How to Clean Glasses

Medically reviewed by Sharon Copeland on 29 September 2021

Our shirt is usually the first thing we reach for when our glasses need a quick wipe. While our clothes may seem like a convenient way to clean your glasses, they aren’t always the most effective. Most items of clothing have small dust particles clinging on to the material which can cause small scratches when you rub your lenses. You should always keep a microfibre cloth with you for when your glasses need a quick clean.

It’s important to clean your glasses regularly to ensure that you always enjoy complete visual clarity. Scratches, dirt, oils, smudges and dust particles will accumulate daily.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to get your glasses professionally cleaned. We’ve created a guide to help you keep your glasses clean so that you can see clearly throughout the day.

How do you clean cloudy glasses?

1. Handle your glasses correctly when taking them off - use both hands to avoid smudging the lenses with your fingers. This method is also better for the hinges and the temples.
2. Before cleaning your glasses make sure you wash your hands - remove any dirt or oil that could smudge your lenses by using a lotion-free soap. Dry with a lint-free towel.
3. Rinse your glasses under a light stream of lukewarm tap water - do not use hot water as this can damage some lens coatings.
4. Apply a small drop of neutral hand soap to each lens - dishwasher liquid usually has acidic ingredients, so it’s best not to use this to clean your lenses.
5. Gently rub both sides of the lenses and take care to wash the nose pads, the temple tips and arms too - this is where grease, hair products and makeup tend to rub off. Make sure you rinse the frame thoroughly.
6. Dry your lenses and frame with a clean, lint free towel that hasn’t been treated with fabric softener - alternatively, you can use a microfibre cleaning cloth.

Follow our daily lens cleaning routine for eyeglasses to maintain the cleanliness of your frame and lenses.

Daily cleaning routine for glasses

How to clean glasses frames

It's easy to overlook cleaning your glasses frames and focus all your attention on cleaning your eyeglass lenses. However, the frames have lots of small parts such as screws and hinges which can get dirty too. It's important to clean the frames for personal hygiene as it touches your skin.

1. We would recommend running the frames under warm water and rubbing them with mild dish soap and avoid harsh dishwashing liquids.
2. Make sure to rinse your glasses frame thoroughly to get rid of any soap.
3. Take care to clean the nose pads and temple tips too. Metal frames with nose pads need extra attention on the arms of the nose pads as well as the pads themselves.
4. With plastic frames, make sure to clean the portion of the bridge in contact with your nose to remove oil and make up. You can also clean the temple tips that go around your ears.
5. You may find that dirt builds up between your lenses and the frames or around the hinges. You can take a toothbrush and warm water to clean away this stubborn dirt. Whatever you do, make sure you avoid touching the lenses with the toothbrush as this could damage them.

How to avoid streaks while cleaning glasses lenses

You can avoid streaks while cleaning glasses lenses by making sure you rinse away the soap properly as leftover residue can cause streaks and smudges which can obscure your vision.

Is hand sanitiser good for cleaning glasses?

We wouldn't recommend hand sanitiser to clean glasses as many hand sanitisers contain alcohol which can interact with lens coatings and wear them down. In general, avoid using concentrated substances to clean your glasses, as these may break down your lenses and frame.

What can damage your glasses?

There are some common mistakes which people make when cleaning their eyeglasses. We would recommend that you:

• Avoid using paper towels or tissues - this can smear and scratch the lenses
• Avoid using products containing acetone - many have resorted to using nail polish containing acetone which can damage the lenses and the frames
• Avoid using window cleaners on your glasses - if you’re spraying glass cleaners or window-cleaning solutions on your plastic lenses, you might be corroding or scratching them instead of cleaning them
• Never use saliva to clean lenses - using saliva can make smudges appear worse and will also coat your lenses with germs from your mouth
• Never use clothes to clean your glasses - the tiny fibres and dust particles in the fabric can scratch your lenses

Why are my glasses always foggy?

Your glasses may be foggy for a range of reasons. Most recently, people are finding that their glasses fog up when wearing a face mask. A good way to tackle this is by using our AB Mask Anti-Fog Cloth. This handy accessory will not only leave your glasses fog free but will also ensure the lenses are protected from smears and dust.

Another reason for foggy lenses may be that they simply need a good clean after being handled with greasy hands.

How to look after your glasses?

How do I stop my glasses getting dirty?

You can stop your glasses from getting dirty by storing them correctly. Never put them in a bag or leave them on the side without protection.

A scratch-resistant coating is also a common lens finish which comes free with all our lenses at Feel Good Contacts. This will lessen the impact and appearance of scratches, but it does not completely guarantee that your lenses will not get scratched.

How to store your glasses

When you are not wearing your glasses, keep them in their case. Most frames come in a hard case to store your glasses. A hard case is the best solution to protect against possible damage.

All glasses will get worn down and need replacing eventually, furthermore, as your prescription is likely to change over time, you will need new glasses anyway. To ensure you get the best quality lenses, make sure to purchase your glasses from a reputable retailer.

Feel Good Contacts has an extensive collection of excellent value prescription glasses for both men and women. We stock the most stylish and exciting brands, including frames from Oakley, Ray-Ban and Superdry. Step out in style with our excellent selection of designer prescription glasses.

Cleaning your glasses regularly

Ideally, you should clean your lenses once a day and give your glasses an overall deep clean once a week. Cleaning your eyeglasses every day will prevent a daily build-up of dust, dirt, and smudges.

It's worth asking to get your glasses professionally cleaned when you go for your annual eye exam. This can help if there is a build-up of oil around the nose and ears that won't go away.

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