Last updated: October 2026
The most common way people scratch their glasses is by cleaning them wrong. Wiping dry lenses with a shirt, tissue, or paper towel drags dust across the surface and leaves fine scratches that build up over time. The safe method is simple: rinse with lukewarm water, add a drop of mild dish soap, rinse again, and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
What are the 5 most common cleaning mistakes?
1. Wiping with your shirt. Clothing holds dust, skin oil, and detergent residue. On a dry lens, those particles act like fine sandpaper.
2. Using paper towels, tissues, or napkins. Paper products are made from wood fibres. They feel soft to your hands but are rough enough to mark lens coatings, and they leave lint.
3. Wiping lenses dry. Even a clean cloth can scratch if there is grit on the lens. Rinse or blow off visible dust first.
4. Using household cleaners or hot water. Glass cleaner, vinegar, bleach, and strong alcohol solutions can break down anti-reflective, mirror, and polarized coatings. Hot water can do the same. Use lukewarm water and mild dish soap, or a spray made for coated lenses.
5. Using a dirty microfiber cloth. A cloth that has collected weeks of oil and dust spreads both back onto the lens. Wash it regularly.
What is the right way to clean glasses?
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Rinse the glasses under lukewarm running water to remove dust.
- Put one small drop of lotion-free dish soap on each lens.
- Rub both sides of the lenses, the nose pads, and the temples gently with your fingers.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Shake off the water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
When you are away from a sink, breathe on the lens to add moisture, then wipe with a clean microfiber cloth.
Why is microfiber better than cotton or paper?
|
Material |
Scratch risk |
Removes oil |
Leaves lint |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Microfiber cloth |
Low when clean |
Yes |
No |
|
Cotton shirt |
Medium to high |
Smears it |
Sometimes |
|
Paper towel or tissue |
High |
Partly |
Yes |
Microfiber is made of very fine synthetic fibres that lift and trap oil and dust instead of pushing them around. That is why opticians and lens makers recommend it.
Sigonna Microfiber Cleaning Cloth is made for eyeglass and sunglass lenses. Keep one in each bag, in the car, and at your desk, so the shirt is never the closest option.
How do you wash a microfiber cloth?
Hand wash or machine wash it with a small amount of mild detergent. Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets, because they coat the fibres and cause smearing. Let it air dry.
What else protects lenses from scratches?
- Put glasses down with the lenses facing up.
- Store them in a case, not loose in a bag or pocket.
- Do not leave them on a car dashboard. Heat can damage lens coatings and warp frames.
- Take them off with both hands, so the frame stays straight.
FAQ
Is it OK to clean glasses with a shirt? No. Fabric carries dust and oil that scratch and smear lenses, especially when the lens is dry.
Can you remove scratches from glasses? Not reliably. Home remedies such as toothpaste or baking soda are abrasive and can strip coatings. Prevention is the only dependable fix.
Can I use alcohol wipes on my glasses? Only wipes made for coated eyewear lenses. Strong alcohol and household cleaners can damage coatings over time.
How often should I clean my glasses? Once a day is a good habit, and whenever you see smudges. Clean nose pads at the same time, because oil there makes glasses slip.
How often should I wash a microfiber cloth? About once a week with regular use, or as soon as it starts to smear.
Do sunglasses need different cleaning than regular glasses? No. The same method works. Be extra gentle with mirrored and polarized lenses, because their coatings sit on the surface.
