If you’re a luxury glasses lover, you likely know the value of these handy tools. They’re high-quality, durable, in-demand—and often super stylish. That makes taking care of them all the more important, as you’ll want them to be in their best condition for many years to come. When thinking about how to take care of your designer glasses, cleaning the glasses is likely top of mind—and with good reason.
Cleaning your glasses helps with both their appearance and functionality, as proper care preserves lens coating, frame integrity, and more. Don’t know how to properly clean your glasses? Don’t sweat it. At Visionist, we’re here to help you keep your vision clear and your investment protected. Learn everything there is to know about cleaning glasses and maintaining your favorite frames, from what eyeglass cleaner to use to what drying method to try.
Our Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Glasses
So, you just purchased a fresh new pair of designer glasses. Whether they’re timeless Cartier, coveted Jacques Marie Mage, fan-favorite Theo, or another in-demand brand, you’ll want to clean them pretty early on—and get the feel for how to take care of your new accessory. Read on to learn how to clean glasses.
Step 1. Make Sure Your Hands Are Clean
Want to avoid those dreaded, impossible-to-remove smudges? Before you reach for your lenses and get started with cleaning your glasses, make sure your hands are washed, clean, and ready to go—free of oil, lotions, and other pesky materials.
Step 2. Rinse Glasses With Lukewarm Water
While a microfiber cloth will do the trick for normal daily touch-ups, you’ll occasionally want to give them a good, but very light rinse. Hold your frames (and lenses) under lukewarm water for a few seconds, ensuring the water is not too hot, as this can damage the frames.
Step 3. Apply a Drop of Lotion-Free Dish Soap
Carefully place one small drop of lotion-free dish soap or eyeglass cleaner on each lens, rubbing it lightly around the pair—a crucial component when learning how to clean glasses.
Step 4. Rinse Thoroughly
Make sure you rinse your glasses thoroughly under lukewarm water once again, taking special care to remove all the soap and making sure no sud gets left behind.
Step 5. Dry With a Microfiber Cloth
Ditch the paper towels and those other tempting nearby materials as these can leave bits of fuzz behind, or worse, even scratch your glasses. Wondering about the best way to clean glasses? Instead, dry them carefully with a microfiber cloth. Shop the Article
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Your Glasses
It’s just as important to learn how to clean your glasses as it is to learn how not to clean them, and you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for common, but harmful, mistakes you may be making during your daily routine.
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Don’t Use Clothing to Clean Lenses: In a pinch, it can be tempting to reach for your shirt, a different item of clothing, or the closest material around. But you’ll want to be strong and resist when learning how to clean glasses as this can be damaging.
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Avoid Household Cleaners: Out of dish soap or eyeglass cleaner? Think twice before grabbing any other cleaning products, as you don’t know what harsh ingredients they contain and they can be harmful to your frames. The best way to clean glasses is to be careful and thoughtful about the products you use on them.
- Stop Making Scratches Worse: It’s never fun to spot a scratch on your favorite stylish investment piece. However, rubbing, washing, and buffing will not remove scratches and will only further harm your frames. Need help with scratched lenses or a more serious cleaning issue? We can help. Reach out to us for assistance.
Additional Tips for Cleaning & Maintaining Your Glasses
Congrats, you’ve learned how to clean your glasses! Now that your glasses are all nice and pristine, you’ll likely want to keep them that way. Get additional tips on the best way to clean glasses and give yourself peace of mind.
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Clean Nose Pads & Hinges Regularly: While the lenses are certainly the star of the show, it’s important not to forget about the other components of your eyewear. You’ll want to wipe nose pads and hinges off regularly since they come into contact with your skin most frequently. Cleaning your glasses ensures build-up doesn’t gather and keeps them hygienic.
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Wash Your Microfiber Cloths: You don’t want to neglect those microfiber cloths either as they will carry dust and debris that you’ve previously wiped off your glasses. When it comes to the best way to clean glasses, we recommend handwashing the cloths or putting them through a gentle cycle in your washing machine about every one to two weeks.
- Store Your Glasses Safely: Life gets busy and you may be tempted to toss your glasses into your bag in a hurry—without a case. However, this can be extremely damaging as they can rub against all sorts of items when not stored properly, causing scratches on the high-quality lenses, leaving dents, and bending or even breaking the glasses under enough pressure. Taking your old-money sunglasses on a nice summer outing? Don’t forget to keep them protected from the heat as well. Leaving them outside or in a hot car can be damaging—and even dangerous depending on how high the temps are rising.
Need a storage case to take with you on the go? Explore the wide range of cases we offer at Visionist, designed to keep your glasses protected, dry, and safe, no matter where the day takes you. Bonus tip: Cases also make your glasses a lot easier to find in a pinch, so you don’t have to go fishing around your purse or bag. Like to take multiple glasses on the go? Check out our customizable Wanderer Bundle.
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Have specific eyewear needs? Learn more about the differences between custom and ready-made glasses to see which one may be right for you.
When to Seek Professional Cleaning
If you’ve followed all the recommended steps when it comes to how to clean glasses but are still unhappy with how your frames are looking or functioning, don’t worry. If you have excess smudges, are dealing with unwanted buildup, have scratched lenses, or are worried that your glasses simply may not be in top shape, it may be time for professional cleaning or repairs. Contact us for help, schedule an appointment with one of our Visionists for custom styling and fit advice, or read our FAQs to find out more.
Find Your Perfect Pair With Visionist
Whether you’re dealing with your first pair of designer glasses or you’re used to rocking this valuable accessory, you’ll want to make sure they’re fully cared for. By following a few simple tips and learning how to clean glasses, you can keep your favorite pair in tip top shape—and keep your vision sharp.
At Visionist, we’re here to help find the perfect pair of glasses for you and help you keep them protected for a long time to come. We have a large selection of frames for both men and women from today’s top brands, from Lunor to Maybach and everything in between, no matter your face shape or style preferences.
With unparalleled optical care online, personalized service, and more, you can count on us to help take your glasses game to the next level. Looking for style advice? Connect with one of our Visionists for customized guidance, explore our virtual try-on tool, or give our style quiz a go. Want something uniquely you? Build a pair all your own. We’re here to give your eyewear journey a clean start.