I use different cleaners all the time to take the fowling off the scope. I use something called Simple Green. I mix it 50/50 with water and it will cut black powder fowling like the devil. I even use it in the bore of the rifle to get the major fowling out, then run some of the cleaners that remove plastic, copper and lead, just to make sure.

Another trick to protect your scope if you can not remove it, is wrap it with plastic electrician tape. It might not look the best but that plastic tape sure cleans off nice and easy. Once the tape gets too worn, remove it and put some new on.

Tahquamenon .. What kind of quick release mounts do you have? I had some Burris and had terrible luck with them returning to zero....