A coal-cleaning method that utilizes air to remove the dust and waste from coal. Air cleaning requires that the coal contain less than 5% of surface moisture as a rule. It is effective only in the coarse sizes (plus 10 to 28 mesh) and is best suited to coals having a sharply defined line between coal and refuse material. Predrying to reduce the moisture content of the coal ahead of the air treatment is not uncommon. It is a less expensive and also a less accurate method of cleaning coal than the wet-cleaning method.