Any tips on removing the residue from an old gasket from a tight area?

Im replacing the seals and gasket in the oil cooling unit?(the housing that you screw your oil filter to) It is inset somewhat *see 1st pic.
Its like the inside of a jar lid.
To make matters worse I have limited access to it so scraping it of from the side isnt much of an option. *pic 2

 

Soak a rag in some parts cleaner, stick it up in there, and tie a plastic bag around it to hold it in place. That should help loosen up some of the old material enough to scrape it off..

 

There are gasket removers you can spray on there to soften them up for easy removal.

 

if you can i have used a scotch brite pad with some brake cleaner on it. also they make scruby type pads that are circular that can be put on a end of a drill if you can get the replacement pads and use them by hand that will do the trick i would use some brake cleaner with it

 

fold some emery cloth over a screwdriver

 

paint thinner in an aerosol can?

or a thin wire wheel on a drill tip?