With the continuous transformation and upgrading of China's industry, higher requirements have been put forward for the quality, efficiency and service of industrial cleaning. The traditional cleaning methods cannot meet the application needs of industrial fields due to its high pollution, high energy consumption and other defects. As a green, environmentally friendly and non-destructive new cleaning method, laser cleaning has rapidly become a hotspot technology in the field of industrial cleaning. This paper presents three typical laser cleaning methods and summarizes the relevant mechanism of laser cleaning. At the same time, the application progress of laser cleaning in aerospace, shipbuilding, rail transit and other fields is also stated. According to the scientific and technological achievements of the enterprises and institutions of higher learning in laser cleaning systems and equipment at home and abroad in recent years, the difficulties in the promotion and application of laser cleaning in China are put forward, and the development direction of laser cleaning technology in the future is prospected.