The method I use to clean my muzzleloader depends on the kind of muzzleloader I am shooting. Traditional rifles are given a water bath, and then some solvent swabs. After that they are patched dry and then an oil patch sent down the bore to protect the rifle. I then wipe the barrel off, make sure the hammer is clean, and re assemble the rifle.

With inline rifles, Itake the barrel from the stock. I pull the hammer/striker assembly and the breech plug. I then take all that to the kitchen sink and in a tub of water I like to pour hot soap and water down through the barrel, I also take this time to scrub the breech area, and to get a brush in there and clean the threads. I also take a scrub the hammer/striker and the breech plug clean.

All that is take back to the bench. I then solvent a brass brush and scrub the barrel I then solvent patch the barrel. Finally I dry patch the barrel. I like to check the barrel and breech plug threads to make sure all is clean and free of fowling. I solvent patch the breech plug and hammer/striker area. I take Q-tips and clean all the hard to reach areas. I then take paper towel and make sure all things are nice and dry. Being sure all is clean, I like to oil the bore of the barrel and all the hammer striker parts. I anti seize the breech plug and replace that in the barrel. I then put the rest of the rifle back together. I make sure the stock is wiped out and then wipe all finger prints off the outside of the rifle as well.

If the rifle is going to be stored for an extended period of time I leave the hammer striker, spring, lock nut and clean breech plug in a plastic zip lock bag which is tied to the trigger guard. That way the spring is not under pressure and the bore is open so anything falling down can later be patched back out.... I can also check the rifle from time to time easier this way.