How to Clean a DSLR Sensor

Co-authored by Stephen Cardone

Last Updated: January 19, 2023 References

A DSLR sensor, located behind the lens and the mirror of a camera, captures light and converts images into digital pictures. If you can see small pieces of dust floating in your pictures, this important sensor might be dirty. Cleaning your sensor every few months will prevent excess dust from building up on the sensor, keeping your pictures crisp and clear.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Sensor with a Bulb Blower

1
Use the camera’s built-in cleaning feature if it has one.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Stephen Cardone
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview. 26 June 2020.} Go to the “Tools” menu on your camera and look for an option called “Sensor Cleaning” or something similar. If you have an option called “Clean Now,” click it.^{[2]
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- This will vibrate the sensor rapidly, shaking some dust off. This is a good start to a deep-cleaning, or an easy way to touch up your sensor from time to time.
- Most cameras should have this feature. If yours doesn’t, simply proceed to the manual dry cleaning instructions.
2
Remove the camera lens. Carefully unscrew the camera lens and set it aside. If you’re not sure how to remove your camera lens, look it up in the original instructions. You can also look online by searching for “remove camera lens” and the name and model of your camera.^{[3]
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- Dry cleaning is best for sensors that are only slightly dirty, with barely noticeable spots. If this dry cleaning method doesn’t work, you can try wet cleaning for a deeper clean.
Go back to the “Tools” menu on your camera and head to the “Sensor Cleaning” option. You should see an option that says “Manual Cleaning” or something similar. Click on it. This will lower the camera’s mirror and expose the sensor.^{[4]
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4
Turn the camera upside down and blow a bulb blower on the sensor. Hold the camera up in one hand and turn it upside down. In your other hand, hold up a bulb blower so that its tip is 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) away from the sensor. Squeeze the blower 10-20 times, shooting air onto the sensor to blow away the dust.^{[5]
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- Bulb blowers can be bought online or at electronics stores.
- Do not use canned air blowers on your DSLR sensor. The pressure is usually strong enough to damage your sensor.
- Holding the camera upside down as you blow will ensure that all the dust particle fall down and away from the sensor, instead of settling back on top of it.
5
Use a sensor scope to make sure that you removed all the dust. A sensor scope is a magnifying glass with a light shining at the end of the scope. Use the scope to check for more dust after you've finished blowing. If you spot more dust, you can use the bulb blower again or try another cleaning method.^{[6]
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- Sensor scopes can be purchased online or at most camera shops.
Most cameras will automatically replace the mirror over the sensor when you shut off the camera. Turn it off, then screw the lens back into place.^{[7]
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7
Take a photo after cleaning to check for leftover dust. Take an out of focus photo with the camera aperture set to f/22. Upload the photo to your computer and desaturate it with an editing program like Photoshop. Zoom in and closely examine the photo, looking for any other dust spots you may have missed.
- If you spot any other dust particles, you can dry clean the DSLR sensor again or try using a cleaning solution.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Camera Cleaning Solution

