Reddit mentions: The best eyeglass cleaning fluids

Had glasses since middle school until very recently, much of this has already been said by others but just to reiterate:

• Use microfiber cloths 100% of the time when you wipe your glasses, and clean the glasses before using the cloths. I had one at my computer, one in my car and one at my desk at work. Try to get the kind that are thicker and denser, as they'll pick up more grease and oils before needing to be washed.
  
• To clean the glasses, use hot water and a speck of dish soap like /u/SaiNushi recommended or use something like Koala Kleaner.
  
• Don't touch the lenses. If you do, clean the lens before wiping.
  
• They should only be on your face or in their case.
  
• Clean the pads/area where they touch your face weekly at least, maybe more frequent if you have an oilier face. This part can smell if you don't keep it clean, though you probably won't smell it while they're on your face, anyone close to your face (😚) might.
  
• They work best when sitting correctly on your face. If they sit too far down your nose, it could cause eye strain.
  
  This is more general vision tips, but:
  
  
• Take breaks from staring at things close to you and "reset" your vision by looking at something across the room or outside for a little bit of time.
  
• Don't rub your eyes.
  
• If your vision changes, don't wait to go to the eye doctor and get your prescription updated. This also has the added bonus of giving you an emergency backup pair of glasses that are better than nothing if your new main pair breaks.

A few things:

To start with, can we talk about ways to reduce the amount of grime getting on you? Because this is not inevitable. I have a pretty long commute, and I relube aggressively with a very persistent wet lube (Rock and Roll Extreme, which is probably the highest endurance high-performance wet lube), and it never gets on my pants or legs. What's actually happening to get you dirty?

That said, here's my recommended solution:

To start with, I'd keep a pack of baby wipes at your office. I recommend Bloom Baby Wipes. They come highly recommended, they're big, they're textured (which means they're way better at lifting up dirt), and they're really good for sensitive skin. They're also not expensive, so you can use a bunch if you need to. Good for wiping yourself down after a ride to get rid of sweat. As with any baby wipe, they'll dry out if you let them, so make sure to keep the whole container in a closed tub or big ziploc bag and stick it in a drawer out of the sun.

If you really want an emergency degreaser, there's a hack you can use. Use an alcohol-based lens cleaner. Here's a good one. It comes with a small sprayer and a big refill bottle. This probably seems like some no name bullshit brand, but it's actually a reputable company. Like Zeiss (a highly reputable lens company) used to sell this same cleaner, from this manufacturer, rebranded as one of their products. I carry the small spray bottle and use it for my computer screen and glasses, but if I really need to degrease myself, this will do it.

Note that most such alcohol-based cleaners are not good for your skin. Beyond just drying you out, they're sensitizers and can trigger skin conditions (this usually requires high concentrations and constant use). So use it to break up any grease your wipe can't handle, then wipe it all clean with a wipe, and maybe moisturize after that. This is a last resort hack, not something you should be doing all the time. I only bring it up because those spray bottles are tiny and will fit in your purse.

Speaking of something you can fit in your purse, you can buy standalone wipes which come in sealed packets, but they're kinda expensive. I keep a supply of Goodwipes as a backup. They sell them in both a big size for whole body wipes and a smaller size. There's also a pull pack, which I sorta don't recommend. It's way cheaper, but even though it's smaller than a pack of normal baby wipes, it's kinda too big for stuffing into a handbag. There's probably a brand out there that's better for cleaning, but I use these because my skin is extremely sensitive (like frequent contact allergy sensitive), and it's fairly gentle. Also not many brands come in individually sealed packets. If you want a cheaper hack, you can just stuff a few folded baby wipes in a good quality ziploc, squeeze the air out of it, seal it tightly, and stuff that in your purse. They should stay wet for a good while, and since they only cost a few cents each, it's no loss if they only last a few days.

Oh. Something related to your query but not quite what you're asking for. Buy a pack of disposable, heavy duty nitrile work gloves. Like actual work gloves, not the medical ones from the drug store. These are super good. Carry a pair to keep your hands clean if you need to handle your drive train during field repairs. When you're done, pull the gloves off from the base, and they'll turn inside out naturally, trapping the grime inside out. Pack the gloves out and toss them at work. The skin on my hands is soft enough that I basically can't torque anything by hand because it just slips, but these are textured and grippy, so these are also really good for me for wrenching at home too. They're also professional-grade, so they're really thick (why you want these instead of medical gloves), and they have a lot of cut resistance for disposable gloves.

