Uni air filter cleaning/care question

[CanukGS500]

The bike from what I can see from the wiki came with a uni air filter but it seems VERY gunked up.  Is there an effective way to clean the foam without having to buy their super-duper special cleaner/oil?  I imagine soaking it in dish soap with a rinse from the inside out will do the job for cleaning.  I have some extra K&N oil that I could spray on it.  Anyone have any suggestions so that I can get it cleaned with "off the shelf" products since my parts places dont cary Uni products?

[romulux]

Replace the Uni with a filter that will actually keep dust and grime out of your engine.

I ordered a Uni at the dealer once and when I saw it I just took it back and had them exchange it for an OEM paper filter.

If you're going to keep it, what you said is fine except that it's never going to work well as an air filter.

[CanukGS500]

Hmm.. the wiki did say it got mixed reviews.  Perhaps I will put the paper filter in that I have and the set of carbs that are jetted accordingly.

[Electrojake]

I too use UNI filters on a few of my machines and they are indeed a gooey mess to work with when servicing them.
The link below will tell you that (in a pinch) gasoline will clean the UNI element and regular motor oil can re oil it but its hillbilly maintenance. You should use a UNI or K&N filter service kit.
Here is the link that suggests crap maintenance on a UNI filter is O.K. in a pinch:
http://www.all-offroad.com/DirtBikes/TrailTips/FenderBagOct98.html

The K&N kit is here:
http://powersport-superstore-inc.amazonwebstore.com/K-N-AIR-FIL-CARE-KITAEROSOL/M/B00029WYEY.htm

The UNI kit is here:
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/productDetail.do;jsessionid=1BAA282C688E22A8961ACAE420136D1F.westring1?webCatId=16&webTypeId=3&navTitle=Intake/Fuel&navType=type&prodFamilyId=6789&stockId=37006&ref=gmc

I keep a box of these nitrile gloves in the shop at all times.
They are perfect for the sticky filter job.

-Ej-

<edit>
P.S. As for what's cleanest: Agreed! A stock Suzuki filter is the cleanest. . . and clean is good. . .
but a double element UNI that is properly serviced avoids the damage caused by a K&N and still reduces a good amount of the intake restriction issue.
-Ej-

[CanukGS500]

Thanks for the heads up.  My local parts store carries the K&N recharge kits, so if they will work I'll just get another bottle of cleaner to go with my oiler.  I'm pretty good about maintaining rechargable filters.   The guy I brought it from said that it was a stock setup so it kind of surprised me to take the seat and tank off and see a metal spiral on the inside of the filter element.