So a few days ago, i posted this photo of a shoplight that i found which had a badly bunt ballast.
Now i'm wondering if anyone knows how to clean the soot and stuff so i can make this shoplight mostly clean since i've never had to clean something this bad.

I've never really cleaned out soot... I usually always just leave it... I do clean dust and mold though.. Usually I'll use bleach or dish soap... Or both..

The soot has some weird smell that gives me a headache which is part of the reason why i want to get rid of it (also it may have PCB's mixed in).

I wonder if steel wool would help at all.

First step, Get some brake cleaner, clean use that and a wire brush and have at it.  Then rinse well, dry, then use some steel wool, and have at it.  Then rinse, dry, then go get yourself some good spray paint and coat the sucker a few times.  Should be good to go then. 

Sodium Hypochlorite based cleaning substances (many bleaches, degreasers, etc) do good job on cleaning out "yellowing" of many luminaires, they might work here too. Beware that they also wipe out any etches

Just got done with the cleaning part, i noticed the fluorescent tube holders are all GE made.