Is your sensor a mess? Give it a good ol’ polish with these cleaning kits…

Images littered with black spots? It’s time to call in the cleaners...

You’d be forgiven for thinking that modern cameras can keep dust at bay using their integrated sensor cleaning systems. But shoot in dusty environments or change lenses frequently and it’s only a matter of time before your sensor will need to be cleaned manually. You’ll know when to break out the cleaning products as images of clear blue skies or plain backdrops will begin to feature unwelcome dark spots. But don’t despair, as with a steady hand and the right cleaning kit you can restore your sensor to its former glory.

DSLRs are slightly trickier to clean than mirrorless cameras, as you’ll first need to lock the mirror up to access the sensor. Then it’s just a matter of using a blower, brush, or a sticky pad to remove loose dust, while stubborn dirt can be dislodged using swabs. Here are six cleaning options that are worth a look...