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Practical guide · Cleaning

How to clean eyeglasses properly: microfibre cloth, water and a drop of soap, sprays on the cloth, frames and nose pads, and what scratches lenses

Wiping your glasses on your shirt feels harmless, but it is one of the main causes of the fine scratches that slowly blur your lenses, and scratches cannot be polished out. Cleaning glasses properly takes seconds and needs only water, a drop of soap and a microfibre cloth. This guide follows the lens care advice of ZEISS, a spectacle lens manufacturer, for lenses, frames and nose pads.

Arreglísimo editorial team · Updated 2 November 2026 · 4 min read · How we write our guides (in Spanish)

Practical guide · Updated 2 November 2026

The essentials in 30 seconds

Never clean your lenses with a shirt sleeve or a tissue: ZEISS says they carry dust particles that cause micro-scratches, and scratches cannot be removed from glass or plastic lenses. For a thorough clean, use clear water with a drop of dish soap, then dry gently with a microfibre cloth. For a quick clean, use a lens cleaning wipe or a lens spray applied to the cloth, not to the lens, so liquid does not keep getting into screw or drill holes. Hold the glasses by the side of the frame you are cleaning to avoid bending it. Clean the nose pads and arms too. Do not use household disinfectants, which can damage coatings and frames.

  • Store glasses in a hard case, lenses facing up if there is no case.
  • Keep them away from heat: saunas and car dashboards damage lenses.
  • Ask your optician for professional ultrasonic cleaning.
01 / Step by step

How to clean eyeglasses properly

  1. 01

    Remove loose dust

    Rub a microfibre cloth or a folded lens wipe gently over the lens.

  2. 02

    Wash

    Clear lukewarm water with a drop of dish soap on the lenses and frame.

  3. 03

    Hold the frame correctly

    Grip it on the side you are cleaning, not by the opposite arm.

  4. 04

    Clean the nose pads and arms

    Skin oils and dirt build up there, and they are where germs hide.

  5. 05

    Rinse

    Lukewarm running water.

  6. 06

    Dry gently

    A clean microfibre cloth.

  7. 07

    Store safely

    In a hard case, or lenses facing up.

02 / On the go

Cleaning glasses quickly when you are out

ZEISS recommends pre-moistened lens wipes for cleaning on the go. A dry microfibre cloth also works, though it does not always remove greasy marks; moisten it with a lens cleaning spray first. Always spray the cloth, not the lens: some lenses have drill holes (rimless frames) or screw holes, and liquid that keeps getting into them can cause damage over time.

03 / Frames

Cleaning frames, nose pads and arms

Clean frames under lukewarm running water, holding them securely on the side you are cleaning so they do not warp or break. Clean the temples (arms) and nose pads from time to time: they collect oils from skin and hair, and keeping them clean also helps the glasses stop slipping. ZEISS notes that the frame and nose pads are often neglected but are precisely where viruses and bacteria can hide.

04 / Avoid

What damages eyeglass lenses

What not to use on glasses
Avoid Why
Shirt sleeves, tissues Dust particles cause micro-scratches that cannot be removed
Spraying cleaner straight on the lens Liquid gets into drill and screw holes
Household disinfectants Can damage lens coatings and frames
Home ultrasonic jewellery cleaners Ultrasonic cleaning is a job for the optician
Heat: saunas, car dashboards High temperatures and sudden changes can crack coatings, especially on plastic lenses
Putting glasses down on their lenses ZEISS advises a hard case, or lenses facing up
FAQ

How to clean eyeglasses properly: frequently asked questions

What is the best way to clean eyeglasses?

Clear lukewarm water with a drop of dish soap, then dry gently with a clean microfibre cloth. Clean the frame and nose pads too.

Can I clean my glasses with my shirt?

No. Clothing and tissues carry dust that causes micro-scratches, which cannot be removed.

Should I spray lens cleaner directly on my glasses?

No. Spray it on the microfibre cloth, so liquid does not get into the lens screw or drill holes.

Can I disinfect my glasses with household disinfectant?

ZEISS advises against it, as it can damage lens coatings and frames. Ask your optician for a suitable product.

How often should glasses be cleaned professionally?

ZEISS suggests ultrasonic cleaning by your eye care professional, ideally every six months.

Where should I keep my glasses?

In a hard case. Without one, put them down lenses facing up and away from heat.

Sources and method

Sources

Manufacturer guidance, checked on 2 November 2026 (02/11/2026).

  • ZEISS · What's the right way to clean and care for your glasses? ↗No tissues or shirt sleeves; micro-scratches cannot be removed; microfibre cloth or lens wipe for coarse dirt; lens spray on the cloth, not the lens, because of drill and screw holes; frames under lukewarm running water, held on the side being cleaned; temples and nose pads; ultrasonic cleaning by the eye care professional, ideally every six months, not with a jewellery cleaner; hard case or lenses facing up; no extreme heat, saunas or car dashboards.
  • ZEISS · Tips on hygienic cleaning of eyeglass lenses and frames ↗Disinfectant wipe, lens spray with a microfibre cloth, or clear water with a drop of dishwashing soap; clean the frame and nose pads, where germs hide; household disinfectants can damage coatings and frames; ask the eye care professional; UV-C only in closed boxes.

Lenses scratched, peeling or frame bent?

Cleaning will not fix it: take your glasses to your optician to check the coating and adjust the frame.

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