How to clean glasses and lenses without scratching them
About 6 minutes to read. Published . By the House & Hedge team.
Glasses are cleaned more often than almost anything else a person owns, and they are often cleaned badly. The usual method is a sleeve or a tissue and a quick wipe. That spreads oil across the lenses and drags grit over the coating. Over time the lenses look hazy, and the scratches show up in bright light or in the glare of a screen.
Most lenses today have coatings: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, water-repellent, or a blue-light filter. The coatings do much of the work of the lens, and they are also its most fragile part. This guide shows how to clean them without damage, what to avoid, and how to look after the frame and the nose pads.
Rinse before you touch
Start with running water. Rinse the lenses under lukewarm water for a few seconds to wash away grit and dust. Grit is the main cause of scratches, so it should be gone before any cloth touches the lens. Do not use hot water, which can warp the frame and damage some coatings.
The washing method
Put a drop of mild, unscented dish soap on each lens, and rub gently with your fingertips, on both sides, for a few seconds. Rinse under lukewarm water until no soap is left. Dry the lenses with a clean microfiber cloth, using light, straight strokes, and do not rub hard. Check the lens in good light, and repeat if you see smears.
A spray cleaner made for coated lenses is a good alternative to soap. Spray it onto the lens, not onto the cloth, and wipe after a few seconds. Choose a cleaner labeled for coated lenses. Avoid any cleaner that lists ammonia or alcohol unless the label says it is safe for your coating.
What to avoid on lenses
- Paper towels and tissues, which are made from wood pulp and can scratch a coated lens
- Shirts, sleeves and other fabrics, which carry grit and fibers
- Window cleaner, glass cleaner and other household sprays, which can strip coatings
- Alcohol, hand sanitizer and some disinfectant wipes, which can damage the coating
- Hot water and hair dryers, which can warp frames and loosen lens fittings
- Toothpaste, which contains abrasives that scratch lenses
Lenses with an anti-reflective coating are the most sensitive. A dull, hazy look that does not come off with cleaning often means the coating has been worn or damaged by a harsh cleaner. The lens may need replacing.
Cloths: the choice matters
A microfiber cloth made for lenses is the right tool. Wash it often in warm water without fabric softener, because softener leaves a film that smears the lens. Dry it on low heat or in the air. Store it in a clean pouch, and keep it out of the bottom of a bag, where it collects grit. A cloth that has been dropped on the floor should be washed before you use it again.
The frame and the hinges
Clean the frame with the same soapy water, using a soft toothbrush for the grooves around the lens. Pay attention to the hinges, where oil and dirt collect and the joint can seize. Wipe the hinges with a dry cloth after cleaning. Do not oil them unless your optician says it is safe for the frame material.
Metal frames can be cleaned with the soapy water method. Plastic frames can be cleaned the same way, but avoid strong solvents, which can crack or cloud acetate. Titanium and stainless steel frames tolerate a little more.
The nose pads and the arms
Nose pads collect oil and sweat, and the oil moves onto the lenses and causes greasy smears. Wash the pads in lukewarm water with mild soap, and dry them gently. Pads that clip on or are built into the frame can be removed and cleaned the same way, but check how they come off before you pull at them.
Clean the arms and the earpieces with a cloth dampened in soapy water. Wipe the parts that rest behind the ears, where skin oil builds up most.
Polarized and tinted lenses
Polarized lenses have a film inside the lens that reduces glare, and the wrong cleaner can damage it. Use the same soapy water method, and avoid solvents and alcohol altogether. Sunscreen and cosmetics are a common source of smears on sunglasses. Wipe the lenses after applying sun cream, and keep the cream off the lenses when you put the glasses on.
Tinted lenses are cleaned in the same way. The tint can fade in strong sun over years, and a harsh cleaner can take the color off a lens that has a surface tint. If the color is patchy or the lens looks clouded after cleaning, the coating may be damaged, and an optician should check the lens.
Ultrasonic cleaners
Ultrasonic cleaners use sound waves in a tank of water to lift grime from frames and lenses. Some opticians offer this service, and some sell small home units. They can help with hinges and grooves, but they are not suitable for every frame or lens. Heat from some units can loosen a lens fitting, and certain coatings or glued parts can be damaged. Ask the optician before you use one, and never put glasses into an ultrasonic cleaner with harsh chemicals in it.
Cleaning on the go
A small cloth in a pouch, kept in a bag or a pocket, lets you clean the lenses after a meal or at lunch. Keep a few lens wipes for times when water is not available, and choose wipes labeled for coated lenses. A wipe with alcohol in it should be used only if the label says it is safe for your coating. Avoid tissues and napkins, because their fibers can scratch the coating.
Storing your glasses
Keep the glasses in a hard case when they are not being worn. Put them down lenses up, never lenses down, and never leave them on a table where a sleeve or a bag can brush across them. Do not leave them on a car dashboard in the sun. The heat can warp the frame and damage some coatings.
Scratches and when to replace
Light scratches are normal with use. Deep scratches cause glare and blur the view, and they cannot be polished out without damaging the lens. Ask your optician about replacement lenses, which can often be fitted into the same frame. A bent frame should be adjusted by an optician, not forced back into shape at home.
Contact lens cases
If you wear contact lenses, keep the case clean too. Empty it, rinse it with fresh solution, and let it air-dry upside down. Change the solution every day, and replace the case about every three months. The case is part of the routine, because a dirty case is a source of eye infections.
When to see an optician
Ask an optician to check your glasses if the lenses are cracked or chipped, if the frame loosens or breaks, if the coating has peeled, or if your view stays blurred even after a proper clean. Blurred vision can also be a sign of a change in your eyes, so it is worth having it checked.
