How to Clean Glasses Properly: A Step-by-Step Guide

The best way to clean glasses is to rinse them under lukewarm water, wash them with a drop of mild dish soap, rinse again and dry with a clean microfibre cloth. It takes about a minute. Doing it this way removes grit before you wipe, which is what stops tiny scratches building up on your lenses.

Why the way you clean matters

Most modern lenses are made of plastic, not glass. Plastic lenses are light and safe, but they scratch more easily than people expect. Many lenses also have coatings on top, such as an anti-reflective layer. You can read more about these in our guide to anti-reflective coatings.

Dust and skin oils sit on the surface of your lenses. Dust often contains fine grit. If you rub a dry lens, you drag that grit across the surface like sandpaper. One wipe will not ruin your glasses, but hundreds of wipes over months can leave a fine haze of scratches that makes your vision less crisp.

Step-by-step: how to clean your glasses

1. Wash your hands first. Clean hands stop you adding fresh oil and dirt to the frames.
2. Rinse under lukewarm water. Run gentle, lukewarm water over both sides of the lenses. This floats away grit before anything touches the lens. Avoid hot water, which can harm some coatings and frame materials.
3. Add a small drop of mild dish soap. Use a plain dishwashing liquid without lotion or added moisturiser. Rub it gently over both lenses with your fingertips.
4. Clean the rest of the frame. Wash the nose pads, the bridge and the arms. These areas collect make-up, sunscreen and skin oil. If you are not sure what each part is called, see our guide to glasses frame parts.
5. Rinse thoroughly. Make sure all soap is gone, or you may see streaks.
6. Shake gently and pat dry. Give the glasses a light shake, then pat the lenses dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Pat or wipe lightly rather than scrubbing.
7. Check against the light. Hold the glasses up to a window. If you see smudges, breathe lightly on the lens and give it one more soft wipe.

Cleaning on the go

You will not always be near a sink. When you are out, a lens spray made for glasses is a good option. Spray both sides generously so the liquid lifts the dust, then wipe gently with a microfibre cloth. Pre-moistened lens wipes made for eyewear also work well. Keep a cloth in your case so you always have one. Our article on how to store and carry glasses has more tips on keeping a kit with you.

What not to use on your glasses

Some common habits do more harm than good. Here is what to avoid and why.

Looking after your microfibre cloth

A microfibre cloth is only as clean as the last thing it touched. A dirty cloth simply moves grit around. To keep yours working well:

• Wash it by hand in warm water with a little mild soap every week or two, or more often if you use it a lot.
• Skip fabric softener. It leaves a coating on the fibres that smears lenses.
• Let it air dry rather than using a dryer.
• Keep it in your case or a clean pocket, not loose in a bag.
• Replace it when it looks worn or stops picking up smudges.

Special cases: sunglasses, coatings and older lenses

Sunglasses need the same gentle approach, with a few extra points. Salt water, sand and sunscreen are tough on lenses and mirror finishes. See our guide on how to care for sunglasses for details.

If your lenses have a peeling or crazed coating, cleaning will not fix it. The coating has broken down and the lenses may need replacing. Our team can look at the frame and advise whether a repair or new lenses makes sense. You can also read about our reglazing service, where we fit new lenses into your existing frame.

If you clean your glasses often but your vision still seems blurry, the problem may not be the lenses. It could be time for a new eye test. Our guide on when to update your prescription explains the common signs, and an optometrist can check your eyes.

Want your glasses cleaned, checked and adjusted? Pop into our Panmure store at 8 Pilkington Road, open 7 days. We can also help with repairs, reglazing and more, or browse more tips in our Eyewear Guide.