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 use the ethanol and kimwipes to clean mine all the time lol they’re probably a little scratchy but better than my shirt. They’re just too convenient when they’re everywhere.
Sorry for the late reply. These are actually a cheap pair I forgot to add the anti-glare on in the purchase. These weren’t being used so they are my work glasses now.
Does anyone have experience with glasses with Oleophobic layers and work around fats/waxes/oils?
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.
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.
Optometrist here; rinse with cold or ambient temperature tap water (don’t use hot water!), use dishwashing soap without citric acid if the glasses are really dirty, dry with a clean cotton cloth.
Not if it’s moisturizing soap. The moisturizers are designed to remain after rinsing, which will leave an oily film on your glasses. Dish soap is designed to rinse clean, so you should use that instead.
That’s the way I’ve been taught by the guy who makes my eyeglasses too! I remember being slightly incredulous but took his word for it.
I only touch the lenses while soaping it, making sure that (liquid dish) soap is evenly distributed across the lenses. Then, I rinse them thoroughly in a stream of running water until I can no longer see water spots on their surfaces. I give the eyeglasses a slight tap to dislodge any excess water before wiping it with a dry clean cotton cloth I reserve for that purpose.
Thank you! It took me decades before I figured out that it doesn’t matter how soft the cloth is if all you’re doing in scrubbing abrasive dust or dirt around on the lens with it. It isn’t always possible, but I try to rinse first to get as much particulate matter off before wiping.
Can you explain why cold water? I’ve always done it, but only because I once made the mistake of buying photoreactive lenses (and, you know, most of us just have to live with a decision like that for a while), and hot water made them go dark. I didn’t think tap water temps would be enough to mechanically stress the material; is the plastic so soft that it could be damaged, or is there another reason?
Hey now don’t diss photoreactive lenses, I got off brand transitions lenses for the first time in my life a couple years ago after a decade without trying them and I honestly like it. I can keep my prescription shades in my car since my car’s windshield blocks a lot of UV so my regular/transitionable glasses won’t darken enough but most cases I’m outside on a sunny day I can still get some sunlight dimming without having to bring my sunglasses everywhere too
I guess? I space 10 years between photoreactive lenses, and although I’ve only done it twice, I didn’t see any improvement between in the intervening years.
I haven’t tried the most modern version, but they’ve never darkened enough, and they don’t lighten quickly enough. On top of that, the shelf life of the photoreactivity is crap, and the performance degrades quickly, forcing me to replace my lenses more frequently than I otherwise would. IME, photoreactive lenses are just a contract to buy new glasses in few years.
I generally use a similar method to this to deep clean my glasses, but I often don’t want to do that deep of a clean all the time since my glasses get dirty fast. I find the Zeiss glasses wipes work well for me, but there is a lot of waste involved. Oddly enough, their cleaning spray works terribly for me, and it seems to just spread grease around the lenses…
I was looking at the ingredients for each, and it seems that Zeiss used different ingredients for the two products. The wipes contain water, isopropyl alcohol, and “proprietary detergents and preservatives”. The cleaning spray contains water, butyl diglycol, and two other ingredients that to my knowledge are just preservatives. I think that in theory I could make a better cleaning spray by getting the right concentration of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water, mimicking the concentration in the wipes. What do you think is the highest percentage of isopropyl alcohol that I could safely use on glasses without damaging coatings?
Unfortunately I cannot answer that question. Opticians don’t use alcohol to clean glasses, they often use white spirit to clean lenses. Alcohol can potentially damage your frame (if it’s a ‘plastic’ one).
When I tried to use it, I sprayed the Zeiss spray onto a Zeiss supplied microfiber cloth (was part of a kit I got from an optometrist), wipe the glasses, then use a dry part of the microfiber cloth to wipe it away. I don’t think a more absorbent cloth would help much since it’s a greasy residue. Plus, other sources tell me that I shouldn’t use anything other than microfiber to clean my glasses. The spray just seems like a poorly formulated product that can’t cut through grease like dish soap or the Zeiss disposable wipes.
We also give out sprays and microfiber cloths, and I always tell people to use them apart. Just because both says Zeiss doesn’t mean they’re to be used together
I should have clarified that they were both part of the same kit, with no other cloths provided.
Also, what I do is pretty much the same as what Zeiss says to do in their instructions, see this video link (couldn’t find written instructions on their site): www.zeiss.com/…/eyeglass-cleaning-solutions.html#…
Lastly, what do you mean by using the spray and cloth apart? Do you mean using the cloth dry? Because that is even greasier than using the spray+cloth.
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!
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”.
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.
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
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