Cleaning & Protecting Your Glasses

ByKrista

Last Modified Dec 11, 2025 @ 12:22 pm

Protecting your glasses and keeping the clean helps maintain clear vision and extends the life of your eyewear. This guide explains the safest way to clean lenses, what to avoid, and daily habits that protect your glasses.

Eyeglasses are one of the most important investments you can make. Not only financially, but also for your vision quality, ongoing eye health, and daily comfort. Whether you wear prescription glasses, reading glasses, or prescription sunglasses, keeping them clean and properly protecting your glasses can make a big difference.

Our Markham, Ontario optometrists share expert advice on why you should keep your glasses clean, how to clean your glasses, what not to use on your lenses, and the best practices to protect both your frames and your lenses from everyday wear and tear.

(If you want even more detailed instructions specifically related to your prescription glasses, visit
“4 Tips On How to Clean Prescription Glasses Properly”.)

Why Cleaning Your Glasses Matters

Most of us who wear spectacles (commonly known as glasses) wear them a lot. Day in, day out, essentially whenever our eyes are open! Little wonder then that they might easily get dirty at best; scratched, bent or broken at worst. And even though a little bit of dirt on your glasses is definitely not the worst-case scenario, it does bear closer scrutiny…

Glasses are exposed to smudges, oils, dust, makeup, skin care products, and environmental debris all day long. Indeed, every time you touch your glasses, whether to put them on, take them off, or adjust them on your face, you may be transferring oils or dirt to the lenses. Even simple actions like placing glasses on a table or storing them in a bag can lead to scratches if they aren’t protected properly.

Beyond simply improving your clarity of vision, protecting your glasses with proper lens cleaning can also:

  • Extend the life of both your lenses and any lens coatings your glasses may have (think anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, UV coatings, etc.)
  • Prevent micro-scratches that distort vision over time
  • Reduce eye strain caused by dirty, streaked, or damaged lenses
  • Maintain the overall durability of your frames
  • Maintain proper fit and comfort

The key is knowing how to clean your glasses safely, and equally importantly, what to avoid doing.

How to Clean Glasses Properly

Let’s start with what you should be doing to ensure your glasses are being looked after properly. (And your wallet, given the cost of replacing said glasses!) Here is the safest, most effective method of protecting your glasses lenses and lens frames the right way.

Wash your hands first.

Clean, dry hands prevent oils from transferring to your glasses.

Rinse your glasses under lukewarm water.

Rinsing your glasses removes dust and particles that could scratch the lenses during wiping.

Apply a small drop of mild dish soap.

Choose a lotion-free, non-abrasive dish soap, or you can find a cleaning solution or spray made especially for eyeglasses (make sure it states it’s safe for polycarbonate lenses and lens coatings).

Gently rub the lenses and frames.

Use the soap to clean:

  • The front and back of each lens
  • The nose pads or nosepiece and bridge (this is where a lot of your skin’s oils can build up)
  • The hinges, temples, and arms (these areas collect oils and debris that can make glasses feel greasy)

Rinse your glasses thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Soap residue can cause streaks if not washed away completely.

Dry with a clean soft microfiber cloth.

Microfiber is designed to lift oils and moisture without scratching.

For an even more detailed look and step-by-step approach to how to clean your eyewear properly, and the health reasons why you should do so, check out Healthline’s article “The Best Ways to Clean Your Eyeglasses”.

Eyewear Protection Tips – What NOT to Do

Cleaning your lenses incorrectly can damage your lenses more quickly than you might think. Here are the most common mistakes people make when trying to clean their glasses – and why you should avoid them.

Don’t clean your glasses with clothing, tissues, kitchen or bathroom towels, napkins or paper towels.

It can be tempting to use the corner of your shirt, the closest towel, or a handy tissue dug out from the bottom of your bag or pocket to wipe away a smudge. We’ve all done it, and we’ll all probably do it again. But this is one of the fastest ways to create scratches on those expensive lenses!

