Keeping glasses clean 👓

My specs are so very expensive, something like £700, varifocals with coatings. I never ever wipe them on any cloth except a smooth microfbre cloth for specs. The sprays are good too but more expensive than using the water bath. I need to take very good care of my specs, the tiny scratches mount up if they are mishandled. Tissues, kitchen roll, t shirts etc a definite no.

Nearing 80 and wearing glasses regularly for the first time, I’m afraid as no one said anything about how to clean them, I’ve been putting mine in the dishwasher overnight.
Seemed sensible to me but what do YOU think?

A quick 'haaar' on them followed by a polish with my shirt hem..... Slob!
For a better job, or I'm not wearing something which doubles up for sparkling my specs, they get an occasional polish with a cloth my son bought me for my tablet.

This isn't a cleaning response but it is about glasses! Last night I was out and about, left my reading glasses somewhere. They are gone forever apparently. In the words of the Bee Gees Tragedy! All I have to fall back on are several one legged pairs that won't stay on. Look at this for a fix! Two hair bobbles and a needle and thread... Heath Robinson ain't got nothin' on me!

I'm not boasting - just puzzled. I've worn specs since I was 11 years old ( a looooooong time ago!) and rarely clean them as they don;t often get dirty.
I wonder if that's because I wear them from getting up to going to bed. so I don't very often handle them. After showering they're usually steamed up so I just wipe them on a towel, and that's it for the day!( I DO take them off in the shower! )
I can understand why people who have different glasses for different things might need to clean them more often,
And someone mentioned makeup - I only use moisturizer, so that could be another reason for needing to clean them more often.

I've had glasses since I was about 8 and was always told only to use a soft cloth, never tissue or kitchen paper. I always use washing up liquid diluted on a sponge, drying them on a soft tea towel, and have never had a problem.
Hard to see how I could do this with one hand though.
I have three pairs of reading glasses scattered around, perhaps the answer is to wear them in rotation and get someone to clean all your pairs when you see them>

Nikon lens cloths from opticians are brilliant

I used to wash mine under the tap with some washing up liquid like others have said, they came up lovely. Then I heard it can ruin your lenses in time (one of friends has had this happen) so stopped.
I like the idea of an ultrasonic water bath.

During my teaching career, I always kept a glasses spray and cloth in my classroom. It's amazing how much better children read when they can actually see what they're reading! I used to provide my own kit, but maybe it should be standard classroom equipment (to replace the now redundant board rubber??)

I buy packs of lens wipes from Tesco they use alcohol so dry very quick and always smear free, especially handy in summer with suncream

I used to polish my glasses on my soft cotton nightie every morning. Worked well. Now I dont wear them any more since cataract ops. I still reach for them every morning though!

sorry it's late but thank you for your suggestions.

Same as Blossoming. They always give you the spray every time you buy new glasses, I’ve got loads of it.

My current glasses are a complex prescription with a coating and were very expensive. Detergents can damage them, kitchen roll and wipes can scratch them. I use a spray and microfibre cloth supplied by the dispensing optician. I wash the cloths regularly as they will pick up dust and grease.

I have just had to have glasses for distance vision so now have varifocals which I wear all day (instead of only for reading previously). The small family run business told me to never use wipes etc but to swish them in a bowl of soapy water, then dry using a soft cloth. I now do this every morning and they stay much cleaner than my former reading glasses that I constantly had to take on and off….

I think you are wrong about regular dish soap in ordinary use karmalady - you shouldn't use a citrus version and you are right about those with added moisturisers etc. Something like the original "Fairy" or in USA "Dawn" is fine.

Calendargirl

Reading this thread, I’ve just given mine a rub on my apron!

Anything handy!! A top, a jumper

Moisturisers etc always end up making the lenses grimy

Yes, mine are always smeary, moisturiser or makeup.
I use wipes, special cloths and sometimes wash them but keeping them smear-free seems impossible.

Reading this thread, I’ve just given mine a rub on my apron!

Fairy liquid and warm water , under the tap. Dry with soft clean cloth or kitchen roll - job done!

Yep! Know what you mean.
The bit that gets me is the disgustingly dirty bridge which gets caked in make up if I don't wash that regularly #muckypup

That’s interesting karmalady, I didn’t know you could clean your glasses in an ultrasonic cleaner. I just looked it up and it looks like a good solution. Apparently if you have false teeth you can use one for that too!

soap will eventually remove the coatings especially washing up liquid

An ultrasonic water bath does work, I bought mine from amazon. I only use water. Lifelong specs wearer

Moisturisers etc always end up making the lenses grimy

NotSpaghetti

I'm afraid I just wash them with pretty warm water and washing up liquid. I do this two or three times a week.
I try to drip-dry them on a cloth as the frames are really fine and hold nearly no water...but if in a rush I will use a the soft cloth.

My glasses are usually sparkling.

I believe I could do this one-handed.

I do thé same sometimes and dry with kitchen roll, I also carry an anti static cloth in my bag. I’m half the problem, my fingerprints all over them from pushing them up my nose (they need tightening).

My frames are probably about 5 years old now so it doesn't seem to have caused problems.