WASHING YOUR GLASSES 102 – In the time of Covid-19 & MASKS

We posted this blog a few years back, but in light of current events… we’ve added some relevant and helpful details dealing with masks and glasses fogging.

WASH YOUR GLASSES WITH SOAP AND WATER! Think about it, your glasses are on your face, do you want them stock piled with germs and debris? Not only is it good hygiene but it improves your vision and extends the lifespan of your glasses when you wash them properly. To list a few of the most common undesirables we regularly see caked in around the lenses, hinges and nose pads: dead skin cells, dried sweat build up, make up, hair products, dirt, etc. You get the point, and that’s just the stuff you can see. Wiping your lenses with a microfiber cloth just doesn’t cut it.

Microfiber Cloths are great when you are out and about; however they build up dirt over time. If you never fully wash your glasses and cleaning cloths you end up wiping dirt (& germs) around on your lenses which will result in scratched lenses and eventually obstructed vision. You probably have seen this on your glasses at some point. It looks as though someone put hundreds of tiny circular scratches all over the lens with a super fine sand paper. If you never wash the frames, the salt in our skin as well as other beauty products dry out the frames over time which makes them more brittle and more susceptible to breakage.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GLASSES LIKE A PRO:  *RECOMMENDED AT LEAST ONCE A DAY

(With the current Covid-19 pandemic, it would be hard to wash them too much, but especially any time you have left the house or touched something and then touched your glasses they probably should be washed…That’s more often than you think.)

These simple steps will also help prevent some fogging when you are wearing a face mask. Immediately before wearing a face mask, washing the spectacles using the steps below should help the lenses not mist up as bad when the face mask is worn. Washing the spectacles with soapy water leaves behind a thin surfactant film that reduces surface tension and causes the water molecules to spread out evenly into a transparent layer. You can also line the top portion of the mask with a clean tissue to help absorb some of the moisture from your breath and further prevent fogging. (We have a short video on Instagram & FB if you want to see a visual )

Greem dish soap bottle with blue eye glasses

STEP 1: With clean hands, put a drop of dish soap on your finger tips. (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) -Hand soaps are not recommended as they often contain lotions which can smudge the lenses.

STEP 2: Wet frames with room temperature water and rub entire frame and lenses with dish soap.  (adding a minimum of 20 seconds to this step at this time of Covid-19)

*NEVER USE HOT WATER AS IT CAN DAMAGE THE COATINGS ON THE LENSES

STEP 3: Rinse frames and lenses again with room temperature water making sure all soap is removed.

STEP 4: Dry the glasses using a clean %100 cotton or linen towel. When wet these fibers do not scratch.  (Air drying the glasses seems like a good idea but unfortunately, sometimes the minerals in the water can eat away at the coatings leaving permanent water spots)

 

  • WASH YOUR MICROFIBER CLEANING CLOTHS IN THE LAUNDRY.DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTNERS.

If you properly clean your glasses regularly you will; reduce scratches and FOGGING on the lenses, reduce your risk of exposure to unwanted germs and viruses, and improve your vision through the lenses and add longevity to your favorite frames! The moral of the story is: Wash your glasses with soap and water and STAY SAFE! #STAYWELLWEAVERVILLE

What happens if/when you get a scratch on your lens? Remember coatings are scratch resistant not scratch proof! Life happens… so you probably will get a scratch at some point and when you do, contact your optician. All the best Anti-reflective/Anti-scratch coatings provide a 1 year warranty. Take advantage of it!