Abstract Laser microdrilling has various applications in aerospace and electrical industries in manufacturing components such as nozzle guide vanes, combustion chambers, cooling holes on turbine blades, etc. In this study, cleaning of laser micro-drilled holes has been carried out. These holes were drilled using nanosecond pulsed fiber laser. The holes produced were with defects like surface spatter and recast layer. Therefore defects were cleaned by chemical etching using HNO3+HCl as etchant by keeping workpiece in still solution and passing etchant through the holes using electric pump. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were done using optical microscope. Surface spatter was cleaned in a still etchant solution at room temperature and a good quality etched holes was obtained for 40%HNO3 + 10%HCL when etched for 6 minutes.