How to clean eyeglasses

If your glasses look like they’ve been through a wind tunnel full of fingerprints, it’s time. 

Smudges interfere with how you see and can wear down the lens coating. Plus, those accidental scratches from using your hoodie sleeve are silently shortening your glasses’ lifespan. Ideally, a quick daily wipe and a deeper clean once a week keep things clear.

Here’s how to clean eyeglasses properly: 

1. Wash and dry your hands (like you’re about to perform eye surgery).

2. Rinse glasses with lukewarm water.

3. Add a dot of lotion-free dish soap.

4. Gently clean the lenses and frames

5. Rinse thoroughly.

6. Dry with a lint-free cloth. (Paper towels are villains in disguise.)

7. Check for streaks or smudges and repeat if needed.

We can go into more detail on these steps shortly. First, let’s gather our cleaning supplies.

What you need

To treat your glasses right, gather these lens care necessities. Using the wrong items can straight-up destroy your lens coatings. (Seriously, RIP to all the lenses lost to Windex.)

• Lukewarm water: Use hot water, and your lens coating could throw a tantrum (translation: crack or peel). Your glasses are not into hot-tubbing. Lukewarm water loosens debris without causing damage.

• Microfiber cloth or lens wipes (not paper towels): That napkin in your glove compartment is a scratch generator. Microfiber cloths are gentle and designed to trap particles without dragging them across your lenses.

• Mild, lotion-free dish soap: Any clear, fragrance-free, lotion-free soap does the job. Avoid anything gritty or pearlescent. (If it shimmers like a mermaid, it’s probably bad for lenses.)

Optional but nice to have:

• A soft-bristled toothbrush for frame crevices

• A clean cotton swab for narrow gaps

• Pre-moistened lens wipes for emergencies on the go

Now, let’s talk soap.

Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean glasses?

Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to clean glasses — not just Dawn, but any lotion-free dish soap. This unassuming kitchen MVP contains surfactants that lift away oils and dirt. It even leaves behind an invisible film thin enough to see through but helps repel fog and water droplets. (Science bonus: That’s why your glasses are less likely to steam up after you’ve washed them with dish soap; it’s like a stealth anti-fog power-up for your specs.) 

Other suitable soaps and solutions you can safely use to clean eyeglasses include:

• Lotion-free hand soap: If it’s mild, unscented, and free of moisturizers, it can work in a pinch. Just use a small amount and rinse thoroughly.

• Eyeglass cleaning spray: Specifically formulated for coated lenses, these sprays are safe and convenient — just avoid generic glass cleaner sprays.

• Pre-moistened lens wipes: The kind made for glasses (not screens or surfaces) usually contains diluted alcohol and is safe for coatings.

• Diluted baby shampoo: A tiny drop of baby shampoo mixed with water can work if it's fragrance-free and doesn’t contain conditioners.

Avoid anything labeled abrasive, moisturizing, or exfoliating.

Is it okay to clean eyeglasses with alcohol?

Straight rubbing alcohol (like the kind in your bathroom cabinet) is too strong for most lenses and frames. It can:

• Damage anti-reflective or scratch-resistant coatings

• Dry out or discolor plastic frames

• Turn fancy finishes into a fogged-up mess

But (and this is a gentle, elegantly framed) there are a few exceptions and nuances:

• Lens cleaning wipes: You might have seen individually packaged lens wipes (the kind you can buy at optical shops or pharmacies). These often contain isopropyl alcohol, but they’re diluted and formulated to be safe for eyeglasses. Using alcohol-based lens wipes specifically made for glasses is generally fine for occasional use, because they evaporate quickly and don’t saturate your lenses with alcohol.

• Spot cleaning and sanitizing: If you want to disinfect your contacts or glasses (for example, cleaning the nose pads where germs accumulate), a little alcohol can help. Eye care professionals say a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution can be used on lenses to sanitize, but it must be used carefully and sparingly. If you choose to use it, don’t soak the glasses in alcohol. Lightly dampen a cloth or Q-tip with the alcohol and gently clean the area. Then, rinse with water. Keep alcohol away from painted or coated parts of the frame. It can remove color or finish from frame materials.

• Nose pads and earpieces: You can use an alcohol or disinfecting wipe to clean the silicone nose pads and the ends of the earpieces (the parts that hook over your ears). These parts can get pretty grimy from face oils and hair products, and a quick wipe with alcohol is okay here. Just avoid the lenses and any coated frame surfaces.

Once your eyeglasses dazzle, consider cleaning your contact lens case as a finishing touch.

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How to properly clean eyeglasses

Now for the main event. Here’s how to clean your glasses so well they wink at you when you’re done.

1. Wash and dry your hands

Before you even touch your lenses, wash those hands. Any dirt or grime on your fingers can transfer to the glasses, defeating the whole purpose of cleaning them. Use regular soap — again, lotion-free is best — and warm water to thoroughly wash your hands, and dry them well with a clean towel that doesn’t shed lint. You don’t want to add oil or mystery goo to the lenses while cleaning. 

2. Rinse your glasses with lukewarm water

Next, give your glasses a pre-rinse. Hold them under a gentle stream of lukewarm water from the faucet. The key word is "lukewarm." Not hot, not cold, just comfortably warm. Rinsing helps remove dust and grit so you don’t grind those particles into the lenses when you wipe them. No sticking your glasses under a boiling tap or blasting them with your hot shower. Lens coatings aren’t fans of the sauna life.

