A photographic processor includes a cleaning arrangement which comprises a transducer and an ultrasonic probe. In the system and method of the present invention, a cleaning cycle can be automatically initiated in a batch photographic processor. The automatic cleaning cycle involves the selected control of the transducer and the ultrasonic probe so as to place the probe in contact with cleaning solution in the processor, and the application of ultrasonic energy to the cleaning solution. In order to enhance the cleaning operation during a cleaning cycle, a circular processing drum of the photographic processor can be rotated slowly or intermittently to allow enough cleaning energy to be delivered to various components of the photographic processor.