If you’ve ever opened your photos on a big screen and spotted faint gray blobs in the background—always in the same exact place—it might be time to inspect (and possibly clean) your camera’s sensor.

The good news?

You don’t need to spend hundreds sending your camera to a shop.

You can verify the problem yourself and clean it safely at home.

Below, I’ll show you how to diagnose sensor dust, what to check first, and when it’s time to break out the sensor cleaning swabs I personally use.

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How to Know When It’s Time to Clean Your Camera’s Sensor

Gray spots that appear in the same place across multiple photos usually mean one thing: sensor dust.

But before touching your camera’s internals, rule out the easier stuff.

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1. Check Your Viewfinder

Sometimes the viewfinder glass gets dirty, which can make it look like there’s dust in your shot (even though it’s not recorded in the photo itself).

To rule this out:

• Grab a cotton swab
• Wrap a microfiber lens cloth around one end
• Gently clean the viewfinder glass

If the spots disappear in the viewfinder but still appear in your images, the problem isn’t the viewfinder.

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2. Check Your Lens (Front & Rear Elements)

Next, inspect your lens:

1. Detach it from the camera
2. Hold it under bright light
3. Look for dust, fingerprints, or smudges
4. Clean both front and rear glass elements with:
   • A microfiber lens cloth
   • A lens cleaning pen

If the lens is clean but the spots stay in the same position across all photos, the lens isn’t the culprit.

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3. Check Your Sensor

Now it’s time to look at the sensor itself.

1. Remove the lens
2. Shine a bright light at an angle
3. Look for visible particles

If you see dust, try this first:

Use a Rocket Blower

A few short puffs can dislodge loose dust.

• Keep the camera facing downward
• Never blow with your mouth
• Never touch the sensor with the blower

If you’re lucky, this solves the problem.

But if not, there’s one more test to confirm whether the sensor still has stuck-on dust.

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4. Use the White Paper Test (The Easy Diagnostic Method)

This is the simplest way to verify sensor dust:

How to Do It

1. Lay a blank white sheet of printer paper on a desk
2. Set your camera to manual focus
3. Aim straight down at the paper
4. Intentionally defocus the shot
5. Take the photo
6. View it on a large screen

What You’re Looking For

• No spots: great — the rocket blower worked
• Spots remain in the same place: they’re on the sensor
• More spots than before: totally normal — out-of-focus white surfaces reveal every speck

If spots remain, they’re stuck to the sensor surface and cannot be removed with air alone.

That’s when it’s time for a proper wet clean.

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How to Clean Your Camera Sensor (Safely)

Cleaning the sensor sounds intimidating, but it’s easy if you use the right tools and follow the right steps.

(Always read your camera’s manual and the swab instructions.)

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For DSLR Cameras

A DSLR has a mirror and a shutter mechanism covering the sensor.

To expose the sensor:

1. Insert a fully charged battery
2. Go to Menu → Sensor Cleaning → Manual Cleaning
3. The camera will flip up the mirror and open the shutter
4. The sensor will now be visible and accessible

Once it’s exposed, follow the “Wet Cleaning” section below.

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For Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless cameras make this easier since the sensor is already exposed.

Still, follow these rules:

• Turn the camera OFF before cleaning (reduces static)
• Enable any “sensor cleaning mode” if available (locks shutter open if your camera has one)

Then proceed to wet cleaning.

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Wet Cleaning the Sensor With Swabs

This is where the swabs come in.

You Will Need:

• Sensor cleaning swabs
• Sensor cleaning solution (if not pre-moistened)
• A bright light
• Patience — but only a little

Step-by-Step

1. Blow out loose dust; Use the rocket blower one last time.
2. Open a fresh swab; Never reuse a swab.
3. Add cleaning fluid; If your swabs require it, place 1–2 drops along the edge.
4. One smooth pass; Start at one side of the sensor and swipe across in one slow, steady motion.
5. Flip the swab, one pass back; Use the clean, unused side.
6. Turn off the camera; The shutter/mirror (DSLR) will return to place.
7. Retest with the White Paper Test; You may need a second swab for stubborn dust.

That’s it.

It’s far less scary than people imagine.

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Which Sensor Cleaning Swabs I Recommend

Use swabs matched to your sensor size:

• Full-frame → 24mm swabs
• APS-C → 16mm swabs
• Micro Four Thirds → 12mm swabs

I use and trust these swabs from VSGO because:

• They’re individually wrapped
• Lint-free
• Non-abrasive
• Made specifically for camera sensors
• Safe when used as directed

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Final Thoughts

Sensor dust is normal.

Everyone gets it.

And for studio shooters—especially food and product photographers—it becomes obvious fast.

The good news?

Cleaning your own sensor is simple, inexpensive, and part of normal camera maintenance.

If you came here from my Pinterest pin, now you know exactly how to:

• Diagnose sensor dust
• Rule out viewfinder and lens issues
• Test using the white paper method
• Clean the sensor safely
• Choose the right swabs

It’s one of the easiest ways to keep your photos clean and your editing time short.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.