This is the link to the one I got costs a lot less. Simichrome 390050 All Metal Polish Tube - 1.76 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YUQ4E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_W.vKAbHYWEWSK

And here's the exact lens cleaner spray. Set of 2 Carl Zeiss Lens Cleaning Spray 2oz - 60ml Travel Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JFD6KAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8bwKAbYQA3VMW

A couple things that I've read here that I want to clear up. The fresnal ridges are not on the side of the lens that you look through, they are on the other side so you're not sanding that down you're sanding down a side that is supposed to be smooth. If the scratches on your lens are not visible in the hmd then obviously you don't *need to do anything, unless you're like me and just can't stand scratches.

Proceed with caution but a pro tip - it doesn't matter. You'll be happier after the scratches are gone. Also get yourself a small thumb sized led flashlight. You can hold it in near the lenses to better see the scratches. Enjoy the clarity...

I like the microfiber cloths that aren't fluffy. I use them to clean my glasses as well as my phone and tablets, so I'm picky about ones that don't leave streaks. Costco sells a kit for glasses that comes with two generously sized cloths. This kit comes with eyeglasses cleaner, but it has a nice big cloth, and this is a big cloth in a nice little protective pouch. I have all of these, and they have held up over several years. The last one actually comes in a few different sizes.

This is what I use.

The description says it's safe for anti-glare coating. Still a no-go? I thought Zeiss was a pretty reputable and trustworthy company.

When I clean my Vive lenses I usually use glasses cleaner soaked into a spot on a microfiber cloth (which I assume to be some kind of special soapy solution, but really have no idea), which I then do gentle circular wipes with (after making sure there's no obvious hard particles sitting on the lens). Specifically, I use Koala Kleaner, but that's just because I got a big bottle of it with some microfiber wipes.

Is there a reason this is a bad idea vs. dry wipes, or is dry just safer than using a solution that "might" be alcohol-based or ammonia-based, etc.?

I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?

cleaner for glasses

Thank you, and good night!

I can vouch for this, I use it on my eye glasses as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Koala-Kleaner-Eyeglass-Microfiber-Cleaning/dp/B0785SB7J6/

Alcohol and ammonia free.

Be sure to remove any tiny particulates from the lenses, or you will scratch them!

I never quite understood this, I have this badass spray that you just clean with and it fixes it. It's like one of the best $5 I've ever spent. http://www.amazon.com/Kleer-Vu-Spray-Bottle-91167/dp/B000UKI0R0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1426688470&sr=1-1

(I'm not a rep of this company and if you read the reviews, it doesn't work if you spray it on while in -10 degrees F apparently as it freezes on contact before it drys, it does work if you spray it on while warm then go cold haha)

All that to say that if you spray it once a week it and kicks ass.

I use a lens cleaner branded with our company name and logo, similar to this Lens Cleaner - vius Premium Lens Cleaner Spray for Eyeglasses, Cameras, and Other Lenses - Gently Cleans Bacteria, Fingerprints, Dust, Oil (8oz 2-Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BVYIWBW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NOqNDbQ9SSMJE

I wore rec specs when I was younger but can honestly tell you that contact lenses are by far cheaper over the course of the year for a basketball player. This stuff worked for fogging: http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Fog-Glasses-Sunglasses-Goggles-Binoculars/dp/B003P0NHUC

this is the cleaner I used. It says it's safe for electronics.

https://www.amazon.com/California-Accessories-Calclear-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B003Z4GFT8

I use the same thing I clean my eyeglasses with: Kimwipes and Zeiss lens cleaner.

my glasses are assholes. (obviously not literally because that would be gross)

Thank you for the contest! Your pewbz are sparkly.

sounds like this might change your life

kaz needs to take showers sometimes

ps: SFW amazon link

This shit is the best for cleaning the lenses.

https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Clarity-Biodegradable-Professional-Reflective/dp/B0051PMEOY/ref=pd_bap_rp_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PDJMZ8V4XPWNSPZ69AQH

Have you sprayed directly onto the lens? What'd you use? I used this:

https://www.amazon.com/California-Accessories-Calclear-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B003Z4GFT8

I use Zeiss

I have two young kids so my glasses are always gross and then my sunglasses are gross from sweat. So I clean a lot.

eh its all over, just get the cheapest, which was https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Clarity-Biodegradable-Professional-Reflective/dp/B018Y0W1J0?th=1

but not sure now, the pack of 3 for 11 dollars back then was the lowest and works