How crazy do you want to go? Are you tearing the playfield down?

Try this forum:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cleaning-and-waxing-pinball-machines-vids-guide

Tried novus 2 yet?

Monopoly seems to get very dirty for some reason

I'd just do magic eraser plus rubbing alcohol then.

Alcohol is going to dissolve the clear

pic of the ball swirl?

Does alcohol dissolve modern clears?

Never has for me on a modern Stern. You can use water, but then you have planking danger if there are cracks through the clear and the wood takes up the water. The magic eraser will remove more clear than the alcohol. If you don't go crazy with either, it should be fine. Do a small unobtrusive area first if you're not sure.

Once it's cleaned up, though, definitely give it a couple coats of wax to keep it protected.

I agree that it would be nice to see a picture of the ball swirl so it's clear how bad/not bad it really is.

If it didn't then how would it help clean where novus can't? Light abrasives are one thing but I get worried any time there's a chemical reaction involved

The 91% alcohol is just to provide quickly evaporating moisture for the magic eraser, so it does the job and goes away.

If that's it, then great, but whenever using any chemical you should always be testing under the apron first

You won't get color until/unless you rub through the clear, so if you're getting color, you have a bigger general problem with the Monopoly PF.

Don't fret. Just get some 91% rubbing alcohol and a magic eraser and go to town on a small semi-hidden area first (maybe by the pop bumpers or the left upper side), trying clockwise and counterclockwise motions to get the funk out. You will likely be fine, then amazed once you give the whole PF a once-over. Let it air out when you're done for a day or so, get some Marco white rubber on there (better bounce, and black rubber really dirties up a PF fast), then a couple coats of wax and you're good.

Start out just dragging the Magic Eraser along. Then a little more pressure. The Magic Eraser will enter the ball dimples and clean the black stuff out. Remember you are not trying to remove 12 years of rust off of Pinball Legs. Rub to hard and you will lose parts of the top surface of the playfield.

Did you try novus?

Pinhedz Playfield Cleaner may be worth a shot.

I would use Novus2 with an old toothbrush. Probably not gonna help much. Magic Eraser and alcohol are not going to hurt it if you start gently and gradually increase the pressure until you start getting results. This being a modern Stern and not a 30 year old solid state you should run very little risk of removing any paint. Follow up with wax and it will look great.

I've never had any luck removing ball swirl with magic eraser and alcohol. I've tried fairly vigorously, but was too scared to apply really hard pressure, too scared I would break through the clear. So I'll be interested to see how this goes with the Monopoly. Good luck and let us know.

What applicators are you using also? I've had Great success with just Novus 3 and 2. One of the Best applicators is a Q-tip. Oh its hell on your fingers but the fibers really dig in and grab the dirt. I also like to use shop towels with the Novus because it doesn't just absorb all the Cleaning solution with shop towels you can work the Novus in after I use the Q-tips and Shop towels with the Novus I use a micro fiber cloth as that will polish it back nice and smooth.
Magic eraser and alcohol is great but you have to be careful with it, that is basically sand paper. I have some in my cleaning box also but I only use it now to clean plungers when working on coils I just haven't had to use it on playfields since I've started using Q-tips and Shop Towels to clean then micro fiber cloth to polish.
Also remember you still have to wax after all this cleaning

Go for the gusto and get 99% alcohol. Most pharmacies can order it in for you. Costs about twice as much as the on-shelf 71% stuff. Good stuff.

Google Search?

https://sciencing.com/denatured-alcohol-vs-isopropyl-alcohol-5519636.html

Uses for Different Alcohols
After producers add bittering agents, denatured alcohol becomes more toxic than isopropyl alcohol. Additionally, some of the additive chemicals can harm a human's skin. As such, it rarely finds use in medical settings.

Isopropyl alcohol, on the other hand, can be found in most hospitals and medicine cabinets. It's relatively mild effect on human skin also means cosmetic makers add it to products like hand lotions. Similarly, isopropyl alcohol can be safely used to clean electronic components, unlike denatured alcohol.

When denatured alcohol evaporates, it leaves behind a residue that can affect the sensitive parts of a computer. Similarly, some of the other chemicals in denatured alcohol can be corrosive to plastics. Denatured alcohol can also be found in cosmetics, but most often it finds use as an industrial chemical. Denatured alcohol can be used as fuel for stoves and lamps. Both types of alcohols can be used as solvents and, in some cases, disinfectants.

Don't worry about it. I learn many things on this board from being challenged.

The 99% alcohol is what I use. I get it free from work! I also use it to clean plungers, coil sleeves, rubbers, etc. The stuff is great.

You might also want to try Naptha and a clean rag. There is dirt and probably wax in those cracks. Naptha will help break down the wax (dewax) and clean at the same time.