Is there one right way or many wrong ways on how to clean glasses?

Cleaning your glasses every single day is the best way to keep them in excellent condition and to avoid scratches on your lenses, or any other damage to your glasses.

Follow these suggestions to clean your eyeglass lenses and frames without the risk of scratching or otherwise creating any damage. These same ideas can also apply to cleaning your sunglasses, safety glasses and sports glasses.

1. Carefully wash and dry your hands (Even more important during this pandemic). Before cleaning your glasses, make sure your hands are clean, free of dirt, grease, lotions or anything else that could go to your eyewear. Use lotion-free soap or dishwashing liquid and a clean, piece of paper to dry your hands.
2. Place your hands under a gentle flow of warm tap water. This will remove any dust and other dirt, which can can scratch your glasses when you are cleaning them. Avoid hot water, which can damage some of the coatings on your glasses lenses.
3. Apply a small drop of lotion-free dishwashing liquid to each lens. Majority of dishwashing liquids are very concentrated, so use a small amount, or apply a drop or two to your finger. Use only brands that do not use lotions or hand softeners.
4. Gently rub both sides of the lens and all parts of the frame for a couple of seconds. Be sure to clean all sides, including the nose pads and the ends of the temples that is behind the ears. Be sure to do not forget the rim junction of the lenses to the frame, because this is where dust, dirt and grease from your skin may sometimes accumulate.
5. Carefully rinse both sides of the lenses and the frame. If all soap residue is not removed, your lenses will stay dirty when dried.
6. Carefully shake your glasses to try to remove most of the water. Inspect your lenses and be sure they are clean.
7. Dry your lenses and frame using a clean, lint-free cloth. Use a dishcloth that has not been washed. A cotton cloth used for cleaning fine glassware is a very perfect choice. Be sure to check this cloth is perfectly clean. Dirt or impurities trapped in the fibers of a cloth can damage your lenses, and cooking oil, skin grease or lotion on the cloth will soil the lenses.
8. Inspect your lenses again. If smudges or smears are still there, remove them with a clean microfiber cloth. These lint-free cloths can be purchased at many opticians or photo shops.

When you want to clean your eyeglasses but none of these items are available, select individually packaged disposable eyeglass cleaning wipes. They are specifically created to be used on eyeglass lenses. Do not tru to use any substitutes.

Cleaning options for sunglasses and the best cleaning cloths

Special solutions for cleaning your glasses are available in any opticians’ shops and are very good for taking them with you wherever you want to go.

If you cannot find tap water to rinse your glasses, use a good amount of eyeglass cleaning solution to remove dust and other particles before drying them.

If your glasses have anti-reflective (AR) coating, be sure that your eyeglass cleaning solution is approved for use on anti-reflective glasses.

When using disposable wipes, initially check for the presence of dust or impurities on the glasses. Blow off any particles before to start cleaning because this is the best way to avoid scratching them.

Microfiber cleaning cloths absorb impurities so effectively, you just need to remember to clean them frequently. Hand wash the cloth using liquid and clean water and then let it dry.

How to remove lens scratches

Unfortunately, there is not an easy solution for scratched lenses. Once lenses are scratched, they will stay like that forever and ever.

Some products are designed to make scratches less visible, but these are substances that will disappear very quickly and easily. The results possible to obtain differ depending on the location and depth of the scratches. Also, these products they leave cloudy spots on lenses with anti-reflective (AR) coatings.

In addition to reflecting light and interfering with vision, scratches can affect the resistance of your lenses. For optimum safety, anytime you notice significant scratches, it is better to buy purchase new sunglasses.

When to have your glasses professionally cleaned

If the glasses are in good condition but the nose pads or other frame components are very difficult to clean, this is the time when you have to visit your eye care professional.

Sometimes glasses can be cleaned more carefully when they use an ultrasonic cleaning device, and yellowed nose pads can be replaced with new ones. Check with your optician before attempting these kind of actions at home.

Use a protective case when you have to store your glasses

Eyeglass lenses can scratch easily if you do not store them in correct way. This includes when you take them off or when you go to bed at night and you do not pay attention.

Always store your glasses in their case, be careful to NEVER place them on a table or with your lenses facing down.

If you do not have a case handy, leave your glasses upside down with your arms outstretched – this is a safe way to keep them from falling off the table or something worse.

Sunglasses do not last forever, keep this in mind

The lenses of all eyewear will scratch before or after, this is due to normal use and exposure to the environment (AND from sometimes because they fall down drops or when they are placed in inappropriate locations). Lenses are scratch resistant, but this does not mean they are scratch proof.

Following the above suggestions is the best way to keep your glasses clean and scratch-free for as long as possible but it is very different they will remain like that forever.