Eyeglasses are vital visual aids that help you see clearly. Unfortunately, they inevitably get dirty, dusty, or grimy with time, distorting vision and causing eyestrain. This dirt and grime accumulation makes washing your eyeglasses essential, but can you put them in the dishwasher?
You shouldn’t put your eyeglasses in the dishwasher. This kitchen appliance uses abrasive chemicals, which can damage your glass lenses and frames. Instead, using lens cleaners, warm water, and lotion-free dishwashing soap is the best way to clean your glasses.
Cleaning your glasses should be a part of your daily routine. As a general rule, you should clean your eyeglasses once daily. Use a microfiber cloth to dry the glasses after washing them for the best results.
Is it a Good Idea to Put Eyeglasses in the Dishwasher?
No, you should avoid putting eyeglasses in the dishwasher.
A dishwasher is an appliance that cleans and rinses your dirty dishes. All you have to do is load the dishes, add detergent, choose a washing cycle, and let the dishwasher do the rest.
This convenient appliance adds water and heats the water to the required temperature. Its automated functions dispense detergent and shoot the water on the dishes through spray arms to clean them.
Dishwashers drain the dirty water and rinse the dishes by spraying more water. They then drain the water and heat the air to dry off the dishes.
Although the dishwasher is convenient for cleaning utensils, you should never use it to clean your eyeglasses. Eyeglasses aren’t made to withstand the heat and detergents used in dishwashers. Cleaning them in a dishwasher would damage the lenses and frames.
What are the Best Methods for Cleaning Eyeglasses?
Cleaning your glasses helps improve visibility and prolongs their lifetime. The best ways to clean your eyeglasses include using the following:
- Warm water and lotion-free dishwashing liquid.
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Lens cleaners (on Amazon) and lens wipes.
You will need to dry the eyeglasses using a microfiber cloth after cleaning. The tightly-knit fibers of microfiber cloth make this fabric the best for cleaning glasses without leaving scratches or smears.
Cleaning Your Eyeglass Lenses
Follow the steps below to clean your lenses:
- First, wash your hands using soap and water to avoid transferring germs.
- Next, run warm water over the glasses to remove dust and debris that could harm the lenses.
- If the tap water is hard where you live, you should use distilled water instead.
- Next, use the microfiber cloth to wipe down the eyeglasses.
- Next, spray the lens cleaning solution on both sides of your lenses.
- If using liquid dishwashing soap, put a dab of dish soap on each side of the lenses and gently rub it with your fingers.
- Rinse the glasses if you are using soap, but skip this step if using a lens cleaner.
- Shake off excess water droplets, then use canned air or gas dusters (on Amazon) to avoid streaks or watermarks.
- You can also use a microfiber cloth to pat the glasses dry.
Cleaning Your Eyeglass Frames
Sweat and facial oils can contaminate the tiny screws, springs, and hinges that make up a frame. Cleaning your eyeglass frames is a process that is often overlooked, but it’s a vital eyeglass care activity.
Because it is in frequent contact with your skin, cleaning the frame is essential for maintaining proper hygiene.
Even individuals who are meticulous about their glasses’ upkeep often forget to wipe the nose pads. This can cause various skin problems, some of which may be annoying.
To clean the frames:
- Run the frames under warm water.
- Clean the frames by rubbing gentle soap like lotion-free dish soap.
- Rinse them thoroughly using warm water.
- Dry them with a soft cloth.
To disinfect your glasses’ nose pads and earpieces, use a moist towelette with rubbing alcohol.
How Often Should You Clean Your Eyeglasses?
It would be best if you clean your eyeglasses daily for optimal results. This will help you see clearly, avoiding straining or squinting. For the best results, try to avoid using harsher products like Windex.
Cleaning your glasses daily helps prevent eye infections and dermatological issues like acne and blackheads.
Eyeglass retailers, optometrists, and ophthalmologists offer professional cleaning services. In addition, most retailers allow you to bring the eyeglasses back for a complementary cleaning.
Do your glasses have oily buildup after attempts to clean them at home? Then consider professional cleaning. This will also help you if you experience recurring breakouts where the eyeglasses touch your face.
It is best to request a professional cleaning each time you get your eyeglasses adjusted or during your annual eye checkup.
What Else Should Never Go in the Dishwasher?
Dishwashers (on Amazon) are innovative appliances that save you the many hours you would have spent stooped over a sink. They are the workhorse of the kitchen; dirty dishes go in and come out clean.
However, there are some things that the dishwasher shouldn’t tackle:
- Sharp Knives: A dishwasher can dull your knife blades, so it’s best to hand wash sharp knives. You may also cut yourself loading or unloading the knives.
- Hollow-Handled Knives: The high temperatures in dishwashers may melt the adhesive that holds the hollow-handled knife together.
- Non-Stick Pans and Pots: Unless the manufacturer says they are dishwasher safe, cookware with non-stick coatings should never be washed in a dishwasher.
- Cast Iron: Dishwasher detergents may strip the non-stick surface of cast iron, exposing the cookware to rust.
- Dinnerware with Metallic Decorations: Although most porcelain and china dishes are dishwasher safe, utensils with metallic trim or embellishments should not go in the dishwasher.
Other items that should never be washed in a dishwasher include:
- Hand-painted ceramics.
- Antiques and delicate items.
- Milk glass.
- Gold-colored dishware.
- Wood.
- Most plastics.
- Aluminum cookware.