The camera sensor cleaning mistake you don't want to make

This mistake could damage your camera and ruin your photos.

By Jackson Chen Nov. 15, 2026 1:30 pm EST Megaflopp/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

If you often swap lenses on your camera, it's almost inevitable that some debris will end up on the internal sensor. It's not the end of the world, so long as it's not something abrasive like metal shavings or grains of sand. Whether you spot the speck of dust on the sensor after reviewing photos or cleaning your camera, it's important you resist the urge to dislodge the dirt by blowing directly onto the exposed sensor with your mouth. If you do, you might end up introducing a bunch of moisture into the element via your spit.