How to Clean Eyeglasses

Co-authored by Kara Hartl, MD, FACS

Last Updated: December 5, 2024 Approved

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Glasses can be expensive sometimes, so it's important to keep them in good shape. Fortunately, cleaning your glasses is quick and easy. The best way to clean eyewear is with warm water and dish soap, so head to the sink and lather them up! When you’re out and about, touch up your lenses with a spray cleaner or wet wipes. If you stick to a daily cleaning routine, you'll be seeing crystal clear and you'll keep your glasses looking shiny and new.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Warm Water and Dish Soap

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Wash your hands before cleaning your glasses. Wash up for 20 seconds with lotion-free soap and warm water. You’ll need to make sure your hands are free of dirt, grease, and grime before cleaning your glasses.^{[1]
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Rinse your glasses with warm water. Run a gentle stream of tap water over your glasses. Rotate them to wet both sides of each lens, the frame, and earpieces.^{[2]
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- Hot water is bad for lenses, protective coatings, and the frame, so be sure to use warm water.
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Add a small drop of lotion-free dish soap to each lens. Make gentle circular motions with your fingertips to lather the soap over both sides of your lenses, around the frame, and down each earpiece.^{[3]
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Clean the nose pads with a cotton swab or soft toothbrush. Use gentle pressure as you scrub the nose pads and the crevices between them and the frame. If you’re using a toothbrush, make sure it’s soft-bristled.
- Avoid grazing the lenses with the toothbrush, even if it’s soft-bristled. If there’s buildup between the lenses and the frame, use a cotton swab to loosen it.
Hold the glasses under running water again to rinse away soap suds. Make sure you’ve washed away all traces of soap, as any remaining residue will cause smudges.^{[4]
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Turn off the water, then give your glasses a careful shake. Check the lenses to make sure they’re clear, and wash them again if you see any smudges.^{[5]
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Fold a clean microfiber cloth over both sides of a lens. Make soft circular motions with your fingertips to dry it, then repeat on the other lens. Wipe the nose pads, then use the cloth to dry and polish the frame and earpieces.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Your Glasses on the Go

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1
Spray your glasses liberally with eyeglass cleaner. Spray cleaners for eyewear are available at pharmacies and eyewear retailers. If you can’t get to a sink and dish soap, spray your glasses with lots of cleaner to flush away dirt and debris.^{[7]
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- Some eyewear manufacturers and optometrists also offer free samples of spray cleaner.
- If you have anti-reflective (AR) glasses, make sure the cleaner you use is labelled safe for the AR coating.
After spraying your glasses, carefully wipe off excess cleaner. Fold the cloth over both sides of each lens, and make gentle circular motions with your fingertips to absorb the cleaner. Then use the cloth to dry the frame and earpieces.^{[8]
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Touch up your lenses with disposable eyeglass wet wipes. You can also clean your glasses with wet wipes when you’re on the go. Gently blow on them to remove dust and dirt, then gently rub them with a wet wipe using soft, circular motions. After cleaning them, dry them with a microfiber cloth.^{[9]
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- Only use wet wipes labelled for cleaning eyewear. If you have AR glasses, make sure your wipes are labelled safe for the AR coating.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Following an Eyewear Care Routine

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1
Clean your glasses every morning and as needed. Make cleaning your glasses part of your morning routine. Check them regularly throughout the day, and touch them up as needed.^{[10]
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- Keeping your glasses clean and smudge-free will help prevent scratches.
Don’t just throw your glasses in your purse or bag, and avoid placing the lenses on hard surfaces. When they’re not in use, keep them in a hard-shell case. The case should fit your glasses; if it’s too big, they might roll around and get damaged.^{[11]
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Wash your microfiber cloths frequently. Microfiber cloths collect grease and dirt, so you should wash yours after 2 or 3 uses. Some cloths are machine washable, so check the care instructions and launder them as directed.^{[12]
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- If your cloth isn’t machine washable, or if you’re not sure, hand wash it with dish soap, wring it out, then let it air dry.^{[13]
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Don’t wipe your glasses with your shirt, tissue, or a paper towel. Shirts, tissues, and paper towels contain fine debris that could scratch your glasses. Additionally, never wipe your glasses when they’re dry, or you’ll risk damaging them.^{[14]
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- Exhaling on your glasses and wiping them with your shirt might be convenient, but that’s a quick way to scratch up your lenses.
- Need help keeping your glasses clean? Check out what wikiHow users recommend on our best way to clean glasses and keep them clean? forum.

Join the Discussion...

best way to clean glasses and keep them clean?

18

WikiCaribouJammer153

I’m new to team eyeglasses. What I’ve quickly learned is that I’m absolutely terrible at keeping the lenses clean. I just don’t get it, I... Read More

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

I bet they’re getting dirty when you’re taking them on and off or when you’re storing them. Always keep your glasses in a padded case. I li... Read More

WikiFerretGlider783

You really can't go wrong using a little dish soap. Just rub the soap into your glasses with a microfiber cloth or with your fingers, and then ri... Read More

See all 7 Replies and

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Tips

If you leave your glasses in a hot car or expose them to direct sunlight for extended periods the heat can warp the frames—especially if they're plastic.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Place your glasses down carefully rather than tossing them from a distance. They could hit a surface wrong and break very easily.
Clean your lenses with mild soap and water. Never use harsh chemicals, which can damage the coatings on the lenses.
Clean your frames and lenses daily to prolong the life of your lenses and keep your frames looking sharp.

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Warnings

Avoid cleaning your glasses with hot water, acetone, saliva, or household glass cleaners and other strong cleaning products.

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