A method for contactless cleaning of a nozzle plate of a print head. The method may include: providing a suction element, the suction element causing a fluid to flow along a surface of the nozzle plate and toward the suction element for removing residue from the nozzle plate; sucking-in, by the suction element, the fluid together with the removed residue; and separating the sucked-in fluid from the sucked-in residue. Also, a suction element for cleaning of such a nozzle plate. The suction element may be configured to cause a fluid to flow along a surface of the nozzle plate and toward the suction element for removing residue from the nozzle plate and sucking-in the fluid with the residue. The suction element may include a mouth piece and a wheel, the wheel being arranged such that the mouth piece is spaced away from the surface of the nozzle plate.