how to clean valve cover once it's off?

[migoreng]

hey
got my valve cover off. it's a h22a engine

i used spray paint stripper a few times and hosed it off with water. then i used an air compressor to blow water out from where ever i can.

now there's probably some water in the pcv valve hole and some under the cover which is covered in oil

what's the best way to make sure all the water is gone before i start painting the cover besides leaving it outside to dry over 24 hours?
i've tried removing as much oil as i can using a rag but there's probably bits in gaps here and there.

cheers

also i've covered my exposed engine with lots of newspaper sheets and closed the hood.
should that be enough to leave for a night or two?
keep in mind i don't park inside a garage, just under a carport.

[CB7_OWNER]

Put the cover on the floor, grab a can of degreaser and spray the cover as much as you like until it seems clean, and then just dry it with a rag? You wont damage anything by cleaning the underside of the valve cover either, soo just degrease one side, then degrease the other side....

Your engine is perfectly safe with the hood closed im pretty sure.

[migoreng]

Put the cover on the floor, grab a can of degreaser and spray the cover as much as you like until it seems clean, and then just dry it with a rag? You wont damage anything by cleaning the underside of the valve cover either, soo just degrease one side, then degrease the other side....

Your engine is perfectly safe with the hood closed im pretty sure.

the pcv valve area is blocked off with just some holes when you look under the valve cover. i can't exactly get a rag into that area to wipe stuff off.

what if water/degreaser gets in there?