5d ago

How do you clean your glasses and the microfiber cloth used to clean your glasses?

I have been cleaning my glasses using bathroom tissue as I had thought it was softer than microfiber cloth, but apparently that's not true.

I don't want to use microfiber cloth as it can easily accommodate in silica or any other dust particles if not cleaned properly which will scratch my glass. I don't know what to do in this case. So, how do you clean your glasses?

43 comments

I have been wearing glasses for 30 years. I wash them daily with microfibers tissues and spray intended for glasses. The spray on Amazon is 15 euros and lasts months. Washing using tap water and cleaning with paper tissues scratches the glasses.

When the glasses are new: hot water plus some fish soap, gently padded down with a microfiber cloth until it's perfect
When the glasses are old: any fucking thing, including paper and spit, whatever shirt I'm wearing, napkins, etc
- You don't want it to be hot enough to soften your frames though.
- I recommend dish soap instead, smells nicer.

I put my microfiber cloths in one of those delicates laundry bags and toss it in with a regular load on cold, then let them air dry. Never had any problem with them scratching lenses.
- I don't know what you mean by delicate laundry bags, is it any kind of container used to store delicates (and you toss the laundry bag into the washing machine?)

To the horror and disgust of my optometrist I wash my glasses in the shower daily. I've been doing so for decades.
- Do you just wear them in? Kinda leave them on all the time, and just let the soap and shampoo do its job?
  
  No, I put soap on my hands and rub the glasses, then rinse under the shower and put them on the ledge.
  After the shower I have a hand towel that is only used to dry my glasses which I use to pat the excess water.
  Good as new.
- 😂

The best way to clean glasses is with your fingers using warm water and dish soap. Don't use super hot water, it can damage the coatings on some lenses. Start with a rinse to remove any particles, then clean them between your fingers, then a final rinse, shake them off and let them air dry.
Using any type of cloth can cause scratches as you've found.
- I just end up with water droplet "stains" on my lenses like that, obscruing my lenses until I physically wipe them with something.
  
  Dry them with a Kimwipe. It's what they're made for and they're really good at it.
  
  Samee!! That's my problem too

It’s not about softness, it’s about the fibers that make the tissue. Tissues and wipes not made intended for glass have rough fibers than can scratch glass. You’re better off using microfiber or disposable glass cleaning wipes. If you’re concerned about microfiber cloths getting dirty, most have care instructions on their tags, and it’s usually hand washing and drying.
- Yeah, my wife (optometrist) gave me shit about cleaning my glasses with paper towels because they scratch the lenses.
  I wear my glasses into the fucking ground because I have a big head and it's difficult to find frames that fit. I've literally bought multiple identical frames and shifted the lenses in between and swapped parts to not have to get new frames.
  I've never ever had to replace a lens because of damage from a paper towel. The only scratches I've ever gotten in lenses was from dropping my glasses and having them skid across pavement.
  The only times I've replaced lenses was because my prescription changed or because I no longer had enough functional parts to rebuild the frame.
  Having said that, when my wife had her practice, I was basically getting everything at cost, and she could bring frame reps in with their entire catalog to pick through. So, I got used to getting new frames more often (every five years or so). I also ended up with bunches of microfiber cloths, so I distributed them around to everywhere I go. I have one at work, one in my car, one at my desk at home.
  So, I do things the "right" way now, but only because my personal experience led to it being easier than going to get a paper towel.
  When she got disabled and we had to sell her practice, we kept a couple boxes of lens cleaner too, so we'll probably never need any more. One large bottle seems to last about 10 years and we've got around a dozen. When we die, the kids will each be able to inherit a couple bottles of lens cleaner.

I just rub the lenses with a regular handkerchief or the hem of my shirt.
- That sounds harsh :')

IMO microfibers suck and 99.9% of the time a pain to ever use consistently. They trap dirt and oils. Even after washing their the most smudgey form of a wipe you can get due to the material.
- Exactly my experience🫂

I rinse mine in the sink, tap on a towel a few times, then dry with microfiber

Get crystal lenses and not worry about it. Only had one scratch on them, that was due to them hitting the ground

A drop of dish soap and warm water then blow the water off with compressed air.
- Perfect for cleaning on the go

Keep your lenses clean and scratch-free for a long time
- Underrated comment, thank you very much!

You might like this thread from awhile ago: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/27389827
- https://lemmy.ml/post/25987442/16718329
  As it happens the author of the post themselves commented on this one, but I do appreciate your help tho😊

Ultrasonic cleaner with isopropanol solution.
- Mainly just alcohol/iso spray front and rear and papertowel sometimes heavily spraying to degrease. Crystal clear with a single paper towel. It's more about keeping them clean than repeating over and over.
  
  Doesn't that strip any anti-glare or other coating your glasses may have? I've always been told dish soap without additives (aloe etc.) under warm water (not hot enough to soften your frames) is your best bet to remove dirt and oils.

Wipe them on my shirt, and dish soap when required. No microfiber cloth.
- You monster :')
  I don't know, sounds harsh

I have a set of microfiber cloths with one per room. Once they get filthy I wash them in a small clothes bag. And every so often just buy a new pack. They're cheap.

I've never worried about it too much.
Usually, I clean my glasses with a microfiber cloth which I'll occasionally toss in the general laundry.
Sometimes I'll clean my glasses with soap and water using just my fingers, then dry it with just a handy bathroom towel and then my microfiber cloth.

my glasses place says I should just use water and a microfiber cloth unless I buy eyeglass cleaner so that is what im doing. I keep the microfiber cloth in a drawer to keep it from accumulating dust.

43 comments