Question about mirror cleaning

Do I have to worry about the center ring on my primary when using any of the solvents recommended for mirror cleaning? Can they react to the adhesive on the ring? I've never cleaned a primary mirror before, but have cleaned the corrector plate on my SCT. I purchased a floor model at a local telescope shop which sat in the store window for a while. I'm sure it's just dusty and will probably come clean with a rinse of distilled water, but just in case it doesn't I'm tryng to be prepared. 8^)
Thanks, Jim

Whoa boy - exactly what kind of solvents are you thinking of using? A drop of dishwashing detergent is all that is needed.

If the center spot comes off, it is no big deal. Clean the residual adhesive gently (you can be a little more aggressive in the center of the mirror, because it is in the secondary shadow). Cut a piece of paper the same diameter as the mirror, quarter fold it and cut the center point out, lay it over the mirror and lightly mark the center spot with a felt tip pen, and apply an adhesive hole protector (the kind for 3-hole punched notebook paper) over the dot. You can take a Q-tip with a little alcohol to remove the pen mark, and you are set to go.

Hugh Bartlett

First thing you should do is put a small dot in the center of the hole in the ring with an indelible marker, such as a Sharpie. This will not wash off with soap and water but will with Alcohol and then if the ring should come off sometime it is easy to center spot it again.
Now, no solvents on a mirror! None are required unless you got something on the mirror that soap and water will not remove, such as paint.
Next, yes, distilled water is good, but you can wash it in regular water and Dawn dish detergent and the rinse well followed with a good distilled water rinse.
Do not be aggressive with the cleaning. A spray bottle with a few drops of soap and distilled water can be used to spray off most of the dirt and dust, then rinse and take a look, if clean just rinse again and your done.
A more thorough cleaning requires a different approach. Usually a little soaking time in soap and water.
Just don't rub the mirror, if needed you can use cotton and just the weight of the cotton soaked with water, but only after you have washed away as much dust as you can.