Easy way to clean the bay:
2 Cans of degreaser (usually takes 1.5 cans per cleaning)
1 Can CD-2 (one can will last you a long long long time)
Should be able to find Degreaser and CD-2 at your local auto parts store.
Follow directions on both cans. Piece of cake. I've done this on both my old '01 Civic and my Hawk, just don't go crazy w/ the water hose pressure and you'll be okay.
CD-2 can give a glossy/wet appearnce (notice the top of my intake manifold), something to note if you want a matte finish instead. But it'd be easy enough to wipe off some of the excess.
The following shot is w/ me doing hardly any physical wiping down, it was pretty dirty too (you can see I missed a spot in the belt tensioner pully, that gives you an idea of how dirty it was before)
