A method for cleaning a rotating surface of a printing press cylinder or a rotating surface of a printing press roller, or a rotating surface of a print form or a transfer form arranged on a printing press cylinder within a printing unit includes the steps of: applying a liquid, water-based washing agent, containing at least 60% water and the rest at least surfactants, onto the surface to be cleaned within the printing unit; dissolving contaminations from the surface to be cleaned within the printing unit with the help of the washing agent and a cleaning device; and removing the dissolved contaminations from the surface to be cleaned within the printing unit, at least with the help of the cleaning device.

A dampening unit that sprays viscous application liquid to a treatment surface includes a rotating brush driven to rotate around the axis, a liquid applicator that supplies the liquid to the brush, and a brush chamber to accommodate the brush. The brush chamber includes a wall that surrounds the brush. The wall defines an ejection window for discharging viscous application liquid that is either sprayed or spun away from the brush.

A micro-fibre anilox cleaning blanket having a cleaning surface area defined by a first pair of parallel edges located on opposing ends of the blanket and a second pair of edges that run between said end edges along either side of the blanket is provided. A connection strip is provided on each end edge of the blanket. The connection strips are configured to form non-permanent slotted relationships with complementary connection elements on print cylinder attachment means such that the blanket can be mounted on a print cylinder. Also provided is a system that includes a plurality of cleaning blankets and a variety of different types of print cylinder attachment means that can be combined to achieve a wide range of cleaning blanket assemblies that correspond to different print cylinder designs.