How to clean a sensor at home

These are the tools I use to clean a sensor and mirror

So what do I do??? it may give some guidance for those wanting to clean their own.

First of all I make sure I am working somewhere there is no dust,ie kitchen, and then allow plenty of time, its a job that needs a bit of care but nothing the average photographer can't tackle themselves. So often I read that a camera is sent away for cleaning as if there is some magic in doing it. Well there isn't and I just can't see any reason for being without a camera for at least a couple of weeks and paying not only for postage but what a company charges for doing it. With the kit in the photo is all you need and the cost occassionally of ordering more fluid (above will last years) and a couple of wiping pads packs

Sometimes its just dust on the lens that needs attention and cleaning them is dead simple so won't do a breakdown of that.

Ok as I have said earlier having a "loupe" (the black round object) makes the job so much easier and I would dare to suggest it is on bit of kit every photographer should have, I used to do the trick of photographing a white sheet of A4 paper then checking the digital photo of it. Yes it works but does mean having to keep going from taking a photo to checking it as I just mentioned. This method is slow to say the least and I soon gave up on that idea.

So we now have the mirror locked up to check for dust, as you can see I do have a rocket blower but reluctant to use it as it can stir up more dust in the camera body and make matters worse. If intended to use this bit of kit make sure the camera is facing downwards first

So onto using the" loupe" which in reality is just a magnifying glass that has built in lights which is placed over the opening which the lens fits into. With the mirror locked up it is easy to see minute dust particles on the sensor. Dust particles can be from a small hair to light dust to really stuck on bits of dirt and each is generally easily recognisable through a Loupe. Dealing with a small hair or light dust one has a choice of ways to remove it. First is the blower method which I am not keen on and the second method is by using the Artic Butterfly; thats the pen like thing in the picture with a brush on the end. Its different from an ordinary brush as it builds up static electricity because inside there is a small motor which makes it spin. Spinning it for about 5 second builds up enough static to allow the brush to attract any loose dust when gently wiped across the sensor face. After each pass the brush should be removed and again spun to shake off any dust it may have attracted. This method I prefer as it only cleans the sensor and any other loose dust in the camera body remains.

Of course you can buy a pen with a brush one one end and a rubber pad on the other (only costs a few pence) but having tried using it I soon gave up, the brush only moves dust from one side of a sensor to the other and doesn't do anything else. The rubber type other end just leave a mark on the sensor which causes more work to remove it

Ok now for stubborn dirt against just dust and we are starting to talk about wet wipes . Again in the photo you will see special fluids for the job which can easily be obtain on the web. I use two types of wiping instruments, for use of a better word, first is the one that looks like a cotton bud but its not. This I use just to clean a spot not the whole sensor. Just as with using he spade type it only needs a minute drop of fluid on the tip , drenching it will make the sensor harder to dry/clean. The spade type again just a small drop of fluid and with it one wipe in one direction and check the sensor. Here I have read then the wiping blade should be discarded, I tend to ignore that and after checking it for cleanliness use it again with the other side. I just can't see any reason why it can't be used many times providing it is clean and won't scratch the sensor, but that choice is up to the individual of course. Word of caution, don't try and press too hard with whichever dirt cleaning tool used, far better to go over several times than trying to do it in one wipe. Never ever use a cotton bud as an alternative its not designed for the job and WILL leave small hairs.
After each operation just check to see the dust/dirt has gone ,you don't want to clean a sensor that's already clean. Make sure you have a fully charged battery to keep the mirror locked up.

Just a brief note on where other dirt/dust may show up. One is the mirror, easily checked if the dirt shows in the view finder but not on the photo, Cleaning is again easy by using one of the aforementoined wipes and if necessary a bit of fluid. I just gently manually lift the mirror to do the underside, just treat it like cleaning a sensor. The other place I have come across is the camera body side of the viewfinder lens, easily found obviously and this may need a bit of a wipe as well but usually needs no attention



Thats really all there is too it, no magic methods, no secret way only known to companies offering this service.

Hope this may be of some help for those wondering if they could do the job themselves, there are plenty of demos on youtube bearing in mind some may vary slightly from how I do it


Bazza