This may seem a really stupid question but what do I clean the engine bay with?
As a complete novice concerning the workings of the engine (I am learning as quickly as I can. I know what the carburetor is for now!! ), can I clean it with just soap and water or something like Flash?
Or do I have to use something specialised to prevent the cleaning solution getting into something?
You can buy engine degreasant , in spray or liquid form ( brushed on with an old paint brush ) from car accessory places.
After leaving for a few minutes, as per the instructions, you can rinse off the muck.A garden hand water spray is good in that it will do spray or jet and you don't have litres of water everywhere.If the grease everywhere is really thick, scape the worst off with an old wooden lolly stick/ plastic scaper/ stiff cardboard, whatever comes to hand.
Warnings keep the operation away from " things electrical ", e.g.distributer, coil ,alternator/ dynamo, plug leads ,elctrical loom etc.You can cover the big items in a used plastic bag and tape them up temporarily.Careful you don't dislodge anything.... doing or undoing them.
It's going to be a messy job, if it hasn't been done for years.Prepare.Tape together ,into a wide sheet, several newspapers.Place unde the car, under the engine between the front wheels to catch all the old muck that is washed down.
Plenty of old rags / kitchen roll paper,wear old clothes...you will get splashed, rubber gloves/ disposable gloves/ old socks with the toes cut off to put on your wrists and forearms.Wait until all the dripping has stopped before removing the newspaper sheet.Roll it up and have a black plastic sack to hand.
If despite ...your preparations.. you do get water where it shouldn't be, then wipe water away carefully rag/ paper and spray
with WD040 or other water dispersant spray.
Firing up the engine will tell you it's all working again and it will also help drying everthing out again.
Put on sunglasses , stand back and admire your handywork.
If you haven't any engine degreaser a simple household oven cleaner (like Mr Muscle) will do the job. As said above don't let any get near any electrical connections.
Careful where you do it. Paraffin, petrol, diesel, white spirit etc will soften the tarmac on your drive and is of course very flammable and shouldn't be rinsed away down the rainwater drains.
(I am learning as quickly as I can. I know what the carburetor is for now!! 
