Nearly every scratch on a pair of glasses goes on while they are being cleaned. A speck of grit, a quick rub with a shirt hem, and the grit is dragged across the coating. Do that every morning for a year and you get a haze that won't wipe off.
Knowing how to clean glasses lens surfaces properly takes about a minute: get the grit off, use a proper lens cleaner on a clean microfibre cloth, and wash the frames weekly.
Last checked: November 2026
The short version: rinse the lenses under a lukewarm tap or brush off any grit, spray one or two pumps of Ballistol Optics Cleaner onto a clean microfibre cloth, wipe each lens from the centre outwards with light pressure, then polish with a dry part of the cloth. Never rub dry grit, and skip tissues and kitchen roll.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Time needed | About 1 minute for the lenses, 5 minutes for a full wash of frames and nose pads |
| You'll need | Ballistol Optics Cleaner (30ml spray), a clean microfibre cloth, lukewarm water and plain washing-up liquid for the weekly wash |
| How often | Lenses whenever they smear, usually daily; frames and nose pads once a week |
| Works on | Glass and plastic lenses, sunglasses, reading glasses, safety and shooting glasses, cycling glasses, helmet visors |
| Avoid | Tissues, kitchen roll, clothing, hot water, window cleaner sprays, nail varnish remover |
In this guide
- Why do glasses get scratched when you clean them?
- How to clean glasses lens step by step
- What should you never clean glasses with?
- How do you clean glasses that are cloudy or greasy?
- How do you clean glasses frames and nose pads?
- How do you wash a microfibre glasses cloth?
- How do you clean cycling glasses and visors after a wet ride?
- How can you tell your glasses are properly clean?
- Questions people ask
Why do glasses get scratched when you clean them?
Glasses get scratched during cleaning because dust and grit sit on the lens, and wiping drags them across the surface. Most modern lenses carry thin anti-reflective and hard coatings, and these mark far more easily than the lens underneath.
Breathing on a lens adds moisture but nothing that cuts through skin oil, so it mostly moves the grease around. Get the grit off first, then clean.
How to clean glasses lens step by step
To clean a glasses lens without scratching it, remove loose grit with water or a brush, then wipe with Ballistol Optics Cleaner on a microfibre cloth. The alcohol-based spray lifts fingerprints and grease and evaporates completely, leaving no water marks.
- Take the glasses off and hold them by the bridge, so the frame doesn't twist.
- If the lenses are gritty, rinse them for a few seconds under a lukewarm tap and shake off the water, or blow the grit away.
- Spray one or two pumps of Optics Cleaner onto the microfibre cloth, not the glasses.
- Wipe each lens in a spiral from the centre to the edge, with very light pressure.
- Polish with a dry part of the cloth until clear. Repeat once if a smear is left.
- Run the cloth along the edge where lens meets frame, where grease collects.
The spray is safe on plastic lenses and was developed with Leica Sport Optics for high-quality optical glass. Ballistol has been made in Germany by F.W. Klever GmbH since 1904, and shooters use the same spray on scopes and binoculars: see our rifle scope and binocular cleaning guide.
What should you never clean glasses with?
The most common mistake when cleaning glasses is reaching for whatever is to hand. Several everyday cloths and cleaners scratch lens coatings or leave a film.
- Tissues and kitchen roll. Wood fibres scratch coatings and leave lint.
- Your shirt or jumper. Fabric carries dust from pockets and bags.
- Window and kitchen sprays. Made for glass panes and worktops, not optical coatings, and they streak.
- Nail varnish remover or white spirit. Solvents can damage plastic lenses and frames.
- Heat. Hot water, a sunny dashboard or a radiator shelf can damage coatings, leaving fine crazing no cleaner will shift.
How do you clean glasses that are cloudy or greasy?
Cloudy or greasy glasses need a wash in lukewarm water with washing-up liquid, which removes the film of skin oil, hairspray and sun cream that a quick wipe only spreads around. Once a week suits most people who wear glasses all day.
- Wash your hands, then rinse the glasses under a lukewarm tap for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Rub one small drop of plain washing-up liquid (no added hand cream) over both sides of each lens for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Rinse well until no bubbles are left, as dried soap leaves streaks.
- Shake off the water and dab dry with a clean, lint-free cotton tea towel.
- Finish with a spray of Optics Cleaner on the microfibre cloth and polish to a clear finish.
