Are your eyeglasses dirty and full of scratches? If so, you’re not alone. Most people don’t know how to clean their eyeglasses correctly, which can lead to damage. In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to clean eyeglasses properly so that they stay in good condition for as long as possible.
What Should You Use When Cleaning Glasses?
In the steps below, you only need warm water, gentle dish soap, and a lint-free cloth. You can also maintain the cleanliness of your glasses with a microfiber cloth or the cloth that came with your glasses. To keep the cloth clean, simply hand-wash with lotion-free dish soap, let air dry, and store in your glasses case.
You can also use disposable lens cleaning wipes when cleaning glasses. Simply blow off any debris that might be on your lenses and use a cleaning wipe to wipe off any smudges. To avoid further scratches, throw away the disposable wipe and don’t use it more than once.
In order to keep your eyeglasses clean and dry, always store your glasses in a hard case.
What Is The Best Way To Clean Glasses At Home?
The best way to clean glasses is to follow these simple steps:
- Wash and dry your hands with warm water and soap. This will ensure that you won’t transfer any greasy fingerprints or smudges to the lenses while you clean your glasses.
- Rinse your glasses under a soft stream of lukewarm water. When rinsing, be sure to include both the frames and both sides of the lenses. Tap water is fine to use as you will be wiping off any water spots.
- Apply a tiny drop of lotion-free dish soap to each of the lenses.
- Gently rub the soap on both sides of the lenses and the frame. Make sure to get the tiny edge or crease between the lenses and the frames.
- Rinse off the soap under a soft stream of lukewarm water. Remember to include both sides of the lenses and the frame to make sure all the soap is rinsed off.
- Gently shake the glasses of any excess water. This will force off any extra droplets.
- Carefully dry the lenses and frame with a clean, lint-free cloth. Remember to get the tiny edges and creases between the lenses and the frames.
- Inspect the lenses and frame to make sure they are all the way dry. If needed, you can set the frames on a cloth to finish air-drying.
What Shouldn’t You Use When Cleaning Glasses?
When learning how to clean glasses, it’s important to note the ways on how NOT to clean eyeglasses. We are often in a hurry and look to use any liquid or cloth that we can find in our vicinity. If you are not careful, you could cause permanent scratches or other damage.
- Don’t use saliva and don’t exhale on the lenses when wiping them off. We’ve all done it, but this method is simply not effective and can cause more smudging. It is also not hygienic to use spit to clean eyeglasses.
- Don’t use liquids containing acetone, like nail polish remover. Acetone can permanently damage the coating on the lenses and can also damage the frames.
- Don’t use paper towels, napkins, tissues, toilet paper, scouring pads, or your shirt. Simply put, don’t use any cloth other than a lint-free cloth, microfiber cloth, or a disposable lens cleaning wipe.
- Don’t use household cleaners, bleach, vinegar, or lemon juice. Don’t use cleansing agents that are alcohol-based. These will damage the lenses of your glasses, making them cloudy and reducing their effectiveness in terms of vision.
If you’ve made one of these mistakes before and noticed a new scratch on your glasses, check out our article on how to remove scratches from glasses.
Shop Eyewear With Shinola
If your sunglasses, prescription glasses, or blue-light glasses are just too scratched or damaged to clean, shop Shinola’s eyewear collection for a new pair. Our first-ever original eyewear line is designed in-house and made in the USA with premium imported materials. From the custom hardware and the riveted hinges to the collapsible carrying case and Shinola stripe lens cloth, every pair of eyeglasses comes with everything you need.
Shop Shinola’s eyewear collection today to find the best sunglasses for both your style and your eyes.