Best way to clean a cylinder head?

[Acheron]

Trying to get it all cleaned up, the surface itself i've managed to clean most of it using light pressure on a sponge/scourer.

In terms of the valves, im picking all the hard carbon off with a small flat screwdriver.

What about the part (dont know the name sorry) next to the valves. Its curved obviously so getting to it is a bit of a nightmare.

Which bits do and dont need cleaning before refitting/pressure testing?

Need to get some very fine emery paper for the rest of the head, but any ideas would be appreciated.

[Acheron]

bump :P

[Acheron]

Is it worth cleaning the carbon of the piston heads (see what i did there?) or just leaving it?

[Acheron]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Non of the liquids suggested will work.
Either get it vapor blasted if the deposits are very bad, or don't bother.
The most important thing to do while you have the head off is to replace the valve stem seals (even if they aren't leaking), check/replace the valve guides and re-seat the valves - you can buy kits which include the paste and a lapping tool (wooden thing with a suction cup either end)...it's fun at first, but gets a bit boring after a while.
Wash any paste off with paraffin.

The two exhaust valves on #1 and #2 are slightly raised whereas the valves on 3 and 4 are fine. All the inlet valves are flush. Is this going to cause a problem?