Nothing is more frustrating than having dirty, dusty, or cloudy eyeglasses, especially when you are in the middle of something important. But, surprisingly, cleaning your eyeglasses is easier than you might think. So, what is the best way to clean your eyeglasses?
The best way to clean eyeglasses is to dip them in a soap and warm water solution for 5-10 minutes. Then, wipe the eyeglass’ surface with a soft microfiber cloth to absorb the remaining moisture. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or strong chemicals that may cause the eyeglasses to fade.
The last thing anyone wants to deal with is dirty eyeglasses. So, let’s discuss methods to clean your eyeglasses, what to avoid and how to prevent your glasses from getting dirty.
What’s the Best Way to Clean Eyeglasses?
The eye is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body and maintaining its health is vital. However, dirty eyeglasses can cause eye infections and damage your sight further.
The best method to clean eyeglasses is with non-abrasive soap and water. You can also use dishwashing liquid but avoid abrasive dishwashing powder.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean eyeglasses properly:
First, Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with hand soap to avoid germ buildup on your eyeglasses. Washing your hands will also ensure that any abrasive dirt is removed from the cleaning solution, so you won’t have to worry about scratching the glasses.
Unwashed hands may also form stubborn stains on the eyeglasses, especially if your hands are greasy. This can only be removed with abrasive cleansers, which may damage your eyeglasses.
Clean Glasses with Soap & Warm Water
Once your hands are washed, the next step is to clean your glasses with soap and warm water. This’ll remove dust and debris from your eyeglasses.
Follow these steps to clean eyeglasses with soapy water:
- First, put dishwashing soap in a bowl, and fill it with warm water. Don’t use hot water, as it can cause cracks in your glasses or melt them if you use plastic glasses.
- Stir the solution until the soap is dissolved. Also, ensure the solution is not too watery, as it won’t be effective on your glasses.
- Hold your glasses from their legs, and put them upside down into the solution. Don’t shake it; let the solution work for 5-10 minutes to remove dust and stains or fill the scratches.
- Alternatively, you can pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it thoroughly on the lenses. Then, let it sit for 15 minutes before rubbing it on your lenses with a microfiber cloth.
- Use tap water to rinse away the solution from the lenses.
Doing it correctly can also help remove mild scratches and give the glasses an excellent finish.
Wipe Glasses with a Microfiber Cloth
Use a soft microfiber cloth to remove the solution from your eyeglasses without leaving streaks on them. It’ll also remove invisible, tiny dust particles that may scratch the glasses. A good microfiber cloth will also allow you to remove grime residue from your eyeglasses, keeping the lenses clean and transparent.
Some of the best microfiber cloths for cleaning glass surfaces are E-Cloth (on Amazon), Flying Fisherman (on Amazon), and Zeius (on Amazon). These clothes work on most glass surfaces and won’t cause scratches, even when dry.
Follow these guidelines to do it correctly:
1. Shake the Microfiber Cloth
Rigorously shake the microfiber cloth to get rid of dust particles on it. A microfiber with dirt particles can cause mild streaks or scratches on the lenses when you use it to clean your eyeglasses.
2. Gently Rub the Lenses
Use the microfiber cloth to gently rub the lenses on both sides. Don’t put too much pressure; you may remove the lenses from the frame or damage them altogether. Periodically switch microfiber cloth sides to clean the lenses to prevent moisture buildup.
3. Dry the Lenses
Once the stains or grime residue is taken off your eyeglasses, let them dry for 5-10 minutes. Put it under light sunlight, so it can burn the remaining tiny germs.
You can also use a hair dryer as an alternative to dry the lenses. Set a minimum heat level, as more heat can cause the lens to fade. This is especially recommended for plastic eyeglasses, easily damaged by heat.
What Not to Use When Cleaning Your Glasses
You should be careful when applying different materials to clean your eyeglasses, as you may scratch or damage the lenses if you use incompatible materials.
Here are some materials that you should always avoid using on your lenses:
- Ammonia: Don’t use ammonia products because it contains toxins that may leave streaks on the lenses. Ammonia may also release fumes that can harm your eyes.
- Products with Acetone: Using products that contain acetone is also not a wise choice, as this solvent may react with the glass coating to cause cracks in your lenses. If you have plastic eyeglasses, acetone won’t be effective.
- Alcohol: Alcohol tends to dry quickly, which may leave hard stains on your lenses. If you’re still thinking of using alcohol, you can mix a tiny amount with water and apply it to the lenses.
- Abrasive Solutions: Experts usually recommend not using abrasive cleaning solutions since they contain harsh ingredients, which can add more scratches to your lenses.
- Household Glass Cleaning Products: Chemicals in household cleaning products are unsafe for your eyeglasses, as they may contain strong solvents that can damage your lenses.
- Regular Towels: Regular towels usually contain tints that may penetrate the tiny pores on your eyeglass surface, causing cracks.
- Paper Towel, Tissues, or Shirt Fabric: Since these articles are easily accessible, it seems convenient to use them for cleaning eyeglasses. But experts have identified these materials are too coarse and may cause mild to severe scratches on the lenses.
- Colored Cloth: You should also avoid using colored cloth, as it can leave its color on the lenses’ surface.
- Saliva: You might think using your saliva is a quick and effective trick to clean your eyeglass. But, you are adding more germs to your lenses, and you can risk an eye infection.
How to Avoid Getting Your Glasses Dirty
To avoid getting your glasses dirty, you’ll have to store them properly and avoid exposing them to abrasive materials. Here are some tips to prevent your glasses from getting dirty:
- Don’t put them in your pocket, as dust and debris particles may cause scratches. Instead, always store them in their safety case.
- Keep the glasses covered with a soft microfiber cloth to protect the lenses from scratches.
- Clean your eyeglasses regularly with a soft microfiber cloth to prevent germs and dirt buildup.
- Keep your fingers away from your lenses when taking on or off your glasses, as it may leave fingerprint impressions, moisture, or grime residue on the glass surface.
Will Soap & Water Remove Scratches from Glasses?
Most experts say a soap and water solution can fill scratch pores on your eyeglass surface. However, this solution is not always effective. It may leave more haze on the glass surface, especially if you’re using plastic glasses.
However, you can also use other effective methods to remove scratches from your eyeglasses. These include using baking soda, vinegar, or car wax if the scratches are too hard.
For mild scratches, toothpaste can do the trick and restore the glossy shine and transparency of the lens.
If you want an easier, hands-on method, use a ready-to-use glass cleaning solution. These are designed to be safe and effectively remove scratches from glasses. However, always check the glass cleaner’s instructions to ensure it’s safe for eyeglasses.