Homemade Eyeglass Cleaners – Simple Guideline 2024

Homemade eyeglass cleaners have been my best choice ever. The solutions deal with all my problems with my cloudy, dirty eyeglasses which ruin my view.

I did buy some kinds of commercial eyeglass cleaners, and I literally don’t like evil-smelling chemicals and harsh ingredients found in them that may result in eye irritation.

Are these problems similar to yours? Well, I believe that I’m not the only one stuck with them. Don’t worry; in this post, you’ll learn many homemade eyeglass cleaners and how to keep your eyewear clean effectively.

Let’s go exploring!

Best Homemade Eyeglass Cleaner Recipes

There are various cleaning recipes that you can use to clean your eyeglasses containing alcohol and alcohol-free recipes.

For solutions containing alcohol, I combine alcohol with common ingredients like water, soap, sudsy ammonia. On the other hand, alcohol-free recipes utilize witch hazel, vinegar, or baking soda.

Because different materials will have different cleaning methods, you need to base on what your glasses are made of and the situation of your lenses. Then, you can opt for one or more of your favorites.

Option 1: Dish Soap and Alcohol

As you know, alcohol is mostly used to kill germs, bacteria, or viruses, so it helps to keep your glasses clean. The most important thing is it’s always available. To get the best cleaning result, you should use rubbing alcohol (known has at least 70% isopropyl alcohol)

For this method, soap water plays an essential role; it can remove smudges and oils accumulated on both your lenses and frame. Here’re what you need:

Ingredients:

• Isopropyl alcohol
• Soap
• Water

To start, mix ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol with ½ cup of water in a spray bottle. Add to the mixture 1 drop of dish soap ( or any soap detergent).

When using this solution, spray directly on one or both sides of your glasses, clean the glasses with a microfiber cloth.

I recommend another option with the same ingredients, yet it is easier to measure.

You mix 3 parts alcohol with 1 part water and add 1 or 2 drops of dish soap in a spritz bottle. Then spray the mixture onto your eyeglasses and wipe it off with a soft cloth.

Watch this video: See how should you clean eyeglasses with dish soap and alcohol

Option 2: Dish Soap For Anti-Reflective Coating Eyeglasses

If there isn’t alcohol available in your home, or simply you don’t like the smell of alcohol. But you still want to make a simple cleaner for your eyewear; refer to soapy water-only dish soap and warm water.

Soap water is known as an optimal homemade solution for most kinds of coated eyeglasses like anti-fog, anti-reflective, anti-scratch coated lenses. However, ensure that you won’t use ammonia or alcohol on these kinds of coatings.

Ingredients:

• Dish soap
• Water

Firstly, add 2 drops of dishwashing to 1-2 cups of water in a container, and mix them up with your finger. Then, place the lenses into the mixture, massage the surface, and let them sit for a few minutes. Rinse the glasses under water. After rinsing, you dry it with a soft cloth.

Option 3: Anti-Fog Or Anti-Steam Eyeglass Cleaners

You can mix some ingredients to prevent your eyeglasses from fogging or steaming. Let’s check out these solutions.

Vinegar

The advantages of using vinegar in your homemade cleaning are that it is inexpensive and incredibly effective for removing fingerprints and other kinds of dirt.

Vinegar is often the main ingredient for any reasonable DIY cleaning solution. It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or fumes and won’t leave your eyeglasses full of streaks.

Many are confused when using vinegar for cleaning; make sure you choose the suitable vinegar. Primarily, there are three main kinds of vinegar: white vinegar, cleaning vinegar, and industrial vinegar.

In fact, they are different in the levels of acidity. While white vinegar contains 5% acidity, cleaning vinegar is a bit higher than 6%. So, products made of cleaning vinegar are 20% stronger. And it’s more effective than white vinegar.

On the other hand, industrial vinegar has up to 20% acidity. It is mostly used for outdoor cleaning and is not safe for indoor household chores.

Ingredients:

• White vinegar
• Distilled water

You dilute 3 parts of white vinegar with 1 part of distilled water in a spritz bottle for this recipe. Then rigorously shake the bottle. If you want to have a stronger cleaner, you can change the ratio: ½ vinegar mix with ½ water, then do the same steps.

To use, spray down your lenses and use a soft cloth to wipe them. Reapply until your glasses ultimately shine.

Vinegar And Alcohol

This solution works well on removing fog or steam from your eyeglass surface. You just need some simple ingredients; you can tackle your problems.

Ingredients:

• Alcohol
• Vinegar
• Distilled water
• A spray bottle
• A microfiber cloth

First, mix them with equal parts, ½ cup of alcohol, ½ cup of vinegar, ½ cup of water into a spray bottle, and shake it well to mix all ingredients up. Now, you can spray the mixture directly onto the lenses, let it sit for a minute, and wipe them with a microfiber cloth.

Sudsy Ammonia, Alcohol And Dish Soap

Fogs or steaming on your glasses make your vision blur, and that’s so uncomfortable while you’re doing your work. You tried to clean with a piece of cloth, though; it wasn’t improved. Let’s consider using sudsy ammonia.

Sudsy ammonia, known as soapy ammonia, you can easily find in any supermarket. Also, you can make soapy solvent from a bottle of pure sudsy ammonia. That’s much cheaper than commercial products.

Although this soapy ammonia is more affordable, its cleaning effects are as good as others.

Ingredients:

• Sudsy Ammonia
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Dishwashing detergent
• Distilled water

Mix 2 tablespoons of sudsy ammonia, ½ cup of alcohol, ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into a quart of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and vigorously shake the bottle to mix up all ingredients.

