Benefits of a homemade eyeglass cleaner

Whether you have an active lifestyle or spend most of your time indoors, your eyeglasses should be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria — and to keep any smudges out of sight. 

A homemade glasses cleaner can be beneficial to have when you’re on the go, if you’ve run out of store-bought eyeglasses cleaner, or if you don’t have immediate access to soap and water. The homemade approach can also be convenient, inexpensive and easy to create since you only need a few ingredients.

However, there are some risks to acknowledge when using household ingredients to clean your lenses. The use of rubbing alcohol specifically has its own pros and cons to keep in mind. Before you use any product on your glasses, consider the extra lens coatings you have that may be vulnerable to cleaning. 

Here’s what you need to know about DIY glasses cleaner, how to make it and what to remember when caring for your eyeglasses.

Ingredients needed for DIY eyeglass cleaner

Creating an eyeglass cleaner at home is relatively simple. Most of the items you need are easy to find at the supermarket if you don’t already have them on hand. A DIY eyeglass cleaner can be made using the following ingredients:

• 1 fluid ounce of cool or lukewarm water
• 1 fluid ounce of rubbing alcohol (also referred to as 70% isopropyl alcohol)
• 2 drops of liquid, lotion-free dish soap

You’ll also need a 2-fluid-ounce spray bottle to mix and store the solution. 

When these basic ingredients are combined, they can create an easy-to-use solution for cleaning your eyeglass lenses. Just remember to use the recommended amount of each ingredient for the best results.

SEE RELATED: Choosing the best lenses for your glasses 

Steps to create the perfect eyeglass cleaning solution

Follow these five steps to make cleaner for your eyeglasses:

1. Gather the ingredients and a 2-fluid-ounce spray bottle.
2. Fill the spray bottle halfway with 1 ounce of cool or lukewarm water.
3. Fill the rest of the bottle with 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol.
4. Place 2 drops of dish soap into the bottle.
5. Put the lid on the bottle then gently roll or swirl the bottle around to mix the ingredients.

Note: Because rubbing alcohol is included, this type of DIY cleaner is best for lenses with no special coatings.

Using alcohol in your eyeglass cleaner: Pros and cons

Rubbing alcohol can offer several perks when it comes to cleaning your glasses. But it can also be harsh on your lenses, especially if they have special coatings. Keep these factors in mind when using a homemade eyeglass cleaner that includes rubbing alcohol:

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Efficient for cleaning
• Disinfects lenses and frames

Cons

• Can be harsh on lens coatings — especially anti-reflective coating
• May be too drying if too much is used
• Some people may be sensitive to the scent of rubbing alcohol
• May cause damage to some plastic frames

If your eyeglass lenses have any special coatings, it’s probably safer to clean them with a store-bought glasses cleaning solution rather than a DIY cleaner. 

However, if you’re stuck at home with smudged lenses, it’s generally safe to clean your glasses with tap water and a drop of lotion-free dish soap. Then dry them gently with a microfiber cloth.

Essential tips for cleaning and caring for your glasses

It’s important to clean your eyeglasses regularly to remove dirt, germs and smudges. Dirty lenses can make things difficult to see and distract you from your everyday tasks. 

Here are some ways to keep your glasses in good condition:

• Always handle your glasses in a gentle manner.
• Keep your eyeglasses in a padded case when you’re not using them.
• Avoid cleaning your lenses with materials such as clothing, napkins, paper towels or regular towels.
• Don’t clean your glasses with soaps that are made with lotion, microbeads or any other abrasive ingredients.

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