How to clean your glasses

Before cleaning your glasses, make sure your hands are free of dust, dirt, lotion, and anything else that may have transferred to the lenses. Use lotion-free soap or dish soap and a clean, lint-free towel to clean your hands.

This removes dust and other impurities and helps avoid scratching the lenses when cleaning them. Avoid using hot water, which can damage the coating on your spectacle lenses.

Most dish soaps are very concentrated, so only use very small amounts. Or put a drop or two on your fingertips. Only use brands that do not contain lotion.

Make sure to clean every part, including the nose pads and the ends of the temples behind your ears. Also, clean the area where the edge of the lens meets the frame—dust, debris, and skin oils often accumulate here.

Failure to remove all traces of soap can result in smearing of the lenses as they are dried.

Check your lenses carefully to make sure they are clean.

Use towels (cloths) that have not been washed with fabric softener or other additives (these can stain lenses).

Cotton cloths used to clean high-quality glassware are a good choice. Make sure the towel (cloth) is completely clean. Dirt or debris left in the towel (cloth) fibers can scratch the lenses, while cooking oil, skin oils or lotions on them can stain the lenses.

If any streaks or smudges remain, remove them with a clean microfiber cloth - these lint-free cloths are available at most eyewear shops or photo equipment stores.

If you don’t have access to the above accessories but need to clean your glasses, try using individually packaged, pre-moistened disposable lens cleaning wipes. These are specially formulated for eyeglass lenses.