Scrcrow,
No reason to avoid the chemical cleaners, just follow the directions
I use the Iosso cleaner and I have a tumbler. Started with the chemicals before I bought the tumbler and still use it. I don't need my brass to be tumbled shiney every time, but if I have 100-200 pieces that were laying in the dirt, it is going to get washed. After a couple of cycles of load/shoot/wash then I will tumble it.
bergie