Bore snake
A bore snake, IMHO, is for temporary, quickie-style cleaning. I have used one @ the range, for example. It does help remove the larger chunks of crud. You can put solvent on part of the snake if you want. Or oil. Don't think you have to wash it after each use--but if washing, I'd do it by hand, not in the same machine that does my family's underwear.
A bore snake is NOT a substitute for really, honestly, cleaning the bore of a firearm, using a cleaning rod, muzzle protector, action sleeve, brushes, jags, patches, and solvent.
To paraphrase Pythagoras, there is no royal road to a clean bore.