How to Clean Your Glasses

Supplies You Need to Clean Eyeglasses Safely

You do not need a long list of specialty products to clean your glasses. Before getting started, gather a few basic supplies:

• Lukewarm water: Running water helps remove loose dust, dirt, and debris before anything is rubbed across the lenses. 

• Mild, lotion-free dish soap: A small amount can help remove fingerprints, oils, and other residue without leaving behind a film. 

• A clean microfiber cloth: Use a soft cloth designed for eyeglasses to dry and polish the lenses without scratching them. 

• Eyeglass cleaning spray or lens wipes, if needed: When you’re away from a sink, products specifically made for eyeglasses can be a convenient option. 

Avoid household window cleaners, tissues, paper towels, and clothing. Some cleaning products contain chemicals that may affect lens coatings, while paper products and fabrics can contain fibers or debris that may contribute to scratching. 

The Best Way to Clean Glasses: Step by Step

Cleaning your glasses only takes a few minutes, but using the right sequence can make a difference. Rinsing debris away before touching the lenses helps reduce the chance that small particles will be dragged across the surface.

1. Wash and Dry Your Hands: Begin by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry them before handling your glasses. This helps prevent oils, lotions, grease, dirt, and other substances from transferring from your fingertips onto the lenses and frames while you clean them. 

2. Rinse Your Glasses Under Lukewarm Water: Hold your glasses under a gentle stream of lukewarm water. Allow the water to run over both sides of the lenses and the frames to loosen and wash away dust and other particles. Do not use hot water, as this may affect certain lens materials or coatings over time. 

3. Apply a Small Drop of Mild Dish Soap: Place a small amount of mild, lotion-free dishwashing soap on your fingertips. You only need enough to create a light lather. Avoid heavily scented soaps, moisturizing formulas, abrasive products, or cleaners containing harsh chemicals. These products may leave a film behind or potentially affect specialized lens coatings. 

4. Gently Clean the Lenses and Frames: Use your fingertips to gently clean both surfaces of each lens. Work the soapy water across the lenses using light pressure rather than aggressive scrubbing. Then clean the frames, including the temples, bridge, rims, and other areas that regularly touch your skin. These areas can collect facial oils, sweat, makeup, and other residue throughout the day. 

5. Clean Around the Nose Pads and Hinges: Nose pads, hinges, and other small frame components are common places for oils and debris to collect. Clean around these areas carefully with your fingertips. Avoid bending the frame or applying too much pressure to hinges, screws, or delicate nose pad components. 

6. Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse the glasses again with lukewarm water until there is no soap remaining on the lenses or frames. Soap residue can dry into streaks or create a cloudy film, so make sure the glasses are thoroughly rinsed before drying them. 

7. Dry with a Clean Microfiber Cloth: Gently shake off excess water, then dry your glasses with a clean microfiber cloth specifically intended for eyeglasses. Make sure the cloth is free of dust, oils, and debris before using it. A dirty microfiber cloth may simply transfer residue back onto the lenses or potentially drag particles across the surface. 

What Should You Avoid Using to Clean Glasses?

Many household items seem convenient for wiping glasses, but they may do more harm than good. Some contain chemicals that can affect lens coatings, while others are more abrasive than they appear.   

eyecarecenter does not recommend cleaning eyeglasses with:

• Window / Glass cleaner solution 

• Bleach and household disinfectants 

• Paper towels and tissues 

• Saliva 

• Shirts, blankets, or bath towels 

• Hot water 

• Unapproved cleaning chemicals 

How Often Should You Clean Your Glasses?

There is no single cleaning schedule that works for everyone. How often your glasses need attention depends on how quickly your lenses and frames collect fingerprints, oils, dust, sweat, and other residue.   For many people, cleaning glasses once a day or whenever the lenses become noticeably smudged is enough to maintain clear vision. A clean microfiber cloth can handle minor fingerprints, while heavier buildup is usually better addressed with the full water-and-soap method. 

You may need to clean your glasses more often if they regularly come into contact with makeup, sunscreen, perspiration, dust, or other substances. Repeatedly rubbing at stubborn buildup with a dry cloth can create unnecessary friction, so rinse and wash the lenses instead when residue does not wipe away easily. 

Regular cleaning also keeps dirt and oils from accumulating around the nose pads, hinges, temples, and other parts of the frame. 

Tips for Keeping Glasses Clean and Scratch-Free

Proper cleaning is only one part of eyeglass care. The way you store and handle your glasses can also affect how quickly they become dirty and how likely the lenses are to develop scratches. 

Store Your Glasses in a Protective Case

When you are not wearing your glasses, place them in a protective case whenever possible. A hard or sturdy case can help protect both the frames and lenses from dust, scratches, pressure, and accidental damage. Cases are particularly useful when glasses are being carried in a purse, backpack, briefcase, or travel bag alongside other objects. If you do not have a case nearby, place your glasses somewhere secure where they will not be bumped, crushed, or exposed to abrasive surfaces. 

Never Place Your Glasses Lens-Side Down

Do not place your glasses on a table, desk, counter, or other surface with the lenses facing downward. Even surfaces that appear clean may contain small particles capable of scratching the lenses. Instead, fold the temples and place the glasses down with the lenses facing upward. 

Keep Your Glasses Away from Excessive Heat

Excessive heat can affect certain frame materials, lenses, and lens coatings. Avoid leaving glasses on a vehicle dashboard or inside a hot car for extended periods. When washing them, use lukewarm water rather than very hot water. 

Keep Your Microfiber Cloth Clean

A microfiber cloth cannot clean effectively if the cloth itself is covered in oil, dust, or cleaning residue. Wash reusable lens cloths periodically according to their care instructions. Avoid fabric softener and other laundry products that may coat the fibers with a residue that can later transfer onto the lenses. Store the cloth somewhere clean rather than leaving it loose in a bag or pocket where it can collect debris. 

Do Scratch-Resistant Lens Coatings Protect Eyeglass Lenses?

Scratch-resistant coatings are designed to improve lens durability and make eyeglasses more resistant to everyday wear. They may be particularly useful if you wear glasses throughout most of the day or frequently take them on and off. 

However, scratch-resistant lenses are not scratch-proof. Abrasive fabrics, dry wiping, improper cleaning products, and placing glasses lens-side down can still cause damage. Good everyday habits remain important even when your lenses have a protective coating. Rinse debris away before wiping, use a clean microfiber cloth, and store your eyewear in a case when you are not using it. 

If you are selecting a new pair of glasses, talk with your eye care provider about available lens coatings. The right combination of features can depend on your prescription, how frequently you wear your glasses, and the activities you do throughout the day. 

Why Do My Glasses Still Look Cloudy After Cleaning?

If your lenses still appear cloudy after you have cleaned them, avoid immediately scrubbing them again. First, consider whether the problem may be coming from your cleaning supplies. A microfiber cloth that has absorbed oils can spread residue back across the lenses. Soap that was not completely rinsed away can also create streaking or haze. 

Try rinsing your glasses thoroughly with lukewarm water and drying them with a freshly cleaned microfiber cloth. If the cloudy appearance remains, the problem may involve the lens surface or coating rather than removable dirt. 

Scratches will not disappear with additional cleaning. Continuing to rub a scratched area may create more wear without improving the appearance of the lens. 

If your glasses remain cloudy, scratched, or difficult to see through after careful cleaning, have them inspected by an eye care professional. They can evaluate whether the lenses need professional attention or whether replacing the lenses or eyewear may be the better option.