Sprays will get all over, no way to avoid it.
I use kerosene on a rag also. I remove the chain guard (good time to inspect it) and wrap the soaked rag around the chain. A few spins of the wheel while rotating the rag and applying kerosene as needed gets every bit of gunk off. Cardboard backers and a light application of chain wax is next. I let it sit a bit and then wipe off the excess.
