Your eyeglasses are an investment. Not only do they allow you to see the world clearly, but they also serve as a fashion accessory that can help you express yourself. Let's show you how to best care for your glasses:
1. Wash and dry your hands.
Before cleaning your eyeglasses, wash your hands thoroughly. Use lotion-free soap or dishwashing liquid and a clean, lint-free towel.
2. Rinse your glasses under a gentle stream of tap water.
This will remove dust and other debris, which can help avoid scratching your lenses when you're cleaning them. Avoid hot water, which can damage some eyeglass lens coatings.
3. Apply a small drop of glasses liquid to each lens.
Most glasses liquids are very concentrated, so use only a tiny amount. Or apply a drop or two to your fingertips before touching the lenses.
4. Gently rub both sides of the lenses and all parts of the frame.
Make sure you clean every part of your glasses, including the nose pads and the temples of the frame. Also, clean the area where the edge of the lenses meet the frame — dust, debris and skin oils frequently accumulate here.
5. Rinse both sides of the lenses and the frame.
Failing to remove all traces of soap will cause the lenses to be smeared when you dry them.
6. Carefully dry the lenses and frame with a clean, lens cleaning cloth.
A lint-free microfiber cloth is also a good choice. Make sure the cloth is perfectly clean. Dirt or debris trapped in the fibers of a towel can scratch your lenses. Also, any cooking oil, skin oil or lotion on the towel will smear your glasses.
7. Inspect the lenses again.
If any streaks or smudges remain, remove them with a clean microfiber cloth — these lint-free cloths are available at most optical shops or photography stores.
Store your glasses in a case
Eyeglass lenses can easily get scratched if you fail to store them somewhere safe. This includes when you take them off at bedtime.
Always store your eyeglasses in a clean storage case, and NEVER place them on a table or counter with the lenses facing down.
If you don't have a glasses case handy, place your glasses upside down with the temples open — somewhere safe, where they won't get knocked off a table or countertop.
What NOT to use to clean your glasses.
Cleaning glasses: DONT'S
DON'T use your shirttail, blouse or other clothing to clean your glasses, especially when the lenses are dry. This can scratch your lenses.
DON'T use saliva to wet your lenses.
DON'T use household glass or surface cleaners to clean your eyeglasses. These products have ingredients that can damage eyeglass lenses and coatings.
DON'T use paper towels, napkins, tissues or toilet paper to clean your lenses. These can scratch or smear your lenses or leave them full of lint.
DON'T try to "buff away" a scratch in your lenses. This only makes the situation worse.
