How to Clean Your Glasses Properly (Without Causing Smears)

How to clean your glasses properly

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How to clean your lenses while you’re on-the-go

When cleaning your glasses away from home, it's important to avoid products that may leave residue behind or be unsuitable for modern lens coatings. If your lenses become dirty, rinse away any visible dust or debris where possible before wiping. An alcohol-free lens cleaning spray and a clean microfibre cloth are usually the safest combination for removing contamination while helping to reduce unnecessary friction on the lens surface.

Can I clean my glasses with hand sanitiser?

We would not recommend using hand sanitiser to clean your glasses. Many hand sanitisers contain alcohols, moisturisers and other ingredients that are designed for skin rather than optical surfaces. While occasional contact is unlikely to cause immediate damage, repeated use may leave residue behind and can be harsh on some lens coatings and frame materials over time. For routine cleaning, a dedicated lens cleaning spray and a clean microfibre cloth remain the better option.

Why do my glasses always seem dirty or foggy?

Your glasses may appear foggy, smeared or unclear for several different reasons. In some cases, condensation caused by moving between warm and cold environments is responsible. In many others, the issue is contamination on the lens surface rather than fog itself.

Fingerprints, facial oils, dust and environmental contamination can gradually build up on lenses, reducing clarity and creating a hazy appearance. Many people respond by wiping their lenses repeatedly, but this can simply move contamination around the surface rather than removing it completely.

Good lens care is often less about cleaning more frequently and more about cleaning correctly. Using a clean microfibre cloth, reducing unnecessary friction and avoiding repeated wiping can all help maintain the condition of modern coated lenses over time.

If you're unsure what type of cloth to choose, our guide to the best glasses cleaning cloth explains the features that matter most when cleaning modern coated lenses.

If your glasses regularly fog when moving between different temperatures, an anti-fog treatment may help. However, if your lenses still appear cloudy after cleaning, it may be worth having them checked by your optician, as worn or damaged coatings can sometimes affect clarity.

For a deeper explanation of contamination, friction and cloth care, visit our Lens Care Framework or read our guide on why glasses cleaning cloths smear.

Which cloth should I use to clean my glasses?

A quality microfibre cloth remains one of the safest and most effective tools for cleaning modern glasses lenses. Unlike paper products, tissues or clothing, optical-grade microfibre is designed to lift contamination from the lens surface while helping to reduce unnecessary friction.

Many cleaning problems occur when contamination is repeatedly moved around the lens rather than removed completely. As cloths become saturated with oils, dust and debris, they often become less effective and may encourage additional wiping in an attempt to restore clarity.

Using a clean, high-density microfibre cloth can help remove contamination more efficiently, reduce repeated wiping and maintain the appearance of modern coated lenses over time.

At Barroccu & Co, we create oversized optical-grade microfibre cleaning cloths designed for glasses, camera lenses and coated optical surfaces. Their larger format provides more usable cleaning area before washing becomes necessary, helping support better contamination control and fewer cleaning passes.

Designed for Better Lens Care

Explore our oversized optical-grade microfibre cleaning cloths, created to help remove contamination efficiently while reducing unnecessary wiping on modern coated lenses.