schmootze adds character to the sound of your instrument
would you remove schmootze from a Stradivarius?
 
:-o

I never cut my strings off. I will keep the last set taken off as spares in case I break a string, which I haven't in years on my bass and ironically I've never broken a string on my guitar.  
 
I would imagine the original owners of a Stradivarius did clean them

I loosen the tension first, then cut them. In my guitars, they usually started breaking about an hour after I thought they sounded dead...I got really good at changing guitars mid-song though; my bandmates were always a little awed by that(the only part of my playing they were awed by...)
 
I would remove schmootze from a Strad, it ain't part of the sound...some people goop up their fretboards and I guess that becomes part of their sound, but maybe they should wash their hands more...

If you take off all the strings, how do you know which ones go where?

You mean there are specific places they are supposed to go?  Wow, whoda thunk it!
 
Bill, tgo

I remember reading that when D Boone and Mike Watt of the Minutemen first started to play, they didn't even know there was such a thing as tuning...they thought people either preferred their strings tight or loose.    Pretty funny  
 
I prefer mine to be tight, but not too tight.

Got my powerpeg.  Pretty nifty little gadget for only $20.  Kind of like a pistol grip electric screwdriver with a head that fits over the tuner knobs.  I'll be changing some strings this weekend and will report back with a full review.
 
Bill, tgo

Hey Bill, any string snappin' over the weekend?  *giggle*

Well, I finally got a chance to try out the Powerpeg last night on Big Irv.  I figured why beat around the bush?  Go for the most difficult challenge, the 12 string!  I can report back that, for about $20, this is one cool little gizmo.  It definitely made the re-stringing an easier and quicker task.  It turns at a good speed - not too fast, not too slow.  I can also see how it would be great for oiling those old Kluson-type tuners and others that require periodic lubrication.  All-in-all Billy Bob says two thumbs up!
 
Bill, tgo

Nice to know. Thanks for the update.