Cleaning the braking surface on rims

he asked for chemicals.

Obviously some wirewool would do perfect, and help shine up your rims too.

but propanol, acetone etc is whats commonly used by bike mechanics to clean braking surfaces, they strip oil residues etc off too, and cause no harm to tyres that I know of.

he asked for techniques or chemicals - i.e. basically anything.

I've only ever heard of pro mechanics using alcohol to clean grease off rims, which is an entirely different thing altogther, and needs to be done as an exception, not a rule. Acetone? never. Wire wool? not in a million years. you'll end up smoothing off the surface.

Thought maybe you're a professional rim polisher :-P