How to clean your glasses and sunglasses safely

Washing-up liquid, a tissue, the edge of your shirt – it's tempting to reach for the nearest thing when your glasses need a quick clean, but what's actually the best way to clean them? And what should you definitely avoid?

We've got the lowdown on the best cleaning methods, with expert input from optometrist Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists.

Find out the recommended cleaning tips to keep your glasses and sunglasses in good condition.

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Can I clean my glasses with window cleaner, or should I use lens cleaner?

We'd suggest avoiding window or glass cleaner sprays. While they are the go-to for cleaning glass and mirrored surfaces around your home, the ingredients in household cleaners aren't designed with reading glasses and sunglasses in mind, and they're as damaging as they are ineffective.

‘Household glass cleaners tend to smear when used to clean spectacles, and some of the chemical ingredients will wear away the varnish on your frames, so they're not recommended,’ Hardiman-McCartney advises.

Instead, he suggests using a bottle of lens cleaner and a microfibre cloth.

An alcohol-free liquid lens cleaner is gentle on the delicate coating on your glasses, and the microfibre cloth removes grease and smears without the risk of scratching, making this the optimum choice for keeping your glasses clean and free from damage.

‘Most optometrists will supply you with a bottle of lens cleaner and a microfibre cloth when you first get your glasses, so you can start off with the best option to hand,’ Hardiman-McCartney says.

Make sure you replace your cleaning cloth

However, he warns against using the same microfibre cloth over and over again. It will eventually get dirty or gritty, which could then scratch your glasses when you use it on the lenses.

‘Lens cleaning cloths are cheap or sometimes free to replace, but the most sustainable route is to buy a microfibre cloth that's machine-washable,’ he says.

Some optometrists also offer free refills of cleaning liquid, which can help to reduce the cost of cleaning your glasses.

Can I clean my glasses with washing-up liquid or hand soap?

Washing-up liquid might keep your drinking glasses clean and sparkling, but it can be damaging when you use it on glasses and sunglasses.

With repeated use, the grease-busting chemicals in washing-up liquid, known as surfactants, will compromise the lens coating on your glasses by ‘crazing’ them.

That means a web of fine cracks could appear on the surface, especially in the middle, resulting in glare and slight reduction in your vision.

Gentler liquid or hand soap is fine for carefully cleaning stubborn dirt or oil from the frames, but is best avoided on the lenses.

This is because lots of shop-bought soaps contain similar surfactants to those present in washing-up liquid, and it's difficult to tell which ones contain them. Best to play it safe and steer clear altogether.

If you do want to clean your frames using soap, make a lather with the soap in your hands and apply that to the frames, before rinsing them off with lukewarm water and drying them carefully afterwards.

From big brands to supermarket own labels – we've tested both to reveal the best and worst washing-up liquids

Can I clean my glasses with saliva?

It might seem like a quick and simple solution, but using your own saliva to give your glasses a quick rub is not recommended.

Putting saliva close to or in your eyes puts you at much greater risk of corneal (front part of your eye) infections.

Save yourself the risk and don't use saliva to clean your specs. It won't get the lenses sparkling, either. So avoid.

Can I clean my glasses with tissue or baby wipes? 

Lint fibres are like little magnets for dirt and dust, so if you use lint-based tissues to clean your glasses you'll likely rub those bits onto your lenses, scratching them and leaving dust particles behind.

However, if they're lint-free – and in the case of baby wipes, alcohol-free – they should be fine to use.

‘The packaging doesn't make it obvious what is truly lint-free,’ Hardiman-McCartney says, ‘so it can be difficult to tell. However, most household kitchen roll is lint-free, so that's probably your best bet.’

What you need to know about buying glasses – lens materials and coatings explained

Can I clean my glasses with hot water? 

It's fine to give your frames a rinse in warm water, so long as it's not really hot or boiling. 

In fact, rinsing your glasses is recommended, as it helps to remove bits of dirt and grit that could otherwise scratch your lenses, but if the water is too hot there's a risk it will also cause damage.

‘Lukewarm water is kinder to your glasses than hot water,’ Hardiman-McCartney says. ‘Glasses aren't designed to cope with high temperatures. Boiling water will be especially damaging.’

What about microfibre lens wipes? 

There is a wide variety of single-use microfibre lens wipes that are tailor-made for cleaning glasses, and they can be very effective at doing it.

However, many cannot be recycled, so where possible, buy compostable wipes with recyclable packaging to reduce the environmental impact.

Some wipes are alcohol-based; these are advertised for use on your phone or laptop screen, but the alcohol in them is too aggressive for your glasses and could end up causing damage over time.

‘They're quite expensive as there's an ongoing cost,’ says Hardiman-McCartney. ‘But they are handy for scenarios such as when you're travelling.’

Making your glasses last longer

Taking proper care of your glasses can help to prolong their life. Always store them in a sturdy case when you aren't wearing them to keep them protected from dust, moisture, dirt and damage. 

Handle them by the frames where possible, to minimise accidental damage or dirt transfer to the lenses.