Method for cleaning an air jet spinning device of a spinning station, an air jet spinning device and a thread-forming unit for an air jet spinning device. The air jet spinning device has a thread-forming unit having a thread-forming element arranged in a vortex chamber of a nozzle unit, and a nozzle unit having at least one air nozzle orientated towards the vortex chamber such that an air flow exiting the air nozzle impinges on the sliver in the vortex chamber with a rotation flow. The thread-forming unit has an element carrier for detachably receiving and releasing the thread-forming element or, alternatively or in addition, can be linearly shifted in conjunction with the air jet spinning device relative to the nozzle unit between a closed operating position and an open cleaning position, and the air jet spinning device can be linearly shifted and/or pivoted in the cleaning position.