Clean Your Glasses Properly and What to Avoid While Cleaning

Clean Your Glasses Properly and What to Avoid While Cleaning

The American Optometric Association recommends that eyeglass wearers clean their spectacles regularly. Grime and dirt collect in eyeglasses every day. The debris can cause distortions. You may start to experience headaches and eyestrain because of these irregularities. Below are the right techniques for cleaning your eyeglasses and the things to avoid while doing so.

Proper Cleaning Process

Deep cleaning your eyeglasses can take about 10 minutes. Regular cleaning often takes about five minutes. You can include your eyeglass cleaning during daily handwashing. Here are some helpful tips for proper eyeglass cleaning:

• Use cotton swabs to remove the grime. Your eyeglasses can store debris and dirt each day. Make sure you use cotton swabs to remove these contaminants. Doing so can remove the grime without scratching your lenses or frame.

• Rinse the glasses under running water. Using microfiber cloths for cleaning your eyeglasses merely spreads the grease. It also embeds debris that can damage your eyeglass lenses. Place your eyeglasses under running warm or lukewarm water for 15 seconds. This dislodges the excess grime.

• Use dishwashing soap. Rub your eyeglasses with dish soap as gently as you can. A pea-sized drop of this soap behind each lens is enough to clean the surfaces. Make sure your dish soap is free of abrasives and skin-softeners that could damage the lenses.

• Shake the eyeglasses dry. You can then follow up the drying with a clean piece of microfiber cloth. This type of cloth can remove watermarks and prevent lint from attaching to your eyeglasses.

• Store correctly. This can prevent damage to your eyeglasses when you are not using them. There are many styles of eyeglass cases to suit your needs. If you do not want to use a case, you can wrap your eyeglasses in a clean piece of microfiber cloth. Then, place it lens up on a hard, stable surface.
   

What to Avoid

Studies show that clean, warm water and dish soap are enough to clean eyeglasses. However, you can use lens-specific cleaning solutions when you travel. Refrain from using solutions that are not good for coated lenses. These products might damage your lenses. They could also damage your eyesight or even irritate your skin. You should also avoid using paper towels and the lower part of your shirt to clean your eyeglasses. These materials can leave scratches on your glasses.

Also, avoid using an ultrasonic cleaning machine for cleaning your eyeglasses. These machines can scratch the frame or lenses. It is still ideal to bring your eyeglasses to an eyeglass shop so that the professionals can clean them.

Avoid using cleaning products with acetone. This nail polish remover is not good for eyeglass lenses and frames. Acetone can destroy plastic frames and lens coatings. Fight the urge to use saliva in cleaning your eyeglasses. This fluid can leave smudges on your lenses. Bacteria in your mouth can transfer to your glasses and may cause more issues.

Maintaining the good condition of your eyeglasses involves proper cleaning techniques. At University Optometric Center, we only use safe and proven cleaning materials and methods on our patients’ eyewear. We also guide our patients in cleaning their eyeglasses at home.

Please visit our clinics California, for an in-person consultation.  Call us at 949-216-8900 (Irvine) or 949-476-2870 (Newport Beach).