To provide a pipe cleaning method which copes with the accidents and fails during cleaning operation.

A winding mechanism 60 is installed in a manhole 50. A towing cable 41 is routed in a pipe 51 by a self-traveling extraction mechanism 70 which travels while extracting the towing cable 41 from the winding mechanism 60. When the self-traveling extraction mechanism 70 reaching the target manhole 50, the mechanism is replaced with at least one cleaner 40, an auxiliary cable 11 is connected to the rear end of the cleaner 40 in the towing direction, and the cleaner 40 is towed by the winding mechanism 60.