Too busy or lazy to go get a new eyeglasses cleaner? Now, you’re thinking of making a glasses cleaner at home?
Great! You’re in the right place.
DIY glasses cleaners are a great option. These days, they are even widely used and preferred. These cleaners, if made and used correctly, can even be long-term friends with your eyeglasses by providing smudge-free lenses and great vision to you.
Scroll through the article to know how to make the right DIY glasses cleaner for your eyeglasses today!
Why DIY Glasses Cleaner Is A Good Option?
Having a DIY glass cleaner has a lot of benefits; here are a few of them,
- It is super easy to make a homemade eyeglasses cleaner.
- It is extremely cost-efficient.
- It is really quick to make too.
- The material is easily available at home most of the time.
What more reason do you need? When it’s even fun!
The Rubbing Alcohol Cleaner
Did you know that 70% isopropyl alcohol is sometimes used for commercial cleaning purposes too?
This alcohol-based cleaning method is one of the widely used glasses cleaner recipes. All you need is to continue reading to learn how to make this easy and quick eyeglasses cleaning solution.
Material Required:
- Rubbing Alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol preferably)
- Dish Soap
- Spray Bottle
- Microfiber Cloth or Clean Cotton Cloth
- Water (A bit warm preferably)
Step-By-Step Guide:
- Take the spray bottle and fill it with 3 parts of the rubbing alcohol.
- Put up to 2 to 3 drops of dish soap.
- Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water.
- Mix it well and you got your lens cleaning solution.
How To Use?
- Once you have your eyeglasses cleaner spray just check the spray pressure.
- If enough and soft, spray it on lenses and the frames.
- Get a microfiber cloth or a clean cotton cloth to wipe the spray off.
- Let it dry, and you’re done!
Precautions To Be Taken
When dealing with 70% isopropyl alcohol for cleaning glasses, you need to make sure you’re handling it carefully. As if the 70% isopropyl alcohol comes in direct contact with your eye, it can cause irritation, redness, and other eye-related problems, too.
You also need to make sure that your lenses and frames are of high quality, otherwise, the alcohol might cause damage to your lenses and fade away the color or the ink of your frames, too.
Moreover, the coating on lenses is extremely delicate, and if cleaned with carelessness might remove that precious and expensive layer.
Brownie Tip
People tend to change the portions of the cleaning spray to reduce the acidic nature of the solution. They increase the water and reduce the 70% isopropyl alcohol, which is also effective and safer as said.
Is It A Good Idea?
The alcohol-based eyeglasses cleaner spray is extremely easy to make but a difficult method to execute. This method requires special precautions and in-depth knowledge of your glasses before using them.
So, in case you can execute the method with utmost care and can save your lens coating from the alcohol, you’re good to go. On the other hand, if you’re confused or unsure about your lens coating, this homemade eyeglasses cleaner is not for you.
Read the section “The Soap Method” to know a safer way to clean your glasses.
The Witch Hazel Cleaner
The witch hazel cleaner is similar to the rubbing alcohol cleaner, and witch hazel can even be used as an alternative to rubbing alcohol to make your own homemade eyeglasses cleaning solution.
There is just one main difference, rather than 3 and 1 parts, just put equal parts of water and witch hazel. The rest is almost the same, like, up to 2 to 3 drops of dish soap are sufficient, mixing the solution well and filling the spray bottle.
The process of how to use the witch hazel cleaner method is just the same, too.
Precaution: Compared to the 70% isopropyl alcohol, the witch hazel cleaner has a higher acidic nature, which requires extra care to be taken.
If your glasses have a special coating like an anti-reflective or anti-scratch coating, keep this lens cleaning solution away, and do not risk your glasses.
The Soap Method
This method or you can call it the easiest do it yourself eyeglass cleaner comes to your savior when you lack a spray bottle. So, if you are wondering how to clean glasses without the spray, continue reading to know all about it.
Material Required:
Dish Soap
Water (Preferably warm, but not hot)
Bowl
Step-By-Step Guide:
- Take the bowl and put up to 2 to 3 drops of dish soap.
- Fill it with warm water.
- Mix it well with your hands.
How To Use?
- Put the glasses in the bowl so they are completely inside the solution.
- Now gently rub your lenses with your fingers.
- Take those glasses and wash them under the soft pressure of warm water, but make sure you do not touch them.
- Now just wipe the glasses with a microfiber cloth, or in its absence, with a clean cotton cloth.
- Let the glasses dry completely, and you’re done!
There is an alternative use to it too, which is you can put 2 drops of dish soap directly on lenses and rub it gently with your fingers. Then just wash the lenses gently with warm water and wipe them.
Precautions To Be Taken
When choosing a dish soap for this method, make sure you do not choose a soap that is either more acidic or basic, it is better to have a neutral one, so it has a good cleaning effect on lenses and is safe for the coating and your eyes, too.
Is It A Good Idea?
This method is one of the easiest, quickest and cheapest methods. So, if you’re doing it right, there is no reason why this isn’t a good idea.
Brownie Tip
Just make sure you do not use hot water to clean glasses, as they might damage the protective coating of your lens after some time.
You can also use a toothbrush with very soft bristles dipped in soapy water to clean your frames.
Brownie Fact
The “dish soap and water” method has been suggested by the American Optometric Association as well! Huge, isn’t it?
Clothes You Can Use To Clean Glasses
As advised by opticians, microfiber cloth is the most reliable, effective, and advised cloth, and hence, is advised to use.
In case you do not have a microfiber cloth, you can even use a clean cotton cloth, but make sure you do not confuse your cotton shirt with a cloth, as it might transfer germs, viruses, bacteria, etc.
What Should Not Be Done Ever?
Making do it yourself eyeglass cleaners is fun, but there are a few things that might be commonly used, accepted, and seem easy, should still be avoided,
- Do not use acidic material to make the solution.
- Completely avoid vinegar and lemon juice as they might damage your lens’ coating.
- Do not use your shirt to remove stains off your eyeglasses.
Conclusion
You’re now well aware of different DIY glasses cleaner recipes. Use one or all; it is all up to you; just make sure you consider the precautions and things to know first.
These DIY cleaners help you in many ways, but if you feel a constant dirtiness or fogginess on the lens you are unable to clean, or any other issue, surely visit an optician to get your glasses cleaned or treated.