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Purchase sensor swabs and a sensor cleaning solution. Go online or check at an electronics store for sensor swabs and a specialized DSLR sensor cleaner. DSLR cleaners leave a coating on the sensor that can repel dust and minimize future build-up. Sensor swabs are soft and sterile, and won’t leave residual hair or dust on your sensor.^{[8]
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- Do not use regular cotton swabs or general soaps or cleaners on your camera.
- Sensor cleaning solutions typically come in small, squeezable dropper bottles.
- Sensor swabs are small with soft, triangular heads. Look for one made for your camera’s sensor size, which you can find in your camera’s instruction and information manual.
2
Remove the lens and flip down the mirror to expose the sensor. Unscrew the camera lens and set it aside. Then, go to the “Tools” menu on your camera and click the “Sensor Cleaning” option. Select “Manual Cleaning,” which will slide up the camera mirror and expose the sensor for you to clean.^{[9]
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- You can also try the camera’s built-in cleaning feature, if you haven’t already. Select “Clean sensor now,” in the Sensor Cleaning menu. The sensor will vibrate, dislodging some of the dust.
3
Put a few drops of solution on your sensor swab. Unwrap your sensor swab and hold it at the end of the stick. Carefully squeeze 1-2 drops of sensor solution onto the top side of the swab, then flip it over and put the same amount on the other side.^{[10]
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- Read the cleaner directions carefully before you use it on your sensor.
- The swab is sterile, so don’t drop it or let it touch anything else before you place it on your sensor.
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Let the swab soak in the solution for about a minute. One minute is approximately enough time for the solution to soak into the cleaning tool. When a minute has passed, keep the cleaning tool lifted over the solution so it can catch any drips.
- Do not squeeze cleaner directly onto the DSLR. Apply it with a cleaning tool.
5
Drag the swab gently over the DSLR sensor. Tilt the swab at an angle and drag it from one end of the sensor to the other, then back again. Lift the swab off of the sensor after you've dragged it both ways to avoid smudging.^{[11]
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- Apply light pressure as you drag the swab across the sensor.
- Don't worry about getting all of the dust off with your first swab. You can always repeat the process as necessary.
- Throw away your sensor swab when you’re done. It’s no longer sterile, so don’t re-use it.
6
Check for leftover dust with a sensor scope. A sensor scope is a lens-sized magnifying glass with a light shining at the end of the scope. Place the scope over your camera to check for more dust after you've finished cleaning. If you spot more dust, use a second sensor swab to clean the sensor again.^{[12]
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- Sensor scopes can be purchased online or at most camera shops.
Most cameras will automatically replace the mirror over the sensor when you shut off the power. Turn the camera off, then screw the lens back into place.^{[13]
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Take a photo after cleaning to check for any last dust particles. To make sure your sensor is as clean as it can be, take an out of focus photo with the camera aperture set to f/22. Upload the photo to your computer and desaturate it with an editing program like Photoshop. Zoom in and closely examine the photo to find dust spots you may have missed.
- If you spot any other dust particles, you can clean the sensor again with a sensor swab and a few drops of sensor cleaning solution.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Checking if Your Sensor is Dirty

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Set your ISO to its lowest normal range. Do not set your ISO lower than its extended range, which may impede your camera's ability to spot all dirty areas on your sensor. If your camera has an automatic ISO setting, change it to manual and adjust it based on your camera manual's lowest ISO instructions.^{[14]
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- The lowest ISO range for most digital cameras is 100.^{[15]
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To catch all the dust and debris on your sensor when you take the picture, you'll want the photo to be out of focus. If taking the picture indoors, set the focus to infinity. If taking it outdoors, set it to close-focus.
3
Choose an f/22 aperture level. A medium-sized aperture level, like f/22, is ideal for checking for dust. If your aperture is too wide, you may not be able to see any dust, while a small setting may provide so much detail that you see dust in the air or on other objects rather than your camera sensor.
- f/16 is also considered an acceptable aperture level for checking for sensor dust.
4
Take a picture of a blank background. If your photo is too detailed, you may not be able to distinguish between dust and spots of light or blurry objects. A white wall, cloudy sky, or blank piece of paper works as a perfect background.^{[16]
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- Move the camera slightly as you take the picture to further blur it.
5
Process the photo online to check for spots. Running your photo through an editing program will help you catch dust spots. Desaturate the photo and increase the contrast to make spots more visible. Sensor dust will look like small, dark circles randomly dotting your photo.
- If your photo seems more smudged than spotted, your lens may need cleaning instead of your sensor.
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Tips

If you’re worried about ambient dust settling onto you sensor while you clean, go to the bathroom and run the shower on hot for about 5 minutes. Once the room is steamy, turn off the shower, bring your camera in, and start cleaning. The steam will settle the dust in the room so it doesn’t land on your sensor.^{[17]
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Clean your DSLR sensor in a well-lit area to make sure you clean away all of the dust.

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Wash your hands before cleaning your sensor to keep it and your cleaning tools sterile.

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Warnings

No matter how careful you are, there’s always a possibility that you might end up spreading the dust around instead of removing it, or scratching your sensor when trying to clean it. If you’re nervous about damaging the camera, you can always take it to a camera store or send it back to the manufacturer to be cleaned.

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