Sensor cleaning - what do I do wrong?

[LongLensPhotography]

My favourite topic again - sorry.

I am failing to get my 1Ds clean again. I am now trying VDust green swabs and all three of their solutions which cost me far too much - complete rip off if you like.
First I used red SmearAway bottle, then green one. In the end I tried the blue one, and all over again and again.

I got the centre portion spotless and managed to avoid smearing, but some of the gunk is moving from one edge to the other looks disgusting at small apertures. I don't know what is going wrong, but the swabs can't lift out all the dirt (same on 1DIII which should be an easier with smaller sensor - so no problems with edges).

How can I finish the edges and corners please? I regularly use f/16 and higher for landscapes.

Also is anyone reusing the old swabs? I am working in the lab so could use any solvent you could name.

 

[MisterE]

I have seen swabs specifically designed for getting in to corners, but I can't provide any more info than that. But I've never had a problem putting the corner of a swab in to the corner of a sensor. I tend to poke around the corners and edges and get them clean first then do a couple of wipes across the whole sensor. I've only used Smear Away once and found it to be useless. I, and most others I expect, use plain Eclipse.

I've cleaned swabs in Iso-Propyl Alcohol and re-used them with no ill effects.

Half the cleaning battle is being able to see the dirt on the sensor clearly. The best cleaning accessory I've got is a Visible Dust Sensor Loupe. It has been worth its weight in gold. Somewhere around £50.

 

[Nod]

Several years ago, I managed to get my D200's sensor very smeared using a solvent/wand based system. A good go with a LensPen Sensor Klear left it spot (and smear) free.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Several years ago, I managed to get my D200's sensor very smeared using a solvent/wand based system. A good go with a LensPen Sensor Klear left it spot (and smear) free.

I've got one, and its great for removing gunk but it fails to clean the extreme corners. I does also seem to leave some particles inside - most come off with a blower. I probably need a new one now - where can I get just the tips?

 

[texfoto]

Just thought I would throw this in there........are you sure you are cleaning the sensor and not just the mirror or some other part inside? I speak from experience. ;-)

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Just thought I would throw this in there........are you sure you are cleaning the sensor and not just the mirror or some other part inside? I speak from experience. ;-)

No I am cleaning the aa filter, what else?