How to Clean Spectacles & Sunglasses - Do's & Don't

Wearing spectacles and sunglasses in the current days is more of a need. Many individuals with less than optimal vision can benefit from the spectacles or the sunglasses they wear. However, it is also essential for the wearer to keep them at an optimum working level to see clearly. Here is an easy-to-understand guide on how to clean specs.

How to Clean Spectacles and Sunglasses?

Having a clean pair of spectacles or sunglasses is relatively easy, provided you know how to clean glasses. Even though there are several right and wrong ways to clean spectacles, below are some of the best ways to clean them and what to use to clean glasses:

1. Before cleaning the spectacles or sunglasses, make sure that your hands are clean and devoid of dirt, grime, lotion, or any other form of transferable agent. Lint-free cloth or a spectacle cleaning microfiber cloth usually provided with your spectacles and can also be purchased separately at an optical shop, running water or a bowl of water and any spectacle cleaning liquid, generally available as a spray at an optical shop are essential things needed.
2.  First, rinse the spectacles or sunglasses under running water or in a bowl of water; lukewarm water is preferable. Doing this will eliminate any minute dust or debris particles that could scratch the surface while cleaning. Avoid hot water as it might harm protective layers on some spectacles. Hence it is advised to skip hot water.
3. Spray some spectacle cleaning liquid on each lens. Then, using the spectacle cleaner, wipe the lenses and spectacles with a lint-free or microfibre cloth.
4.  For cleaning the nose pads and spectacle hinges, prepare a mild soapy solution with a minimal amount of dish-cleaning fluid in a bowl of lukewarm water.  Dish-cleaning fluids are relatively concentrated, so use a tiny amount and dilute in a bowl of water so the soapy solution you prepare is more watery.  

Soak the spectacles with the fluid for about 30 seconds so that the soapy liquid reaches every part, especially the nose pads and hinges of the spectacles.  If dust or sweat deposits are visible at the hinges, you can use a soft toothbrush to remove them.  But use the toothbrush gently and be careful not to scratch the lenses with the toothbrush.

5.  It is also good to clean the areas where the lens ends, and the frame starts. That area accumulates the highest amount of dust, debris as well as skin oil.
6. Wash the spectacles in water and remove all traces of soap. Otherwise, soap particles could leave marks on the lenses of the spectacles or sunglasses.
7. Shaking the spectacles ensures that soapy water does not leave any marks. Then, with a microfibre cloth or a lint-free soft cloth, wipe the lens and the frame. It is good to check the soft fabric for dust particles or debris since that could scratch the surface. Any oil or moisturizing material on the cloth could also cause smears on the lens.
8. Before finishing up, take a look at the lens properly to ensure no smears, streaks, or smudges are visible. If any such spots or streaks are visible, a micro-fiber cloth can remove them with ease. Lint-free microfiber cloths can be purchased at optical or photography shops.
9. If, for any reason, a micro-fiber cloth is not available at hand, single-pack pre-moistened wipes for lens cleaning are available.  These pre-moistened cloths provide better cleaning and do not leave streak marks on the lens. You can buy these lens wipes from a good optical shop.  These days reputed lens makers like Nikon and Zeiss also make lens wipes.

The steps mentioned above are also a great help if you are wondering about how to clean eyeglasses, how to clean prescription glasses or clean reading glasses. It is a good idea to remember that in the absence of water or supplies to clean the sunglasses or spectacles, eyeglass lens cleaners are a good choice to clean spectacles. All the steps mentioned above are also the best way for cleaning glasses and how to clean sunglasses.

What to Not do While Cleaning Frames and Lenses

As mentioned before, taking care of lenses and frames is necessary since spectacles and sunglasses help provide clear vision. Therefore, it is essential to take care of your eyewear in a proper way. Here are some mistakes that can be harmful to the care and maintenance of your eyewear:

1. Dry lenses can get scratched easily due to a rough fabric, therefore do not use rough materials or tissues for cleaning.
2. Using glass or surface cleaners to clean lenses might cause damage to the coatings placed on top of the lens.
3. Never wipe the lens surface when dry, as minute dust particles can scratch the lens surface. Instead, always rinse the spectacle lenses under running water or in a bowl of water before wiping them.
4. Check for any dirt, oil, or grime when using a microfiber cloth to clean the lense since these fabric types can trap dirt and grime quickly.

Cleaning Your Frames

While the lenses need to be clean and free of scratches, it is also necessary to clean the frames. This part of the spectacles or sunglasses is always in contact with the wearer's skin and needs to be cleaned more carefully. Here are a few ways on how to clean glasses and the frames of your spectacles: 

Nose Pads and Hinges

With a soft toothbrush, remove the dirt and grime stuck to the nose pad and hinges of the spectacles.  Be very gentle while using the toothbrush so that you don't scratch the surface of the lenses or the frame with the toothbrush. Then, ideally, send them to the optician for a thorough cleaning.  We at R. Kumar offer such cleaning services complimentary to our clients.

Soapy Water for Cleaning

Using warm soapy water, remove any remaining dirt or debris from the frames and wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth.

Drying The Frames

Dry the frames with another microfiber cloth

Final Check of Cleaned Frames

Before using the spectacles or sunglasses, check every part of the frames to ensure all dirt, grime, debris, and oils are washed away. It also includes the points where the lenses are connected to the frame of the eyewear. 

Eyewear Cleaning Spray

Liquid cleaning sprays for eyewear are helpful in the general maintenance of your eyewear. These sprays usually contain an agent that can handle minor scratches with ease. The following steps will show you how to clean your eyewear.

1. A few drops of the cleaning solution sprayed on the lens is enough.
2. A clean microfiber cloth, wipe the surface until the lens is clear and not hamper your vision.

Preventing scratches on your eyewear is easy if a few crucial rules are followed. Which are as follows:

1. Keep the eyewear in a hard case when not being used.
2. Second, having a microfiber cloth at the ready when the smallest amount of marks are visible.
3. Finally, a cushioned case, as well as scratch-resistant layers on the eyewear, can help in the long-term usage of your favorite pair of eyewear.
4. Never wipe the spectacle lenses when dry. Instead, always rinse them under running water or in a container of water before wiping.  This simple practice can be the number one way to increase the longevity of spectacle lenses.

Wrap Up:

With so many methods and ways to clean your spectacles or sunglasses, it is easy to take care of your most favorite pair of eyewear. At R Kumar Opticians, your vision needs are taken care of, and your eyewear cleaning needs. The wide variety of cleaning solutions and options found at RKumar means that you can easily choose any one of them and keep coming back for more choices and options whenever needed.

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