Lens manufacturers say that anything other than a microfiber cloth will damage the coatings on a lens. But microfiber cloths eventually pick up crap and they look like they’re a pain to wash.
How do you keep your lenses clean? Are you using cloth/kleenex or microfiber cloths? If you use microfiber cloths, how do you clean those?
I bought so many microfiber cloths that when one gets too dirty, it goes to workshop duty and I get a new one for glasses.
For cleaning lenses properly (which I do once a week or so), I tend to use lint-free tissue (Kimwipes) and a mixture of 85% petroleum ether & 15% pure isopropanol; both of which should be available at your local hardware store. Bonus is that this is also appropriate for scientific optics, like microscope/camera lenses & instrumentation components (mirrors, prisms etcs) - just don’t rub them!
I use denim. My jeans get my glasses cleaner than anything else I’ve tried. I’m sure it’s not as good for them as a microfiber cloth, but it’s what I have on me. My wife has me clean hers, too.
I have a spray bottle with an isopropanol water mixture (around 10% isopropanol) and I just give my glasses a good spray and then wipe them with a clean microfiber kitchen cloth.
(I wash these cloths with just detergent powder, no softener or other additives, so they are grease-free out of the washer)
I will never forget the time I saw my classmate clean his glasses by licking them. It wasn’t a small lick. The lenses were covered in his saliva afterwards. 🤮
My mother did that so I ended up doing the same in elementary school. It took me a while, but I realized how disgusting it was and have been using cloths, or my shirt, for most of my life.
I do that sometimes. When the lenses have grease or salt from the beach, and I have no quick access to water, I’ll lick them. I don’t recommend it, but I do it.
Gin will clean you glasses better than anything EVER. Nex t time you’re at your local bar, ask for a bar napkin with a drop of gin, and then dry with a microfiber, then thank me later!
The actual way is to use dish soap under running warm water (not hot apparently, it can damage some coatings I’ve learned in this thread). First rinse the lenses under a stream without touching them, to wash away any loose debris (which is the reason why you should never use any sort of cloth to wipe them, they just move the debris around which causes scratches). Then use a bit of dish soap on your (clean) fingers to gently rub each lens, which will get rid of any grease or other smears. Then a final rinse – for this one it’s best if you use a very slow and even stream as it gives you the fewest water spots, but as long as you don’t have super hard water it’ll be moot in a few minutes.
Same I don’t have to wear glasses anymore, but it’s was t-shirt all the way. And the occasional “I’ll pour water on the lenses to make them more clean”.
I just clean the lenses of my glasses with my cotton t-shirt. I need to clean my glasses twice a day because they get foggy due to my oily skin and oily eyelashes. I have not noticed any scratches yet (I have been using these glasses for around 5-6 years). However, I use glass lenses and not plastic lenses. The plastic ones scratch easily.
I noticed anti-glare just splits the glare in 3 weaker ones, slightly different colored, for me.
Also, I noticed fake glass scratches more.
So I demanded real glass without coatings, ready to pay more, because it’s uncommon. lo and behold it was actually the cheapest option in that particular shop a few years ago: 15 €
I should probably get new ones by now, but i still see well and they still don’t have a scratch.
If it’s still that cheap, it’s actually worth checking out new frames for style.
If this helps you, I’ve washed microfiber cloths in the washing machine before and it never went wrong. I just toss them in with regular clothes. I usually wash cold, but I don’t think it makes a difference
None of them are hemmed, because they don’t fray. If you’re worried about it, try gently rubbing at the edge of it. Threads won’t come off in your hand either. Microfiber is just the size of the thread used, these are 100% polyester and completely machine washable.
I’ve had great luck with the skip the drier cycle option for cleaning the microfiber cloths and sponges I use to wash my car. I think that’s what damages sensitive clothing the most.
And always wash everything with the shortest cycle and cold water lol
I have a small machine that creates super sonic sound (Sonic Soak), submerge that with the glasses in a bottle with soapy water. Turn on and wait around 3 minutes. You can see stream of dirt particles coming out of small crevices, I don’t think I can reach those with any wipe or cloth. The glasses is super clean after the process. But if I don’t have time and not home I use microfiber cloth
Never had that issue but I pretty much only ever bought Bounty or BJs store brand. Also I basically only buy Zeno glasses and my prescription isn’t complicated so IDGAF about the lenses.
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