It has been noted in the media that one of the weak spots of the Blu-ray is its drive lens.  One way to avoid issues is regular maintenance and this includes cleaning the lens free from dirt.

What you will need to complete this task:

Opening the PS3 console:

Phillips head screw driver

Torx screwdriver

Flathead screwdriver

Small screw driver

To clean the Blu-ray:

Screw driver

Q-tip

Clean lens liquid.

1.  Accessing and removing the Blu-ray lens:

i.   Turn the console over to the left hand side.

ii.   Using a small flathead screwdriver, remove the screw cover.  Taking the Torx screwdriver,  unscrew the screw underneath.

iii.   Face the console towards you, using a little pressure (more so if this is the first time you have opened your machine) slide the case cover as far as it will go, then lift the case cover upwards.

iv.   You will now notice that under the case cover is the actual casing.  You will need to remove 7 long screws.  To do this use the Phillips screw driver.

v.     Next undo the two small clips at the back of the console.  You will need a small screwdriver, then with a little pressure lift the cover off the console.

vi.    As you are taking the cover off, you will notice a silver connector.  To remove this use a small flathead screw driver to wedge it out.  You will now be able to see inside the console.

vii.   To remove the Blu-ray drive is relatively easy.  Lift up the drive about 2 inches and you will notice a wide ribbon cable connecting the drive to the motherboard, you will also notice a plug at the front of the drive.  Unplug both of these and you will be able to fully lift the drive out.

For more detailed instructions on taking apart the PS3, see this article

2)  Disassembling the Blu-ray drive:

i.   Turn the drive over so that it is facing towards you.  Now take out the 2 screws on the bottom left and right and corners. (Not on the Blu-ray board but on the metal part of the drive.)

NOTE:  When removing the screws remove the metal piece, along with them and please remember to replace it when screwing the screws back!

ii.  Next you will need to remove the 5 screws on the board of the Blu-ray drive (Top right; top left; bottom almost right; bottom right and bottom left).

Note:  Bottom right screw comes with a metal piece as above, and will also need to be replaced on re assembly.

iii.  Now you will be able to remove the motherboard’s connectors. To do this you will need to lift the lid (on each connector) and pull the connector out.

iv.  Lift the motherboard in your right hand, it is still connect to the drive with a cable, to remove the cable you will need to pull it from the motherboard.

Note: it is now safe to remove the motherboard fully.

v.   Turn the drive over (as you need to be able to lift and remove the upper casing).

Note:  Ensure that you push back on the case when lifting it up, as the case is hooked into a several tabs.

vi.  Next take out 4 screws on the drive (tp right; top left; 1 in the middle on the left side above the white section and finally the one in the middle on the right side, directly opposite the one on the middle left).

vii.  Now take the screw out from the middle at the bottom.

viii.  You are now ready to remove the white section that holds the Blu-ray disc.

ix.  Lift the black case towards the right.

x.   Take one end of the Q-Tip and dampen it with the lens cleaning fluid. Using this make smooth circular movements on the lens.  The lens is located on the Black square part.

Note:  Be Extremely careful as the Lens are particularly fragile.

xi.  Using the Dry end of the same Q-Tip make similar circular movements on the lens to dry it.  Again it cannot be stressed enough that the Lens is very delicate and care should be used when cleaning and drying them.

xii.  Now it is time to re assemble your console.  Put the black case back on, and then the white part.

Finally replace all the screws that you have taken out, remembering to replace the metal pieces with the appropriate screws.  Note:  It may be a good Idea to re-read the steps backwards, as a guide, of where the screws came from.