actually the kit comes with a cleaner, but I put them in the parts washer, you can do this in a pan or bucket w/ some cleaner...but careful around the rubber parts, use the provided cleaner...make sure they are dry...mix the paint and the activator...comes w/ a small brush...paint away...you will need to paint them at least 2 times, I did 3...doesn't look like much paint, but I had paint left over after painting all 4...they look grt and the Dragon was a wook-out...