Cleaning your eyeglasses daily is the best way to keep them looking great and avoid scratched lenses. But there’s a right way — and plenty of wrong ways — when it comes to how to clean glasses. Follow these tips to clean your eyeglass lenses and frames to keep your glasses in top condition..
Rinse your glasses under a gentle stream of tap water.
This will remove dust and other debris, which can help avoid scratching your lenses when you’re cleaning them. Avoid hot water, which can damage some lens coatings Spray eyeglass lens cleaners are available where you purchase your glasses and at your local drug or discount store. These can be helpful if you are travelling or don’t have dishwashing soap and clean tap water available. If tap water isn’t available, use plenty of the spray eyeglass cleaner to flush away dust and other debris from your lenses before wiping them dry.
If your lenses have anti reflection coatings make sure the eyeglass cleaner you choose is approved for use on anti-reflective lenses.
When using disposable lens cleaning wipes, first inspect the lenses for dust or debris. To avoid scratches, blow any debris off the lenses before wiping them. Microfiber cleaning cloths are ideal for cleaning glasses. These cloth dry the lenses very effectively and trap oils to avoid smearing. But because they trap debris so effectively, make sure you clean the cloth frequently. Hand-wash the cloth using lotion-free dishwashing liquid and clean water; allow the cloth to air dry. Eyeglass lenses can easily get scratched if you fail to store them somewhere safe. This includes when you take them off at bedtime.
Always store your eyeglasses in a clean storage case, and NEVER place them on a table or counter with the lenses facing down. If you don’t have a glasses case handy, place your glasses upside down with the temples open — somewhere safe, where they won’t get knocked off a table or countertop.
Cleaning glasses: Don’ts
- DON’T use your shirttail, blouse or other clothing to clean your glasses, especially when the lenses are dry. This can scratch your lenses.
- DON’T use saliva to wet your lenses.
- DON’T use household glass or surface cleaners to clean your eyeglasses. These products have ingredients that can damage eyeglass lenses and coatings.
- DON’T use paper towels, napkins, tissues or toilet paper to clean your lenses. These can scratch or smear your lenses or leave them full of lint.