Gently rinse the front and back of the lenses and the frame to wash away the initial layer of debris. If you see a chunk of dirt, use your clean fingertips to lightly rub it off under the water. Now your glasses are prepped for the main event: soapy cleaning.

3. Add a dot of lotion-free dish soap

Using your fingertips, spread the soap across the lenses and over the entire frame. Cover both sides of each lens. You can actually clean the whole pair of glasses with this soapy rub. The dish soap helps break down facial oils, fingerprints, dust, and general gunk.

Be sure to keep a good grip on your glasses during this step. (Hold them over a soft towel in the sink, just in case they slip.) Nothing worse than giving your glasses a bath only to watch them do a swan dive into the sink.

4. Gently clean the lenses and frames

While the dish soap is doing its thing, make sure you’re thoroughly but gently cleaning every part of your glasses. Focus on the bit along the edges where the lens sits in the frame, around the hinges, the temples, and the nose pad area. These spots often collect the most dirt. If you notice stubborn debris stuck in a crevice, pause and grab that soft toothbrush or a cotton swab. 

For metal frames, check the little screws and hinges — dirt likes to hide there. A quick once-over with a toothbrush can clear it out. For plastic frames, check the lens grooves, and use a cotton swab to scoop out any gunk along the edges. Be gentle so you don’t leave cotton fibers behind or accidentally pop out a loosened lens.

Treat your lenses gently, using light circular motions. If it feels like exfoliating, you’re being too aggressive. (Save that energy for your blackheads.)

5. Rinse thoroughly

Time to rinse off all that soap (and the grime along with it). Using lukewarm water again, rinse your glasses thoroughly. Be sure to get all the soap off the lenses and frames. Any residual soap can dry into a film or streak, undoing all your hard work. So, don’t be shy with the rinse — let the water run over every part of the glasses.

Pro tip: Tilt your glasses in different directions under the water to make sure you’re flushing every crevice. Ghost bubbles love to hide behind nose pads.

6. Dry with a lint-free cloth

Time to buff. Microfiber cloths are your best friends here. Use a fresh, clean one. (The one that lives in your bag and smells like lip balm doesn’t count.)

Gently pat the lenses dry before wiping. (Don’t press like you’re trying to win an arm-wrestling match.)

Avoid air-drying unless you enjoy mystery water spots.

7. Check for streaks or smudges and repeat if needed

Now for the moment of truth: inspection time. Hold your glasses up to light and tilt them to see if the lenses are crystal clear. Do you see any streaks or oily patches? If you find a stray fingerprint or a stubborn smudge, don’t despair. If it’s minor, you can try giving it a quick wipe with your microfiber cloth. If that doesn’t do it, you might need to repeat the soap-and-water process for that area. 

If you keep up with this routine regularly, each cleaning can be quick and easy. And your glasses will live their best life — scratch-free and sparkling.

How to clean between the glasses lens and the frame

Now, let’s address the space where your lens meets the frame — prime real estate for trapped stuff.

Here’s how to get in there without breaking anything:

1. Follow your normal cleaning routine first. Soap and water loosen the debris, so you’re not digging through dried mascara crust.
   
   

2. Shine a light on the situation. Literally. Hold your glasses under a lamp and examine any cleaning blind spots.

3. Dip a baby toothbrush in your dish soap-and-water mix, and use short, light strokes to clean the crevice where the lens meets the frame. Avoid scrubbing the lens itself.

4. Swap in a cotton swab for tight spots. A Q-tip dipped in warm, soapy water works wonders for buildup near hinges or screws. Don’t push too hard. You’re detailing, not defusing a bomb.

5. Let water flush out the grime you just loosened. Then, pat dry with your cloth.

6. Go full Sherlock on your specs. If anything gross is still clinging, repeat the detail work.

If your glasses are vintage (or just haven’t been bathed since 2020), you might need two rounds. And if things are really caked in there? Time to visit a pro for ultrasonic cleaning.

The Framery at 1-800 Contacts

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What is the best way to clean eyeglasses?

The best way to clean eyeglasses is to rinse them with lukewarm water, apply a drop of lotion-free dish soap, gently rub the lenses and frames, rinse again, and dry with a clean microfiber cloth. You'll safely remove oils, dust, grit, and grime without scratching your lenses or damaging protective coatings.

To recap:

• Skip hot water, paper towels, and shirt sleeves.

• Avoid household cleaners, vinegar, or anything that promises extra sparkle.

• Use mild dish soap and a gentle touch.

• Dry with a soft cloth that isn’t secretly plotting to leave lint.

Doing this regularly keeps your lenses clear, coatings intact, and frames free of that weird gunk that somehow appears behind your ears.

Keep your glasses sparkling

Your glasses help you see the world. They deserve better than a sleeve swipe and a hope-for-the-best rinse. With just a drop of dish soap, a splash of water, and a soft cloth, you’ve got everything needed to keep your lenses crystal clear and your frames funk-free.

Want to upgrade your glasses game entirely? We’ve got just the place. Shop The Framery by 1-800 Contacts for stylish, high-quality frames that deserve a spot on your face (and your next selfie). Clean them often. Love them always.

Original publish date: 10/18/2023

Updated date: 9/22/2025