I've tried almost everything that everyone else has tried and they all work depending on your standards. I have finally "I think" worked my way to the best "for me" method that I've found. I use the ME to clean it, a series of 1500-12000 grit micro mesh pads to smooth it, a glove on my bridge hand and I chalk with my non bridge hand to keep it off my shaft.
If I look down the shaft during a shot and see any chalk on the ferrule I have to stop and clean it off. I've gotten very anal about the whole thing. Of course you could be like Earl Strickland and never clean a shaft or ferrule. All his shafts look like bar cues and it doesn't distract him at all.Just have fun and remember it's all in the stroke. Don
Ya, I know a guy who uses the Earl Strickland method on his Sneaky Pete. It makes it a REAL Sneaky Pete!