An object is to provide an optical connector cleaning tool capable of cleaning both an end face and a side face of a ferrule of an optical connector plug simultaneously and simply and a method of cleaning an optical connector in such a manner. An optical connector cleaning tool according to the present invention includes superimposing a plurality of cleaning sheets on each other, the cleaning sheets each including a plurality of cleaning strings arranged so as to be parallel to each other in a sheet shape, such that orientations of the cleaning strings included in the respective cleaning sheets differ from each other, pressing an end face of a ferrule of an optical connector plug against the cleaning sheets to clean the end face of the ferrule, and subsequently, sticking the ferrule through the cleaning sheets to clean a side face of the ferrule.