We've all been there: you're sitting at your computer reviewing photos from your recent trip and you notice every single one has a dark spot in the same space. While a Lady Macbeth diatribe may make you feel better for a moment, learning how to care for your camera may prove more fruitful...
Of course, the best cleaning for your precious DSLR would be in the hands of a professional. But for those who are confident in their cleaning skills, there are some fairly simple DIY maintenance solutions.
1. Removing dust via air. Do not use canned compressed air. Use an "air blaster" like this one from Amazon which is pictured in the top image. The air blaster is inexpensive, $12.50, and is useful for more than just cleaning your camera (we also use ours to clean our laptop screens).
2. Cleaning the camera sensor: If the air blaster doesn't do the trick, you probably need to clean your sensor. This friends, is where things can get very dicey. The sensor is a very, very delicate piece of equipment that is easily damaged. The nasty part is if damaged, the cost of fixing the sensor is almost the price of a new camera! We've cleaned sensors ourselves and also have had cameras cleaned by professionals. We will admit that having a pro clean the camera gave us much better peace of mind, so consider if this if you're not confident about damaging your photography gear. Here are a couple of videos discussing the process:
If you decide to clean the sensor yourself, it's vital that you use the correct tool. This tool is the sensor cleaning kit (like the one shown above which costs $32.79), which are specific to the model of your camera. Remember how much we emphasized how easily the sensor can be damaged? Buy the right sensor cleaning kit and follow the directions. Sensor cleaning is not the time to experiment with that nifty homebrew cleaning solution or to whip out a cotton swab and have at it. Get the right tool for the job and exercise caution, your camera (and wallet) will thank you.
MORE CAMERA CLEANING ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• How To Properly Clean Your dSLR Camera Lens
• The Right & Wrong Tools for Cleaning a Camera Lens
• How to Clean Your Vintage Camera
(Image: Joelle Alcaidinho)
Alexis' Modern Glass House 
Before & After: A Bathroom Goes From Pinky Peach to Sleek and Chic
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Tom Black Espadrille
20 Scrumptious Brunch Recipes 
Magic One-Ingredient Ice Cream 5 Ways: Peanut Butter, Nutella, and More
Comments (7)
It's worth noting that many new digital cameras will self clean their sensor
Am I the only person that thought "Enema of Mass Destruction" while looking at the air blaster?
I think cleaning your own sensor is just a bad idea. Sure you can save some money, but what happens if you get it wrong? I send mine to http://www.perfectimagerepair.com Wes will do a clean and check for $59.95 and ship it out the same day he receives it. It's worth it before a trip. If you use my referral code you will get a discount too :) CLEANPICSJW
As for the self cleaning cameras. That's just a marketing ploy. They will still need to have an occasional swab as the vibration only loosens some of the crud.
No love for the lens pen? Or are we just talking camera bodies at this point?
I think cleaning the sensor yourself is fine. Wiebner's comment sounded too much like an ad to begin with, and then they put that referral code in . . .
Thank you for the Lady MacBeth reference. Nicely subtle, but brain-sparking nonetheless. Well done.
@Adventrising Sometimes the truth can sound like an ad, and please don't tell me that you never use coupons ;) Perfect Image is a brick and mortar store in my town. It's just a guy who does quality repair work for me and all of the other grateful photographers in the area. I wanted to share his name and hopefully bring him a little business and give you a great experience. I am a pro photographer. If you Google my last name you will easily find me and my wife, as I am the only Wiebner photographer that ever comes up. I apologize if it came across as spammy to you, but it's not like I posted irrelevant info.
BTW, please don't ever use a lens pen on your sensor. The brush end is too abrasive and the pad end has a fine polymer that will just make your dust issue infinitely worse.
I'm a photographer and I constantly change lenses on my camera bodies 7 days a week. I can't stress enough how BAD of an idea cleaning your own sensor is. There's just too must risk involved, in my opinion. With enough patience and know-how, it can be done. But just like buying cheap UV filters for expensive lenses, there's no sense cutting corners when you invest in quality equipment. The occasional sensor cleaning is money well-spent and a quality air blaster is a must with any gear bag. That being said, I give my sensor a good blast of air every few days and rarely need to have the sensors cleaned. They really do work wonders.
I may be stating the obvious, but when using an air blaster, remember to hold the camera with the lens mount facing DOWN blasting air UP into the camera; that way any dust falls down and out, rather than swirling particles around and having it land on the sensor.