Cleaning eyeglasses, why is there only one good way?

Spiros · Feb 5, 2017

My glasses cleaning tip. Paper always remembers that it was wood.

WoodChuckDad · Feb 5, 2017

I think you guys are trying to get me in trouble. My wife is an Optician. I knew what her answer would be but wanted to know why so I asked about your methods. Her answer is do not use the clorox wipes. Bleach and other chemicals break down and damage the anti-glare coating and the scratch resistance coatings. Spray cleaners with alcohol do the same thing. And so does ammonia. So most commercial grade or home owner grade cleaners you find under your sink will damage your glasses. Water and soap are your best bet since they since away the grit and dirt. Dry cloth will rub the dirt across the lens and scratch it and paper towel is too abrasive. IF you need a method to clean the glasses when you don't have water around, carry a bottle of non alchohol based lens cleaner with you and spray them down and wipe with a clean soft cloth.
Just for the record, that is what i usually do but there are many times I blow on my glasses to get any dust or dirt off and clean it with my shirt.....I just don't tell her that.....and when I end up with a scratch I act like I have no idea how it could have happened.

TheMan419 · Feb 5, 2017

Free microfiber cloth from HF and rubbing alcohol. You can but a small spray bottle and fill with ribbing alcohol for less than $1.00.

Oldpath05 · Feb 5, 2017

Johnny g said:
We use ultra soft lens wipes from Walmart, their house brand (Equate) usually the wife does hers and hands it to me so we get 2 wipes per sheet. sometimes we find them at the dollar store, they smell like they are wet with alcohol, the rubbing kind, so I don't chew them when I'm done. They don't cost that much, can't remember how much but if it were a lot we wouldn't get them

Are these what your using>>> https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ultra-Cl...tened-Towelette-Lens-Cleaning-Wipes/131156863 <<My saftey glasses are polycarbonate lenses, and I'm reading not to use anything with alcohol and or amonia in it, one thing I do know is not to use paper towels, the last time I did that, two months my lense were all fogged and scrathed. These are not throw-a-way glasses@$130.00, company paid for, allowed two pair a year, that allows me to keep the older pair at home to use, so I want to get all the milage I can out of them, know what I mean Vern..........

Looking4new · Feb 5, 2017

Plastic lenses might be lighter, but they scratch easier.
I will wear nothing but 'hardex' hardened glass lenses. There is a reason they are called glasses.

Oldpath05 · Feb 5, 2017

newbury said:
I didn't want to waste time watching some one tell me how to wash my glasses so I didn't watch the video.
I've used the Dawn approach, the spit and scrape, the microfiber.
My present method is to take a couple of cleaning wipes (like the clorox wipes in a yellow tube) put them in a ziploc bag and carry them with me.
After a quick swipe with a wet wipe I dry them with a kleenex or my hanky.

When the wipes dry out (usually a week or so) I get two more.

You should get running water in your garage.

Do those Clorox wipe have alcohol in them? I cant seem to trace that down,,,,,,,Running water, are you kidding? <<That's a good thread topic for you to start, and yes that would be nice, but on my pay grade, I consider myself lucky to have a garage, right now lights are on the next to do list and that's looking $500.00+....

WoodChuckDad · Feb 5, 2017

Oldpath05 said:
Do those Clorox wipe have alcohol in them? I cant seem to trace that down,,,,,,,Running water, are you kidding? <<That's a good thread topic for you to start, and yes that would be nice, but on my pay grade, I consider myself lucky to have a garage, right now lights are on the next to do list and that's looking $500.00+....

A cheap spray bottle with some distilled water. It will loosen and wash away much of the debris, then a microfiber or soft cotton cloth will finish the job.

TomSeller · Feb 5, 2017

Dish soap, sometimes hand soap, running warm water and dry with my used bath towel or used dish towel. Depends which room I go to when I come inside.

I don't go to the mud room sink, the towels are too dirty and the soap too harsh.

WoodChuckDad · Feb 6, 2017

I suppose part of it might come down to economics. How much are you paying for glasses and how much can you afford? If you are buying $5-$30 readers from the drug store, and you have 5 or 6 of them spread thruout the house and can absorb it if you need to buy another pair, you will probably clean with anything handy. If you wear your glasses all day long and you dumped $100-$600 on them and it hurt when you wrote that check, then you might invest more energy to protect your investment. I have reached a point in my life where I simply can not see well enough to function without my glasses. I can not read the speedometer of my car without them, so I am very protective of my glasses.