Although cleaning sunglasses and eyeglasses is relatively simple, it does merit some forethought, says Annette Bade, OD, associate dean of clinics and professor of optometry at High Point University in North Carolina.
This is partly because many eyeglass lenses have coatings designed to reduce glare, resist scratches, filter UV light, and otherwise improve comfort and vision.
These coatings are delicate, she says. The wrong cleaner, too much heat, or abrasive materials can damage them. “Cleaning lenses properly helps protect these coatings, preserves the clarity of the lenses, and extends the life of the glasses,” she says.
Once a Week: Dish Soap and Lukewarm Water
For a thorough cleaning at home, Dr. Bade recommends a trip to the kitchen sink. Here’s what to do there:
- Wash your hands first. Clean hands help keep oils, lotions, and dirt from going right back onto your lenses.
- Give the glasses a lukewarm rinse. Water helps carry away loose dust and debris before you touch the lens surface, reducing the chance that you’ll rub those particles across the coating.
- Add a small drop of dish soap. Use your fingers to gently clean both sides of the lenses. You may also want to clean areas where skin oils and makeup tend to collect, such as the nose pads and frames
- Rinse thoroughly and dry gently. Rinse off all the soap, gently shake off excess water, and use a clean microfiber cloth to dry and polish the lenses.
Bade recommends giving glasses this more thorough cleaning about once a week. In between, you can clean smudges as needed.
On the Go: Lens Spray and a Microfiber Cloth
Bade recommends lens spray to help remove mild smudges. Pairing lens spray with a microfiber works well because this material is soft and designed to pick up smudges without scratching your lenses, she says.
A microfiber cloth by itself can work for everyday cleaning when you don’t have lens cleaner available, Bade says — but only if your lenses are free from visible dust or debris that could be rubbed across the lens.
If lenses are dusty or gritty, rubbing that debris across the surface can cause scratches. In such cases, rinse the glasses first.
Your microfiber cloth will benefit from occasional cleaning, too. “They can be washed in the washing machine or hand-washed. Just don’t use fabric softeners,” says Kathy Diz, an optician in High Point, North Carolina. She suggests washing microfiber cloths about once a month and replacing them if they start looking worn.
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