How to Make Homemade Eyeglasses Cleaner

Ever tried making your own eyeglass cleaner? If not – you’re missing out!
 
Getting smudges or oil marks on your glasses is inevitable. But rather than cleaning them with store-bought cleaning liquids or using wasteful single-use wipes – why not DIY your own eyeglass cleaner? You probably already have most of the ingredients at home.
 
Best of all, making this recipe takes only a few minutes!
 

Why use a cleaning solution?

If you’re on the go, it can be tempting to wipe your glasses on a shirt sleeve or with tissue. Be sure to resist! You’re only going to scratch your lenses.
 
The best way to clean your glasses is to use a microfiber cloth that’s moistened by a cleaning spray. Making sure the cloth is slightly damp will help you remove oily smudges much easier.
 
This homemade eyeglass cleaner will cut through dirt and grime in seconds.
 

How to make 1-minute homemade eyeglasses cleaner

We suggest you make this cleaner directly into a small spritz bottle. That way, you’ll be able to slip it into your everyday bag or pocket and use it on-the-go.
 
Here’s what you’ll need:
 

• Dish soap
• Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol)
• Warm water
• A spritz bottle

 
Instructions:
 

• Fill 3/4ths of a spray bottle with water
• Fill it almost to the top with the rubbing alcohol
• Add in a few drops of dish soap
• Put on the cap and swirl it gently

 
Done – your very own eyeglass cleaning solution!
 

 
Spritz bottles can usually be picked up from your local pharmacy or DIY store, or on places like Amazon. Or, if you already have a spritz bottle of store-bought liquid lying around, why not use the recipe above to refill it instead of buying another one?
 

How to use your homemade glasses cleaner

Make sure that you first give your bottle a swirl every time you want to use it – this will ensure the soap hasn’t all sunk to the bottom. You want it to be evenly mixed but not bubbly.
 

 
To clean your glasses, spritz both sides of each eyeglass lens and wipe them with a clean microfibre cloth. Rub gently until the lenses are dry. Alternatively, you can spritz the microfibre cloth first and then apply it to the lenses. Done!
 
When you’re not using the eyeglass cleaner, try to keep it stored at room temperature with the cap screwed on tightly so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate. It should last you a couple of months (assuming the rubbing alcohol isn’t close to expiring).
 

Want an alcohol free version? Wash in soapy water

If you’re worried that alcohol might damage the protective coatings on your lenses, another option is to give your glasses a wash in soapy water.
 

 
To do this, you’ll want to fill a medium to large bowl with warm (not hot!) water. Add in 2-3 drops of body or dish soap and swish it with your hands to mix it.
 
Submerge your glasses in the soapy water and gently rub your fingers over both sides of the lenses to dislodge any grime. Be sure to hold your glasses frames on the side that you’re cleaning, so that you don’t put too much pressure in the wrong place.

You can also use a soft toothbrush that’s dipped in the soapy water to gently clean the frames and hinges. However – avoid soaking anything in water.

When you’re done, remove your glasses from soapy water and run water from the tap over both sides of the lenses to remove any remaining soap. Then, dry the lenses with a clean microfiber cloth to prevent it forming any water spots as it dries. Done!
 

Tips for keeping your glasses clean

An important step of prolonging the life of your glasses is to clean them regularly. We’ve written a whole other article on how to keep your glasses clean, but here’s a recap of some important do’s:
 

1. Do… Use a microfiber cloth

 
It’s very important that you use a microfiber cloth to wipe or dry your lenses. As tempting as it may be, never wipe your lenses on your shirt, towel or tissue paper. These materials tend to be very rough and can trap debris that easily scratches your lenses. In contrast, microfibre cloths are lint-free and slurp up oils to avoid smearing your lenses.
 

2. Do… Use a clean cloth

 
It’s important that the microfiber cloth is washed regularly – ideally without fabric softener as this can sometimes leave streaks on your glasses. Dirty cloths can scratch the lenses or simply add to the grime.
 

3. Do… Store your glasses properly when not in use

 

 
Always store your clean eyeglasses in a hard shell case when you’re not wearing them. This can prevent them from getting scratched or from picking up dirt in your bag. It’s also important to also keep them away from hot places, so avoid putting them in car glove compartments.
 

Glasses too dirty? Hand them to an expert

Whilst this eyeglass cleaning solution is great for regular use, there are some occasions that you may want to take your glasses to an eye care professional for a deep clean.
 
Your optician is likely to have an ultrasonic cleaner that can help do a deep purge on your glasses. Ultrasonic cleaners only take a few seconds and are the most gentle and effective way to remove dirt in hard-to-reach places. It can be helpful to go every 6 months, or if you feel your glasses frames and lenses are getting very dirty.