Dirty lenses lead to decreased visibility, while cleaning them ensures ultimate visibility. Failing to clean glasses puts you at a disadvantage since dirt or dust may cause permanent damage to the eyeglasses and eyestrain. But what is the best way to clean eyeglasses?
You can clean your glasses using warm water and lotion-free liquid dishwashing soap. The best cleaning solutions are mild liquid dish soap and lens cleaning sprays. Avoid using household cleaning products because they can cause damage to the lenses and frame.
Not cleaning your eyeglasses can expose you to germs like bacteria in sensitive areas like your nose and eyes. Instead, consider cleaning your eyeglasses daily to improve visibility and extend their lifespan.
Should You Clean Your Eyeglasses with Dishsoap?
Your eyeglasses are constantly exposed to the elements, dirt, and bodily secretions like sweat, so wiping them with a microfiber cloth just won’t cut it. Instead, you’ll need to wash them thoroughly periodically to avoid visibility problems and improve their durability.
Cleaning your eyeglasses with dish soap is one of the best cleaning solutions. Follow the steps below for the best results:
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Run lukewarm water over the eyeglasses.
- Put a drop of mild lotion-free liquid dishwashing soap on your fingertips.
- Rub the lenses and frame with the soap for a few seconds.
- Rinse the eyeglasses with warm water.
- Shake off excess water droplets.
- Dry the eyeglasses using a clean, 100% cotton or linen towel.
Never use hot water on your glasses, as this can damage the coating on your lenses. Ensure to wash your microfiber cloth frequently and never use fabric softener.
What are the Best Cleaning Solutions for Eyeglasses?
Keeping eyeglasses clean is the best way to ensure they do their job. While lotion-free dishwashing soap is an effective cleaning solution for your eyeglasses, it may leave hard-to-wipe streaks. You can also add a bit of isopropyl alcohol to your soap and water mixture.
However, eyeglasses cleaners can help ease the spectacle maintenance process. Eyeglasses cleaners come in a wide range of designs to match your needs.
Below are some of the best eyeglasses cleaning solutions:
Microfiber Glasses Cleaner Clips
Even if you put your eyeglasses through moderately messy or low-impact activities, they’ll still collect dirt and dust. Microfiber eyeglasses cleaner clips are a compact and reusable solution for managing the common forms of surface grime and oil.
Manufactured in a portable and easy-to-handle design, these clips allow you to clean both sides of the lens while maintaining a firm grip on the glasses. In addition, some cleaner clip models (on Amazon) have soft brush attachments for removing loose debris from the glasses.
Anti-Fog Eyeglasses Cleaners
Although some eyeglass lenses are made from glass, most lenses comprise specialized plastic that works better than conventional glass. Plastics and polycarbonate are lighter than glass and more resistant to shattering. They also bond better with anti-glare coatings.
These lenses are also susceptible to collecting moisture. So treating your eyeglasses with an anti-fog glasses cleaner (on Amazon) ensures the glasses stay sparkling clear in any weather.
Eyeglasses Cleaner Wipes
This disposable solution allows you to keep your glasses clean while on the go. In addition, since they are disposable, they consistently deliver a streak-free finish.
Most lens cleaner wipes feature folded cloths made from fine tissue and treated with an alcohol-based cleaning solution. As a result, they lack harsh chemicals, which may damage the glasses and protective coatings.
The best eyeglasses cleaner wipes work well on cameras, binocular lenses, or other sensitive optical surfaces.
Ultrasonic Eyeglass Cleaners
This is the most thorough and advanced cleaning option. Ultrasonic cleaning features high-frequency sound and liquid solvents to eliminate a wide range of surface contaminants. It can be used to clean eyeglasses and other wearables like jewelry.
If you are shopping for an ultrasonic eyeglass cleaner, ensure it has a plastic stand or basket to elevate your glasses inside the gadget. Elevating the eyeglasses prevents pitting and ensures the entire surface area gets cleaned.
What Should You Avoid When Cleaning Eyeglasses?
Avoid using everyday household cleaners such as Windex when cleaning your eyeglasses. Cleaning agents such as surface and window cleaners have chemicals that may damage your eyeglass lenses and coatings.
Materials like napkins, toilet paper, and paper towels can scratch the lenses or smear dirt already on the lens. So avoid them and use a microfiber cloth only on your eyeglasses.
You should also avoid wiping your glasses using your shirt or clothing. This can scratch your eyeglasses and cause damage.
Never use vinegar and lemon juice on your eyeglasses. Their acidic nature might strip away the coating on your lenses. While some sources claim that toothpaste removes scratches from eyeglasses, avoid using toothpaste on your glasses.
Signs Your Eyeglasses Need a Cleaning
Looking through dirt or smudge on your lenses is annoying and can cause eye strain.
If your eyeglasses have poor visibility, then they may need a cleaning. Grimy lenses affect visibility and may lead to headaches because of eyestrain.
Consider cleaning your eyeglasses if you have persistent dermatological issues at the locations where glasses are in contact with your skin. Cleaning eliminates germs like bacteria and fungi that may accumulate on your glasses in time.
Generally, it would be best if you clean your eyeglasses once daily. You can clean them in the morning before putting them on.