Why is this harmful?
  • Clothing fibres, napkins, and paper towels are abrasive and can grind dust particles into the lens surface.
  • They often leave behind lint and streaks.
  • They can create micro-scratches that accumulate over time.

Avoid using household cleaners on your lenses.

Household cleaning products like Windex, vinegar, bleach, rubbing alcohol, and other surface cleaners may work wonders on windows or countertops, but they are far too harsh for prescription eyewear.

Why is this harmful?

Household cleaning products can, and will, damage:

  • Anti-reflective (AR) coatings
  • UV coatings
  • Scratch-resistant layers
  • Tints or polarization on sunglasses

Do not attempt the “spit and polish” method!

Yes, Grandpa Joe probably loved this method, but do not attempt to emulate him, no matter how much you loved that goofy old man!

Why is this harmful?

Saliva or spit, which some people (ahem, Grandpa Joe!) use as a quick substitute for lens cleaner, contains enzymes that break down protective coatings on your lenses over time.

Never use scratch removal products on eyeglass lenses.

Scratch-removal kits found online or in stores are often marketed for eyeglasses. Do not believe them! These products typically contain waxy fillers that only temporarily mask a scratch by smearing across the surface.

Why is this harmful?

These products can permanently damage your lens coatings (like anti-reflective coating) and distort your vision. If your lenses are scratched, the best solution is to speak with your optometrist about lens replacement options, especially if your prescription or coatings are still under warranty.

Don’t clean your glasses under running hot water.

While it might be tempting, given the thinking that hot water is antibacterial, running your glasses under hot water will just get you into hot water!

Why is this harmful?

While comfortably lukewarm water is safe and can help loosen oils and debris without harming the lenses, hot water can warp frames and damage lens coatings.

Avoid sprays, perfumes, and cosmetics near your glasses.

Apply these products before putting on your glasses, and give them a moment to settle before donning your eyewear.

Why is this harmful?

Many personal-care products contain chemicals that can cloud or degrade lens coatings. Hairspray, sunscreen, perfumes, setting sprays, powders and creams can leave stubborn residues that are difficult to remove.

Eyeglasses Care – Best Practices for Protecting Your Glasses

Of course, cleaning your glasses properly is only one part of caring for them. Daily habits and storage practices play a major role in preventing scratches, bending, and other potential damage.

Lenses face upwards – always!

Never set your glasses aside with the lenses face down. Anywhere. On any surface. This is one of the easiest ways to damage your lenses. Even a smooth counter or soft blanket may have dust particles or debris that can scratch them. Place them down lenses facing upwards. No exceptions.

If they’re not on your face, they’re in a case!

Always store your glasses in a protective case. Whether you’re placing them in a bag, on your nightstand table, in a drawer, on the kitchen counter, or in a car cup holder, your glasses should always be in a hard-shell case. This prevents bending, snapping, and scratching. A case also keeps your lenses away from keys, coins, pens, phones, makeup, and other dirt or debris, all of which are guaranteed to scratch.

Always keep a microfiber cloth with you.

A clean microfiber cloth is the safest tool for quick maintenance and cleaning. What’s more, avoid using old, worn-out microfiber cloths as they may trap particles in the fibres. And make sure you wash your microfiber cloths regularly, without fabric softener, to maintain their effectiveness.

Don’t leave your glasses in your hot car!

Avoid leaving your glasses in any hot environment. High temperatures, like those inside a parked car, will warp frames and damage lens coatings. (Side note: Sunglasses are especially prone to heat distortion.)

How Unionville Optometry Can Help You Care for Your Eyes and Eyewear

At Unionville Optometry, our priority is protecting your vision, from the simple task of helping you keep your eyewear cleanj  to the more complex task of ocular health.

With over three decades of experience serving the Markham, Ontario community, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to provide comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages.

We offer:

Call us at 905-477-4488 or send us an email to book an appointment or speak with our team.