How to Clean Your Glasses: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wearing glasses can be a dirty business. No matter how hyper-aware you are of your personal hygiene, it’s a guarantee that your glasses will get grimy. Like anything you wear often, they’re exposed to a plethora of pollutants, dust, and general gunge. You wouldn’t wear your favorite bespoke suit or go-to little black dress for days on end without making a trip to the dry cleaners, right?

Your glasses are with you day in and day out, and deserve some serious TLC from time to time. Sure, cleaning glasses isn’t rocket science, but there is a right way to keep your vision crystal-clear and your frames looking fresh. Take a peek at our recommended routine to find out how to get your glasses a clean bill of health. No dirty looks here!

Wearing glasses can be a dirty business. No matter how hyper-aware you are of your personal hygiene, it’s a guarantee that your glasses will get grimy. Like anything you wear often, they’re exposed to a plethora of pollutants, dust, and general gunge. You wouldn’t wear your favorite bespoke suit or go-to little black dress for days on end without making a trip to the dry cleaners, right?

Your glasses are with you day in and day out, and deserve some serious TLC from time to time. Sure, cleaning glasses isn’t rocket science, but there is a right way to keep your vision crystal-clear and your frames looking fresh. Take a peek at our recommended routine to find out how to get your glasses a clean bill of health. No dirty looks here!

The best way to clean eyeglasses without lens spray or wipes.

The best way to clean eyeglasses without lens spray or wipes.

1. Come with clean hands. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you start a-scrubbing. This will remove any dirt and grime that could contaminate or damage the lenses.

2. Give your baby a bath. Gently rinse your glasses in lukewarm tap water.

3. Lather up your lenses. Place a tiny drop of dish soap on each lens, making sure that the soap you choose to use is lotion-free. Then, rub the soap very gently with a super soft cloth around the lenses and frame.

4. Rinse and repeat. Gently rinse the soap off, and make sure to be thorough to ensure there is no soapy residue left over.

5. Dry your eye(glasses). Carefully dry off your frames and lenses with a clean microfiber cloth. You can also reach for a soft towel if you don’t have a microfiber cloth handy.

Consider getting some eyeglass lens cleaning wipes or spray.

Consider getting some eyeglass lens cleaning wipes or spray.

While the above method will certainly wipe the slate clean, we highly recommend that you use dedicated products specifically designed for cleaning glasses. If your lenses have an anti-reflective coating, make sure to choose a product specifically designed for those kinds of lenses. We offer cleaning clothswipes, fog-free lens cleaning spray, and a cleaning kit with all of the above so you clean up your act and up your glasses-cleaning game. 

Eyeglass cleaning tips: Dos and don’ts to keep your peepers pristinely polished.

Eyeglass cleaning tips: Dos and don’ts to keep your peepers pristinely polished.

Roll up your sleeves. We know, we know, it’s all too easy to give your lenses an easy-breezy buff with your sleeve or the hem of your shirt. However, we beg of you to resist the temptation. Using your clothing, duvet, or new puppy to give your glasses a quick spit and shine may be convenient, but it can scratch your lenses, especially if you’re doing it consistently over time.

Reach for the right stuff. The only products you should be using to clean your glasses are dedicated glasses cleaning solution or dish soap. Anything else risks damaging your lenses with harsh ingredients. 

Be a water snob. If your area has hard water, use distilled water instead of tap water when cleaning your glasses. What is hard water, you might ask? It’s simply water that’s high in dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, which can be hard on your lenses and make scratches more likely. A quick Google search can tell you how hard your area’s water is.

Take care with your cleaning cloths. Avoid using products like paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, or even facial tissues to clean your lenses. Just like buffing them with your shirt sleeves, this can cause scratches, or they can stick to your lenses and leave residue.

Know when to ask for help. If you do end up with scratched lenses, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Instead of trying to buff out scratches on your own, which can end up damaging your glasses further, take them to an optician for repair.

Put your glasses in their place. When you’re not actively using your glasses, keep them in a case or pouch to keep them safe. Letting your glasses hang loose in your purse or on top of your head risks them getting dirty or scratched.

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How do you clean a pair of sunglasses?

How do you clean a pair of sunglasses?

Keeping your shades smudge-free is just as important as taking care of regular frames, especially since they’re often exposed to sand, sunscreen, and other symptoms of the outdoors. You can spiff up your sunnies just like you would any other pair of glasses, but keep in mind that the lenses are coated, so be sure to use a lens cleaner specifically geared towards those coatings.

How do you clean blue light glasses?

How do you clean blue light glasses?

No special steps necessary here. You can use the same processes and tools to clean your blue light glasses as you would other types of glasses.

Grimy glasses aren’t a good look, so don’t let your frames gather dust. Maintaining good glasses hygiene is just as vital as brushing your teeth or remembering to wear deodorant. Consistently follow the steps above and your specs will stay scratch-free and squeaky-clean.