I've used kerosene before but its best to get a cutting oil.make sure you clean the cylinder up real well afterwards.the cleaner the better remember cleanliness is next to godliness get that thing clean.
The g/f don't care for it but I generally assemble my smaller engines on my bar in the kitchen just because its so clean.my garage is too but not enough to eat off of.lol just treat it like an open heart surgery and you'll be fine.