How to Clean Glasses and Eyeglasses

Looking for tips on the best way to clean your glasses or lenses? Check out our tips below to learn how to better care for your glasses.

Eyeglass lenses easily become dirty with daily wear. This is especially true with regards to reading glasses – we put them on and take them off frequently! Check out this video or review the steps below on the best way to clean foggy, dirty, or grimy lenses:

1. Rinse your glasses with tap water. If your glasses are covered in dirt, dust, or grime, say from working out in the yard, it’s best to rinse them off with water before you clean them.

2. Use the right cleaner. Special liquid cleaner specifically made for eyeglasses will help you get the oil smudges off the lens. Using a lens cleaner made specifically for glasses lenses is key, as it won’t streak and most have an anti-static formula to help keep your lenses clean for longer.

3. Use the right cloth. It’s also important to use the right type of cloth to clean your glasses. Some textiles, like a tissue, wool, or certain synthetic fabrics, can scratch the lenses or leave behind unwanted fibers. A microfiber cloth works best to remove oily smudges because of the soft material and tight weave of the fabric. We offer several microfiber cleaning cloths in a variety of color and pattern options!

4. Hold the glasses correctly. Hold the end piece of your glasses (where the temple and lens meet), without touching the lens.

5. Spray the front and back of the lenses.

6. Gently wipe from one side to the other using a circular motion. Don’t just wipe across the lens or scrub back and forth. Remember to clean the nose pads, hinges, and screws on your glasses, as oil can loosen them and cause breakage over time.

Storing your glasses properly is important to keep them in good condition for years to come. Here are a few tricks to keeping your readers in tip-top shape:

• Use a reading glasses chain or cord to minimize the chance they will be lost or smashed.
• When taking your readers off, do so gently and evenly with both hands. This will prevent the frame from stretching out and the screws from loosening.
• Avoid wearing glasses on the top of your head, as this places stress on the temples and hinges and eventually distorts the shape.
• Store your frames in a hard reading glasses case or pouch when not in use.
• When placing glasses on a flat surface, always place the frame upside-down to prevent scratches on the lenses and distortion of the temples.
• Avoid leaving reading glasses on your car dashboard. Intense, direct heat can deform their shape and weaken the frame.
• Avoid letting perspiration or hairspray sit on lenses, as both can damage the lens coating.