Tip of the Day: Cleaning Your Digital SLR Camera

If you just got your first Digital SLR, or you are just not sure how to go about cleaning out the camera behind the lens, this quick tip should help. First, purchase a quality bulb blower. My personal favorite is a Giotto's Rocket Air. This blower is made out of 100% natural rubber, and pushes a lot of air on every squeeze. To clean: take the lens off, and flip the camera so that the lens mount is facing towards the ground. Blow air directly below the opening. Repeat several times, and check the camera. Most if not all dust should be gone. Do not flip the camera up, and use the blower, because you will only be pushing the dust back in. If the mirror is really dirty, use cotton swabs dabbed in pure alcohol (nothing less than 92% pure), and clean the mirror. Use a microfiber cloth, designed for optical cleaning to clean your camera's body, and the lens element. Alcohol will help to clean tough stains and grease.