Cleaning your glasses isn't just about keeping them clean: it also helps to avoid scratches, maintain clear vision, reduce eye strain in the process, and it also destroys the vile bacteria that don't wish you well.
So, how do you clean your glasses without damaging them, and what are the things you should avoid doing? Follow the guide!
5 methods for properly cleaning your glasses
It is recommended to clean your glasses at least once a day. And don't count on a paper towel or the corner of your sleeve: all you'll accomplish is scratching your lenses.
Here are 5 effective methods for clean glasses without damaging them. And all (except one) require using a microfiber cloth, a soft fabric that prevents scratches.
🧼 Technique #1: Water + soap or dish soap
Nothing could be simpler. Well, it's not a method you can use on the subway, but you can easily do it when you're nice and relaxed at home.
How to do it:
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Use lukewarm water, definitely not hot, as this risks damaging the lenses.
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Run your glasses under the water, add a drop of dish soap (or soap) to the lenses, and rub gently with your fingers.
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Rinse with water that is still lukewarm.
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Wipe with a microfiber cloth designed to leave neither streaks nor scratches.
⚪ Technique #2: White vinegar
An old grandmother's secret to restoring shine to lenses while removing embedded dirt. Indeed, white vinegar is a great degreaser and a natural disinfectant.
How to do it:
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Mix household white vinegar with a little water.
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Clean your glasses with this mixture.
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Rinse with clean water.
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Wipe them with a clean microfiber cloth.
✅ Technique #3: Microfiber cloth
The microfiber cloth provided with your pair of glasses also does a good job on its own! The problem with this method is that you risk scratching your lenses if you don't rinse the dirt off with clean water first. Use this when you can't do better, and don't be a brute about it!
How to do it:
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Take your cloth.
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Clean the lenses using small circular motions.
SPOILER ALERT: If your microfiber cloth is as dirty as your glasses, using it will be useless! To keep it clean, head over to our article here.
💦 Technique #4: Disposable wipes or cleaning spray (homemade or industrial) for optical lenses
You can also use specific care products like wipes or sprays that degrease lenses very well.
The advantage of these products is that they are very effective for reaching hard-to-access areas like the nose pads (the two small pieces that rest on your nose and keep the glasses in place by providing a comfortable fit).
You can easily find them at your optician or other optical stores, and even at the pharmacy. But if you're a DIY fan, we even have a recipe for making your own homemade spray to discover here.
A slight downside for the wipes: they are for single use, don't reuse them a second time.
How to do it:
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Spray a little spray on your cloth or take a cleaning wipe.
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Gently rub your lenses on both sides (inside and out) while holding your glasses by the temples.
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You're done!
🤖 Technique #5: Ultrasonic cleaning
What is this thing? It involves cleaning with a special high-tech machine that uses sound waves to clean glasses.
It's the most effective way to eliminate all impurities and dirt.
There are machines you can buy to do it yourself at home, but we highly recommend leaving that to your optician. With a professional, you can be sure that your lenses won't be damaged and you'll get your glasses back as beautiful and clean as the first day.
Plus, it only takes two minutes and is usually free. Ideally, you can use this technique every six months.
If you want to know more about this strange device, it's right here!
Obviously, all these methods also apply to your sunglasses; no reason for them to be dirty while their companions are all beautiful and clean!
Things you should not do
Now that we've given you the right habits to adopt, we're going to tell you what you absolutely must not do if you want to keep your glasses in good condition for as long as possible.
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👓 place them lens-side down: it's basic, but we'll remind you anyway to get into the habit of always resting your glasses on their folded temples and never on the lenses. And when you're not wearing them, the best way to avoid damaging them is to keep them in the case provided at purchase.
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🔥 put them near a significant heat source: be very careful never to leave your pair near a radiator, a fireplace, or even on a car dashboard when it's 104°F (40°C) outside. Heat has the effect of deforming the frame but also degrading the lens coating.
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👕 clean them with your clothes, a paper tissue, or paper towels: they all have in common the ability to scratch your poor lenses that didn't ask for it. We say it and we repeat it: to wipe them, use only a microfiber cloth!
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🚿 use hot water to clean them: there's a good reason why we didn't mention hot water in our washing techniques. Like heat sources, hot water risks damaging the lens coating and the frame.
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🧴 use household or disinfectant products: you might be tempted to use nail polish remover or any other aggressive cleaning product to get rid of the grime on your glasses. No, you poor thing, definitely not! They would risk damaging the treatment applied to the lenses, such as the anti-reflective coating (we explain what that's for right here) or the anti-smudge coating, for example.
Final word: how to clean your prescription glasses
There you go, glasses maintenance is easy: you just have to be gentle and avoid aggressive solutions.
Whether you use soap, specialized care products, white vinegar, or you prefer a complete cleaning performed by professionals like opticians, there are plenty of ways to take care of them.
Nothing complicated as you can see, you just need to stick to it and adopt a few simple good habits to avoid scratching them.
Normally with these few tips, there's no doubt you'll always have clean glasses!
