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For eyeglass cleaning, a simple soap is all you really need. praditkhorn somboonsa/ShutterstockHaving dirty glasses is frustrating. Whether you're trying to see past smudges on your screen or wiping away an eyelash only to leave behind another fingerprint, it’s a constant struggle. Not to mention the mountain of pet hair and nose prints left by our furry companions. Why are animals so obsessed with glasses?
In your frustration, you may grab your shirt hem or a paper towel to wipe them clean — only to make things worse. That smudge in the middle of the lens just spreads across the entire frame, and if you're unlucky, you might end up with a patch of scratches right in front of your eye.
How to Clean Your Glasses With Soap
It turns out that maintaining smudge- and scratch-free glasses is both affordable and simple. All you need to do is wash them gently. This is a daily habit you can adopt without risking damage to your eyewear, whether you’re wearing budget-friendly drugstore readers or luxury frames with coated progressive lenses.
Here’s your new go-to method for keeping your glasses spotless:
- Wash your hands to remove dirt and germs.
- Rinse your glasses with warm water (avoid extremes of temperature).
- Place a drop of mild, gentle dish soap on the lenses.
- Gently spread the soap over both sides of the lenses and the earpieces.
- Rinse off the soap thoroughly.
- Dry the glasses with a lint-free or microfiber cloth.
If you’re looking to take your cleaning game up a notch, here are a few advanced tips to add to your routine for an even deeper clean:
- Use a cotton swab to clean out any dirt trapped around the edges of the lenses where they meet the frames.
- Wash your microfiber or lint-free cloth regularly. It absorbs oils from your hands, and if left unwashed, it will just transfer smudges onto the lenses you've just cleaned.
4 Things to Avoid When Cleaning Eyeglasses
There are a few things to steer clear of, such as shirttails, paper towels, tissues, or anything else that isn’t a lens-specific cloth. These can scratch your lenses, which can’t be undone with cleaning.
Avoid using glass cleaner, despite its name, as it could damage any coatings you’ve paid for on your lenses. You may be tempted to use something with acetone, like nail polish remover, to tackle the smudges, but it's far too harsh for glasses. Ultrasonic cleaners might seem like a good idea, but they can scratch your lenses too. Soap works just fine for the job, really.
When we say it's cheap and easy, we really mean it. The best dish soap for the job is as plain as possible, without added cleansers or abrasives. The most basic dish soap will do the trick without a hitch.
Many people struggle to remember whether they're nearsighted (also known as myopia) or farsighted (also known as hyperopia), but it's easy to tell once you understand the terms. Nearsighted individuals can see things close up clearly, so their glasses help them focus on distant objects, like when driving. Farsighted individuals can see things far away clearly, so their glasses assist with nearby objects, such as reading books or using screens.
