Blackberry,
I know it doesn't help now, but someone here I think, made the comment that the gunk on these machines didn't happen over night. So it won't be removed all at once either. They suggested coating it with the sewing machine oil and letting it soak a while then using the cotton balls.
I almost ruined my 1919 Red Eye before I knew better too. Thankfully we stopped before we totaled the decals.
Joe