How often should you clean your glasses - and how to do it right

Why frequency really matters

Your glasses may well be the most-used object you own. From early in the morning until late at night they sit on your nose, which means they are constantly exposed to fingerprints, sebum, dust, sweat and tiny fat particles from the air. That layer of dirt not only causes smudges and reduced contrast, but over time it can also affect wearing comfort. Cleaning them regularly is therefore certainly not a luxury, but it is at least as important to do it well. Cleaning too often or with the wrong products can actually do more harm than good.

Today's lenses are almost never made of ordinary glass. They are made of plastic or polycarbonate and fitted with thin coatings, such as an anti-reflective layer, a scratch-resistant layer and often also a grease- and water-repellent layer. Those coatings are fragile. Anyone who polishes too aggressively or uses the wrong cleaning products can damage the coating. The result is a haze you can no longer polish away – and then the only solution is a new pair of glasses or new lenses. That is why the answer to the question "how often should you clean your glasses?" is more nuanced than you might think.

How often should you clean your glasses?

There is no fixed rule that applies to everyone, but a few guidelines will help you on your way:

• A quick clean every day: A quick clean in the morning or before you go outside keeps the lenses clear without putting unnecessary strain on them. Use a clean microfiber cloth or a single-use lens wipe for this.
• A thorough clean once or twice a week: For a real clean – one in which dirt, grease and sweat are completely removed – it is wise to clean your glasses properly at least once a week with water and a suitable product.
• More often when there is a lot of dirt or grease: Do you work in a dusty environment, do you play a lot of sports, or do you naturally have oily skin? Then it is better to clean thoroughly more often. Sometimes every two days is necessary to keep seeing clearly.
• Not too often: Don't polish your glasses every hour. Every polishing session, however careful, causes microscopically small wear. Cleaning only when it is needed is the safest approach.

Pay attention to your own habits. If you notice that you regularly have to look through a haze, that is a signal. If after a few hours you can barely see any smudges, then you can lower the frequency. The goal is a clear image, not a perfectly mirror-smooth lens.

What you had better not use

Many people instinctively reach for a paper tissue, a paper towel or the hem of their shirt. Understandable, but it is one of the fastest ways to cause scratches. Paper and cotton contain wood fibers and dirt particles that are hard and can damage the coating on your lenses. Many paper tissues are also treated with chemicals that leave an oily residue behind.

In addition, there are cleaning products that you should definitely avoid:

• Alcohol and ammonia: These substances attack the coatings on your lenses and can, over time, cause fine cracks or a milky haze. Many all-purpose glass cleaners contain these ingredients and are therefore unsuitable.
• Vinegar and citric acid: Natural, but too aggressive for the thin layers on modern lenses. They can affect the anti-reflective layer.
• Cream or lotion soap: Hand soap with an oily base actually leaves a new layer of residue behind. Dishwashing liquid with a "rinse aid" can also be too aggressive.
• Alcohol-containing spectacle cleaning wipes: These are convenient, but choose only variants that have been specially developed for coated lenses. Check the label.

A good rule of thumb: use only products that have been developed for optical lenses or that are explicitly safe for coatings. An alcohol-free, biodegradable cleaner is the safe choice here.

This is how to do it right – step by step

Thorough cleaning is not difficult, but it does require a fixed order. This is the best way to do it:

1. Wash your hands. Otherwise, grease and dirt from your fingers end up straight back on your lenses.
2. Rinse your glasses with lukewarm water. Not with hot water: that can damage the coatings. A short rinse removes dust and sand, so that you don't rub these hard particles across the lens.
3. Apply a suitable cleaning product. An alcohol-free, biodegradable cleaner such as Magic Cleaner is ideal for this: it is safe for coated lenses and, thanks to its antistatic effect, leaves no streaks behind.
4. Rub gently with your fingertips. Spread the product over the lenses and over the frame. Do not use your nails and do not apply hard pressure.
5. Rinse thoroughly again. Make sure all the cleaner has been completely removed.
6. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Dab and wipe with soft, sweeping movements. Use a clean part of the cloth for each lens.

For a quick clean on the go, for example at work or while travelling, a clean, dry microfiber cloth is enough. Stick to "dry polishing" only if the lenses are not too greasy; with stubborn dirt, a cleaning liquid is needed to loosen the dirt.

How do you keep your microfiber cloths clean?

A microfiber cloth is not just any cloth. Because the fibers are microscopically small, they attract dirt and grease without scratching the glass. But it is precisely that property