Spray on both sides of your lenses, then wipe with a lint-free soft cloth until no traces are left on the surfaces.

Option 4: Witch Hazel For Fingerprints

Witch hazel with a light fragrance is also a reasonable alternative for alcohol. This recipe is the best for those who can’t stand the strong smell of alcohol.

Witch hazel is a safer option compared to rubbing alcohol which may cause burning. And like alcohol, it helps clean fingerprints or stems on the eyewear.

Ingredients:

● Witch hazel
● Distilled water
● Dish soap

First, you mix a half cup of witch hazel with a half cup of water in the bottle. Add 2 drops of your dish soap to the mixture. Then, let all ingredients mix up by shaking the bottle gently.

Spritz the liquid you’ve made on your lenses and use a microfiber cloth to dry them.

Option 5: Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers are alcohol-based and contain about at least 60% alcohol ⁽¹⁾. Therefore, they also can clean surfaces and against bacteria as well. When your eyeglass gets mucky, use hand sanitizer as an effective cleaner.

Hand sanitizer can immediately make your eyewear sparkle and restore your vision. Let’s try this alternative, and you won’t be disappointed.

Ingredients:

• Hand sanitizer
• Paper towel

Simply apply some drops onto both sides of each lens. Use a soft paper towel to wipe the surface gently. Ensure you don’t press on the glass lenses and their frame; they may be cracked. Use another clean paper towel to get rid of extra residue if needed.

Get Rid Of Scratches From Eyewear At Home

As you know, not all eyeglasses are made from glass; many kinds are also made of plastic. However, plastic eyewear may easily be scratched.

Grit tends to cling to the plastic surface, so rubbing dust, lint,.. on the surface will scratch it. Also, commercial cleaners are mainly abrasive that will damage your glass coatings.

Therefore, I have some helpful tips to remove these scratches at home without using these harsh chemicals in mass-produced cleaners..

Option 1: Baking Soda

Baking soda is another option. It is always available in your kitchen. Why don’t you try this as a cleaning solution to ward off scratches?

Ingredients:

• Baking soda
• Water
• Cotton cloth

Make a mixture including 1 spoon of baking soda and ½ spoon of water. Apply the mixture on the glass surface, then massage with a cotton cloth for 10 to 20 seconds.

Rinse the glasses under the water and use a soft cloth to wipe the water off.

How’s simple to remove scratches from your eyewear. Watch this video:

Option 2: Toothpaste

The cheapest method to remove scratches is using toothpaste. Remember, you only use non-abrasive or non-gel toothpaste (or doesn’t contain whitening components).

Put a small amount of toothpaste on the areas to be removed and use a cotton pad to rub it gently. Rub it with a small circular motion until the scratches blur or vanish. Don’t scrub too long; a few seconds are reasonable.

Then rinse the glasses under the water and dry with a soft cloth.

Option 3: Vehicle Cleaning Wax

Vehicle cleaning wax is meant not only for cleaning vehicles but also for filling in scratches on eyeglasses. It works really well on plastic lenses.

Applying the small wax on the areas needs to be cleaned with a cotton cloth. Gently rub it. Then wipe again with a soft cloth.

How To Clean Your Eyeglasses With DIY Cleaners?

An eyeglass is constructed with eyeglass lenses, a frame, and nose pads. To improve your vision and last the lifetime of your glasses, you should take care of them appropriately.

They may be made of different materials; you should clean them with the correct method.

Generally, there are three common kinds of eyeglass lenses based on their materials: plastic, anti-reflecting, and transition lense. However, they can be cleaned with the same cleaning method.

Cleaning lenses regularly will help you protect your glasses from fog or cloudy. Let’s use those recommended recipes and apply the following steps:

Step 1: Run your eyeglasses under warm water to remove dirt from them. Then dry them with a microfiber cloth.

Step 2: Choose one of those DIY eyeglass cleaners and clean them. You can choose to soak your glasses in cleaners or spray the liquid directly on the lenses. Use a new cloth to gently rub your glasses.

Don’t forget to clean frames and nose pads as they also accumulate dust, oils,.. from your face. Use a toothbrush or scrubber and make use of the soap on lenses to remove debris from difficult-to-reach spots.

Step 3: You should rinse the eyeglasses with warm water.

Step 4: Wipe excess water off your glasses by using a dry cloth, shaking it, or using a gas duster.

Clever Tips To Keep Your Eyeglass Clean

It’s nothing challenged to keep your eyewear clean, you just need to follow extra tips below:

• Don’t exhale onto the lenses and use your shirt-tail to wipe off the fog that may scratch your glasses over time.
• Only use a clean, soft, microfiber cloth to clean the surface. Don’t use paper towels or newspapers because they are not as soft as a microfiber cloth. Never use cloth dried with fabric softener to avoid creating a film on your lenses.
• Soapy water is the safest cleaning option for your eyeglasses, no matter what materials they are made of.
• If your area has hard water or water spots problems, you should use distilled water.
• Try to clean your eyeglasses regularly, like every day after finishing your work, and store them in a suitable case that prevents microbial buildups.
• When cleaning, don’t forget to clean the frame and the nose pads as well.

FAQs

I think the questions below may be useful for your cleaning; you can refer to them to find your answers.

Regular Cleaning Is A Shield To Protect Your Eyeglasses

A clean eyeglass will keep your eyes healthy and support you in work or study. To keep it always clean, you should clean it regularly with many helpful homemade solutions.

I hope this post can tackle all your problems, and you can apply these recipes as well as helpful tips to keep your eyeglasses always in good condition. If you find this article helpful, feel free to like, share or leave your comments below.

References:

1. Medical and health information. https:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-much-alcohol-should-hand-sanitizer-contain