Key points on the selection and operation sequence of fiber end face cleaning tools

Optical fiber end face cleaning process: choose the right cleaning pen, dry and wet in order

Published: 2026-01-26 EB-LINK Views: 1402 End face cleaning, cleaning pen, end detector, dust cap

A considerable proportion of faults in link troubleshooting can be solved by wiping the end face. However, cleaning is not as hard as possible. If you choose the wrong tool or reverse the order of drying and wetting, dust may be pushed into the sleeve and the end face may be scratched. First select the right tool according to the interface, and then master the operating sequence, and then the cleaning will be done properly.

The size of the tool should match the ferrule

The diameter of the LC ferrule is 1.25mm, and that of SC and FC is 2.5mm. The cleaning pen tip is divided into specifications according to the diameter of the ferrule. The thick tip cannot be inserted into the LC hole. FC is a screw-down structure. Before cleaning, loosen the nut all the way. Do not pull the plug sideways. Cleaning on the port side is more likely to be ignored: the sleeve inside the patch panel adapter must be treated with a special rotating head or a cassette cleaning tape. Do not just wipe one end of the jumper plug, otherwise the clean end will touch the dirty sleeve, and the contamination will come back immediately. Scratches on multi-mode end faces are more conspicuous under microscope inspection, and the error tolerance during operation should be smaller.

Dry first, then wet, don't reverse the order

Regular dust can be wiped dry with a one-touch cleaning pen or a box-type wiping tape. Each time you wipe, move a section of the tape. Repeatedly dragging the same section will smooth out the dirt film. If you encounter oil stains or glue stains, use the wet method: dip a dust-free wiping paper into a small amount of absolute ethanol and wipe it in one direction, then replace it with new dry paper and dry it. Do not rub back and forth. If the port is plugged back in without drying thoroughly after wet use, the solvent residue will form a new contamination layer. When cleaning the pen, pay attention to the nominal number of uses. When used up, replace the pen tip or the entire pen. Do not use it beyond the specified period.

Three habits to prevent secondary pollution

Immediately cover the dust caps after cleaning, and keep unused ports capped;
The cleaning pen and dust-free paper are sealed and stored, and the whole box is replaced periodically according to the construction site environment;
After cleaning, pass the end surface through the end detector and then reinsert it. Do not rely on the naked eye to judge;
Wipe the new jumper before putting it online, such asLC-LC 10G multi-mode OM3 two-core jumperIt is also recommended to review the factory end face on site.

EB-LINK recommends that the delivery team include the cleaning pen and end detector in the vehicle tool kit: the end surface is clean and the review is recorded, which can save a lot of dispute time in the acceptance process.