is all that you need if you have to use other cleaners etc.
It would save you a lot of time by just trying the metal polish and leave it alone. So much less work. As I have stated on the board and many others, when the topic of track cleaning comes up, is to just use the metal polish and that is it.
Wipe it on and wipe it off. Do not worry about any black that might be on the track once you have run the clean rag on the rails.
Try it, if it does not work then use the other cleaners, rail zip, etc.
With only having to clean my 2600 ft of track once a year and doing nothing else other than run the trains is the only way to go!
BOB H Clarion, PA
I tried to find out whether Maas Polish is available over here in Europe, couldn’t find it. Looked at the instructions for use of other metal polishes and some of them advise using a moist piece of cloth to apply and all of them advise to vigorously polish after application. This doesn’t look like the easy task that Maas fans paint for us. Does any of the European forum members know of a Maas equivalent?