The Best Way To Clean Your Glasses (And Stop Foggy Lenses For Good)

You probably put a lot of time, effort, and money into your glasses, from picking the best glasses frame for your face shape to finding the best glasses for your eyebrow shape. Even learning how to wear glasses comfortably takes time. You're not alone, either: Nearly two-thirds of all American adults wear glasses, and we're guessing that almost 100% of those people have experienced dirty or foggy lenses at some point. As such, we've researched the best way to clean your glasses and stop foggy lenses for good.

Start by collecting the following items near a sink: a lens spray or dishwashing liquid and a microfiber cloth. Then, wash and dry your hands, as the last thing you need is to accidentally transfer grime to your glasses mid-cleaning. If you have a lens spray, hold the frame while you spray each side of both lenses and wipe them clean with a microfiber cloth. If you're using dish soap, put a drop onto each lens, rub it with your fingers until it's properly lathered, and then rinse the lenses with lukewarm water. If it's too cold, it won't break down some grease, and if it's too hot, it could compromise the protective coating. The last step is to dry your lenses with a microfiber cloth. 

All we ask is that you please resist the urge to copy what you've seen so many times on TV and in movies: Don't huff warm air onto your frames and use your shirt to wipe them clean. This method only serves to add more streaks — and even potential scratches — to your glasses. Once your lenses are clean, you can turn your attention to the nose pads, frames, and other parts of your spectacles that need a good refresh.

Wait, nose pads aren't supposed to be the color of foundation? We're joking, of course, but sometimes it feels like we don't have a pair of glasses whose nose pads aren't smudged with face makeup — and we've had more than a few zits crop up in that area. So, yes, nose pads need to be cleaned regularly, and thankfully, it's easy to do. Mix a little warm water with dish soap, dip a cotton swab into the mixture, and scrub the pads gently to loosen any buildup. Rinse them with water, and dry them with a microfiber cloth. Do the same for hinges to remove any accumulated dust and gunk. 

Meanwhile, it's easiest to wash the frame while you're doing the lenses with dish soap, a rinse under lukewarm water, and a microfiber cloth to dry. If any gunk is wedged between the frame and the lens, use a cotton swab to gently loosen it. Thankfully, cleaning sunglasses and blue light glasses follows the same steps, so you could make a point of cleaning all of your glasses at once. Make sure to follow our tips for keeping your sunglasses sparkling clean from summer to winter and beyond if you want to keep your sunnies looking as fresh as possible.

Now, you may be wondering how often you should be cleaning your glasses. As a rule of thumb, you should clean your lenses daily and do a deeper clean of the lenses, hinges, frames, and nose pads weekly.