If the lenses are still cloudy after this, check the cloth next. A haze that still won't move usually means worn or scratched coatings, so ask your optician to look.
How do you clean glasses frames and nose pads?
Glasses frames and nose pads are cleaned in the same weekly wash, with lukewarm soapy water and a soft brush. Nose pads and hinges collect most of the sweat, skin oil and make-up, which shows as a green or brown build-up around the pad arms.
While the glasses are soapy, work round each pad and hinge with a soft, clean brush kept for the job, and use a cotton bud behind the pads. Rinse and dry, and leave them on a towel so water drains from the hinges. Don't bend loose pad arms yourself; an optician will adjust them.
How do you wash a microfibre glasses cloth?
A microfibre glasses cloth needs washing every week or two, because a dirty cloth puts grease and grit back on the lens. Hand wash it in warm water with a drop of washing-up liquid, rinse well and let it air dry.
A machine wash at 30 to 40°C is fine, but leave out fabric conditioner: it coats the fibres and leaves a film on every lens. Replace the cloth once it smears even when freshly washed.
How do you clean cycling glasses and visors after a wet ride?
Cycling glasses and helmet visors should be rinsed under the tap, then cleaned with Ballistol Optics Cleaner on a microfibre cloth. Road spray carries grit, and in a UK winter salt from gritted roads too, so a dry wipe after a wet ride is the quickest way to scratch them.
The same goes for e-bike riders and motorcyclists. Never share one cloth between glasses and bike: a cloth that has touched the e-bike display, frame or chain holds grit and oil. Our guide on how to clean a bike chain covers the drivetrain.
For a visor with an anti-fog insert, follow the maker's instructions for the inside. Polishing Optics Cleaner in with a dry cloth, rather than wiping it off, leaves a light anti-fog film that helps when glasses mist up at junctions on cold mornings.
How can you tell your glasses are properly clean?
Properly clean glasses show no smears, rainbow patches or fingerprint outlines when held at an angle to a window or bright light. A ceiling light reflected in the lens should look sharp, not blurred.
Signs you need to clean them again: halos around headlights, a haze against a white wall, or grease at the rim. For drivers it matters. GOV.UK's eyesight rules for driving say you must be able to read a modern number plate from 20 metres, with glasses if you need them, and smeared lenses make low winter sun much harder to see through. See how to clean windscreen glass for the rest of the view.
Optics Cleaner is highly flammable, so keep it away from heat and flames, and spray the cloth with the glasses off, as it can irritate eyes. Safety data sheets are in our technical data library, and the wider Ballistol Technology range covers specialist cleaners and lubricants.
Questions people ask
Can you clean glasses with washing-up liquid? Yes, a small drop of plain washing-up liquid in lukewarm water is a good weekly clean for glasses lenses and frames. Avoid brands with added hand cream, rinse thoroughly and dab dry with a lint-free cotton cloth.
Why are my glasses still cloudy after cleaning them? Glasses that stay cloudy after cleaning usually have a dirty cloth, a film from fabric conditioner, or damaged lens coatings. Wash the lenses and the cloth, and if the haze stays, ask your optician to check the coatings.
Can I use kitchen roll or tissues to clean my glasses? No, kitchen roll and tissues are not a good way to clean glasses, because their wood fibres can scratch lens coatings and leave lint. Use a clean microfibre cloth instead.
How often should you clean your glasses? Most people should clean their glasses lenses daily or whenever they smear, and wash the frames and nose pads once a week. Clean them straight away after rain, sport or a dusty job.
How do you clean glasses without a microfibre cloth? To clean glasses without a microfibre cloth, rinse them under a lukewarm tap, wash with a drop of washing-up liquid, then dab dry with a clean, lint-free cotton tea towel. Avoid tissues and clothing.
Ballistol Optics Cleaner keeps glasses, sunglasses and visors clear, and the same 30ml spray looks after binoculars and scopes. For advice on a particular lens, call +44 (0) 7817 267314 or email sales@ballistol.co.uk.
More guides: How to Clean Windscreen Glass · How to Clean a Bike Chain · How to Open a Frozen Car Door
Written by Ballistol UK. How we write and check our guides.
This guide is general advice. If you're unsure whether a product suits your item, contact Ballistol UK or a qualified professional first, and don't use it until your concerns have been answered.
