Digital SLR cameras help capture images in striking detail. They eventually need to be cleaned. Photographers don't always have to rely on pre-packaged lens cleaning kits to do the trick, however. This guide is designed to show tips and tricks to clean your camera inside and out without doing harm to any of its delicate mechanisms.

Before you begin the cleaning process, take a dust reference photograph to check if dust is the reason for any problems within the camera's images.http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/sensor-cleaning.shtml Set your camera to a small aperture and take a picture of a plain surface, like a piece of white paper or a clear sky. Look at the photo on a computer monitor. Zoom in to look for any blurry or dark spots that do not belong in the image. Increase the contrast while viewing the photo, to make any possible spots stand out even more. Any dark spots and blemishes are likely dust spots, it's time for a cleaning!

1. Wipe off the exterior with a soft cloth, or use a brand-name camera wipe.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzOa58IcGo

2. Make sure to clean around the lens mount, so dirt trapped there does not get in when you clean the lens.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzOa58IcGo

• A soft microfiber cloth or camera wipes.

Cleaning the lens can help improve image quality. Changing lenses often can accumulate dirt and dust around the lens mount area of the camera as well as on the lens itself.

When cleaning a digital SLR camera lens, use a non abrasive, clean cloth like a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the glass.

1. Take the lens cap off the lens.
2. Wipe in a circular motion.
3. Remove the lens from the camera and clean the inside glass as well as the outside.
4. Wipe around the lens mount area as well.
5. Gently use a blower to remove dust from inside the camera body
6. If you plan to clean the sensor, go to step 3, if not, remount the lens to the camera and you are ready to shoot!

1. Air blower

2. Soft, non abrasive or microfiber cloth

3. Lens cleaning fluid (optional)

This step actually involves cleaning the filter that protects the camera's sensor, and caution is important. Scratching the filter will cause permanent damage.http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/sensor-cleaning.shtml

1. Make the area is dust-free.
2. Roll up long sleeves so fibers from clothing do not get into the camera.
3. Check the camera's manual to put your camera in sensor cleaning mode.
4. It's important to do this, to avert camera shutter mishaps while cleaning.
5. CleaningDigitalCameras.com has a list of camera models and their manuals so you can find out how to put the camera in cleaning mode.
6. Cleaning the mirror is not required. It does not impact image quality and it's easy to damage. Just move it out of the way to reach the sensor.
7. Blow air on the sensor. Shutterbug recommends the Giottos Rocket Air Blower.
8. Keep your camera pointing downward as you blow air, to use gravity to help the dust fall out.
9. It's important to do this before using a brush or wiping the sensor, to remove any dirt or dust on the surface. It is possible to scratch the sensor if you wipe it with a brush or cloth when it still has dust particles on it.
10. Do not use compressed air; it can damage the sensor.
11. After blowing air on the sensor, the camera may appear clean enough to use again. To clean it further, there are two basic options: wiping the sensor with a sensor cleaning brush, or cleaning it with a wet swab. Gizmodo suggests also using the Delkin Sensor Scope, which can magnify the camera's CCD by a power of 5, making it easier to see the dust on its surface.The sensor scope sells for about $80.

1. Air blower (also called a rocket blower)

2. Sensor brush (optional)

3. Sensor swab (optional)

4. Sensor Scope (optional)

• Now that the camera is clean, here are a few tips to delay the next cleaning for as long as possible.

1. Keep the camera in a bag when it's not in use.
2. Vacuum the camera bag to keep dust out.
3. Always keep lens caps on when not using the camera.
4. Try to change lenses quickly. If it is avoidable, do not change lenses in the middle of a sandstorm!
5. Clean around the lens mount regularly; this will decrease the odds of dust getting into the camera.

Check out these other helpful How Tos about photography on Mahalo

1. How to Choose a Camera Lens Wide Angle
2. How to Choose a Camera Lens Telephoto
3. How to Use a White Balance
4. How to Get a Correct Shutter Speed
5. How to Edit and Organize Photos
6. How to Choose Between Auto and Manual Focus
7. How to Get a Correct F Stop
8. How to Get a Correct Exposure
9. How to Use Auto Exposure Bracketing
10. How to Choose a Camera Lens
11. How to Control the Depth of Field With Your Camera
12. How to Become a Photographer the Basics
13. How to Become a Photographer Practice
14. How to Become a Photographer Stay Competitive
15. How to Become a Photographer Build a Portfolio
16. How to Clean Your Digital SLR Camera
17. How to Change the Lens on Your Digital SLR Camera