I would use a thick wet wash cloth to do the soaks and make it pretty moist. Just wash the same cloth out in some weak bleach water each time to clean it afterward, then rinse well. I'm afraid you can't be too gentle--the more moist it gets, the softer it will be, and you can try Q-Tips and tweezers, or gloved fingers. Holding his head sideways and keeping the nose up, so that the saline doesn't run into the nares, you can drip the saline into the eye. Saline won't kill him if it gets into his nose, but water might. I wish I could help you do it. Do you have any nurse or EMT friends to help?