I started fishing with micro guides a couple of years ago and I really liked the weight and the casting benefits. There is only one down side. The guides are so small that they get dirty pretty quick and that dirt is abrasive on your line. Ive tried cleaning them with a Q Tip and that still does not work good enough. I was at Lowes with my wife the other day and she was looking at Hummingbird feeders. They had these little wire bristle brushes that are designed to clean the ports of the humminbird feeder. There was a pack or 3 for $4. They work perfect!! They have a small wire core with the bristles around them. A few strokes in and out of the guides and they are clean. Just thought I would pass along.

Thats actually pretty neat you found those! Will have to keep this in mind.