There was a time when I thought that an eyeglass cleaner was any piece of cloth or paper that was on hand. I’d use this cloth or paper if I got a smudge of dirt on my glasses. Who would have thought that I was living on the edge?!
Yes, you heard me… It’s living on the edge if you don’t clean your eyeglasses correctly. You may be exposing yourself to countless pathogens. At the same time, you are likely causing micro-damage to your eyeglasses.
I went down the eyeglass cleaner online rabbit hole so you don’t have to. Here’s what you need to know!
A View To a Kill?
There’s a 2018 study, aptly named A View to a Kill, that examined eyeglasses to look at the presence of harmful bacteria. According to the study, all tested eyeglasses came back positive for bacteria. This included dangerous ones that can cause staph infections. The nose pads and ear clips were especially mentioned as festering with these pathogens.
The same study also looked at the ways glasses are typically cleaned. It found that dry cleaning with a cloth only cleans up to 90% of germs (median result). Using wipes that have been dabbed with an alcohol-free eyeglass cleaner is said to work up to 100% (median).
This was my nudge to dig deeper and get into an eyeglass cleaning routine.
Routine Cleaning
For many eyeglass wearers, the routine is you wake up, put on your glasses, go about your day, and then take them off before going to sleep. That’s what makes glasses so convenient. You get vision correction when you need it; no need to bother with cleaning, soaking, and storing like contact lens wearers do.
In this sense, cleaning your eyeglasses becomes an afterthought. You put them on, and a lens is smudgy, so you clean it. Temperature changes, and they get foggy; you wipe them off.
However, according to several optometrists, eyeglass cleaning should be a daily routine. A light daily cleaning goes a long way. This can be more than once a day, depending on where you are, what you do, and how exposed you are to elements that dirty up your glasses. Once a week, do a thorough clean that includes the frame and the lenses.
What You Need to Clean Glasses
Let’s get into this routine. Here are a few things that you need:
- Microfiber cloth: This is a rewashable cloth especially made to be gentle on sensitive surfaces like lenses.
- Lukewarm running water and mild soap
- Eyeglass cleaner: An eyeglass cleaner is a liquid cleaner that removes dirt, debris, and pathogens from lenses. It is formulated to work without stripping off your lenses’ coating. Some popular brands include Zeiss Lens Cleaning Spray and EVEO Eyeglass Cleaner Spray.
- Pre-moistened lens wipes: This is your on-the-go eyeglass cleaner. They come in handy if you don’t have space to bring your eyeglass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. ZEISS Pre-moistened Lens Wipes are a popular choice.
What to Avoid
Before we get into how to clean your eyeglasses, take note of these big no-nos. Try to avoid using these items to clean your glasses:
- Paper products: While it may be tempting to use a handy tissue or paper towel to wipe off your lenses, don’t. These aren’t made for cleaning glasses. They may leave tiny scratches that damage your lenses.
- Your shirt: This is also a constant temptation to eyeglass wearers. It’s so easy to just reach down and wipe your glasses with the edge of your shirt. Sadly, though, your shirt is likely abrasive.
- Harsh chemicals: Don’t use chemicals that aren’t made for eyeglass lenses. These are not formulated to protect the lens coating and will likely strip it off. Some no-nos include Windex, ammonia-based cleaners, and alcohol-based cleaners.
- Saliva: While common, spitting on our lenses and then wiping them off is an unhygienic practice. Your saliva is filled with bacteria. It won’t clean your lenses. In fact, it may even leave streaks and smudges.
Cleaning Your Eyeglasses: A Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1: Have a Clean Microfiber Cloth On Hand
The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that you have a clean microfiber cloth nearby. These specialized fabrics can be reused several times. In doing so, they get dirty. When you use a dirty cloth on your glasses, you’ll likely end up just making it worse.
Have an extra cleaning cloth available. This way, when the other’s ready for washing, you have another one to use. Wash your microfiber cloth using mild detergent only. Do not use any fabric softeners. Air dry once done washing.
Step 2: Rinse Your Lenses With Lukewarm Water
This is the first stage of your actual cleaning. Running tap water, preferably lukewarm, dislodges any stuck dust and debris from the lens. This simple step can lessen the possibility of creating micro scratches on your lens when you wipe.
If your lenses are greasy or smudgy, you can add a small drop of mild soap. And then, rub the soap gently over the lenses. Rinse off the soap with the running water.
Step 3: Dry With Your Microfiber Cloth
Shake off the water after you rinse. Then, use your microfiber cloth to wipe the lenses dry.
Start by dabbing water off the lens using one corner of the cloth. Once you’ve removed most of the moisture, use the dry section of the cloth to wipe the lenses in a circular motion, from the center going out.
Don’t press too hard, though. Just a slight bit of pressure is enough.
Step 4: Clean Your Frames
Over time, your frame will also accumulate dirt, debris, and other contaminants. So, after cleaning your lens, do a quick wipe down on your frame. Make sure to include the nose pads and temple arms. These parts have the most contact with your face.
Step 5: Use a Lens Eyeglass Cleaner / Solution Once a Week
An eyeglass cleaner, like the ZEISS Lens Cleaning Spray, gives your lenses a more thorough cleaning. Doing this once a week can remove stubborn dirt and debris that everyday washing leaves behind.
Step 6: Maintain As Needed
You’ll find that as you go about your day, you may need to clean your glasses every now and then. It’s a good idea to have your cleaning solution and microfiber cloth available for these situations. Of course, you may not always have a bag or pocket space for these.
This is where your handy lens wipes come in. These wipes have been treated with an eye cleaner solution. They are effective in removing the debris, smudges, and dirt that get caught during your day-to-day life.
If you want to see clearly every day, start this routine for your eyeglasses. I promise, you won’t just see clearly. You also get to maintain and keep your eyeglasses longer.
TL;DR
- A study found that several contaminants reside on eyeglasses. Proper cleaning, using a microfiber cloth dabbed with an eyeglass cleaning solution, is the most effective way to clean glasses.
- Get into routine eyeglass cleaning: every day using running water and a microfiber cloth, and once a week with an eyeglass cleaner and microfiber cloth.
- Avoid using paper towels, shirts, and abrasive chemicals on your glasses. These can lower the lifespan of your eyewear.
- Keep lens wipes handy to clean your glasses as needed throughout the day.
