Even though I have never had to wear corrective glasses, I still wear sunglasses most days and use blue light blocking glasses to save my eyes from that ever-present computer light. I am proof that the compulsive need to wipe any and all smudges from lenses remains if you have 20/20 vision.
Instead of carrying single-use lens wipes, I take a small spray bottle of DIY eyeglass cleaner spray and a microfiber cloth. This combo is stored easily in my purse, the glove compartment in my car, or on my desk at home and eliminates any need for more wasteful, individually wrapped wipes.
Homemade eyeglass cleaner is a great alternative to store-bought cleaners. To make your own, mix equal parts water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, and add a few drops of essential oil. Shake well before using and spray onto your eyeglasses, then wipe with a soft cloth. With homemade eyeglass cleaner, you can be sure you're using a safe and effective cleaning solution that won't damage your lenses or frames. We'll show you how to make your own homemade eyeglass cleaner in just a few steps!
How to make your own eyeglass cleaner
This eyeglass lens cleaner is extremely simple to make and calls for inexpensive ingredients you are very likely to already have on hand!
Ingredients:
- 3 parts isopropyl alcohol
- 1 part water (distilled or filtered is preferred)
- 1–2 drops dish soap
Supplies:
- Small (2 oz) spray bottle
- Small microfiber cloth (I store mine in my glasses case!)
Instructions:
Combine all of your ingredients in the small spray bottle.
Do not spray this directly onto your lenses! Instead, spray on your microfiber cloth first, then use the damp cloth to wipe away smudges from your eyeglass lenses.
Use the rest of your bottle of isopropyl alcohol in recipes like:
Keeping Your Microfiber Cloth Clean
Microfiber cloths are particularly great at attracting dirt and debris, which means they can get dirty quickly, so you'll want to wash them regularly. But you'll have to take care when doing so.
Microfiber should be laundered separately from other fabrics. Because it is formulated to grab onto lint and dirt if it is laundered with other linty fabrics, your microfiber cloth will be full of lint after washing.
Additionally, if you choose to machine dry your microfiber cloth, do so on a low or no-heat setting. Microfiber is made from synthetic materials that might melt or be damaged in a hot dryer.
Lastly, when drying in a dryer, do not use dryer sheets or dryer balls. Both of these items will reduce static cling, which is great for clothes and towels but not ideal when it comes to your microfiber cloths.
With microfiber, you want to keep all of that static cling! That is what makes them such effective cleaning tools, so save dryer sheets and dryer balls for all other laundry loads.
DIY Eyeglass Cleaner FAQ
What kind of dish soap should I use to clean my glasses?
Choose a dish soap that is gentle, and ensure that it is free of any lotions or moisturizers that could cause smudging.
How can I avoid scratching the lenses of my glasses while cleaning them?
Before you clean your glasses or wipe them with a microfiber cloth, inspect the lenses for any dust or debris. Blowing off any dust particles before cleaning or wiping down the lenses can help prevent scratching. Do not use any paper products like paper towels or tissues to clean your glasses, as the fibers in them can be abrasive and cause scratches.
Can I use this DIY eyeglass cleaner if my glasses have a special coating?
If your lenses have an anti-reflective coating, it's best to check with your optometrist or optician about what eyeglass cleaners and ingredients are approved for use with your lenses.
DIY Eyeglass Cleaner
Equipment
- Small (2 oz) spray bottle
- Small microfiber cloth
Materials
- 3 parts isopropyl alcohol
- 1 part water (distilled or filtered is preferred)
- 1–2 drops dish soap
Instructions
- Combine all of your ingredients in the small spray bottle.
- Spray it onto your microfiber cloth, then use the damp cloth to wipe away smudges from your eyeglass lenses. Do not spray directly onto lenses.
chloe says
I used this proportion 3 to 1 in an existing 2 oz eyeglass cleaner spritz bottle with 2 drops+ of Dawn blue liquid. It kind of drizzled more than I expected and I thought it might ruin it or the proportion might be too much, but it was fine! Didn't streak too much at all. I was instructed by my posh shop where I originally bought the glasses and the spray to use a clean tissue (without aloe buffering lotion) to clean, then follow clean with a buffing of microfiber. This mix works great in this manner.
Paul says
Marie
You are so wrong, and should apologize to Veronica. Silicon is an element that takes many forms, and has numerous applications. One of those is that when added to lens cleaner silicon greatly increases the anti-fog, and ant-static properties of the solution. The downside of the silicon additive is that it's a contaminate when used in ultra-clean environments like semiconductor manufacturing. The materials you referenced also state that the silicon additive is completely abrasive-free, and the only concern you should have is with the PH of the solution. An acidic solution is a threat to ant-reflective, and reflective lens coatings alike. A neutral PH solution is the main goal here.
I love seeing clever people discussing real life issues...
Take care
Frank says
What part of soap should be used for different measurements. Is it 1 or 2 drops for all? For example, for a glass or 3 glasses?
Vickie says
Then why does my expensive store-bought lens cleaner contain isopropanol?
GS says
Expensive store-bought stuff isn’t always “the best”!
Kimberly says
What do you suggest?
Jonathan Riggs says
Interested in Veronica's answer
Louisa says
Her suggestion is already there. "Always use silicon based spray! "
Dolores Duke says
Works great!
Susan L Solarz says
You can spritz soap on without rinsing in water before drying?
KipKnows says
That's what I was thinking! Think of all that soap residue! Let's go back to using alcohol and distilled water, which leaves behind no residue! Did I use enough exclamation marks too?
Vickie says
There are some ingredients that will damage the protective coating on eyeglasses. It's very annoying when it does because it spot damages causing your eyes to go bananas. Three I know will are straight alcohol, hand sanitizer and you need to not wear your glasses when you are spraying on hairspray. I learned the hard way.
Laura says
I have transition glasses and I was wondering if this is safe for transition glasses. Also thx for this because I'm almost out of glasses cleaner
Kristina says
What does 3 parts equal
What does 1 part water equal
Tina Doverspike says
I would think any measurement that you use as long as the ratio is 3 to 1. 3/4 cups of rubbing alcohol and 1/4 cup of water. Hope this helps!
Judith says
I just made this. The bottle is now on my desktop :) It's insane, how easy that is :)
But I used destilled water instead of tab water. Let's see, how it goes...
Thanks a lot!
Frank says
What was/is your mixture? What part of water, alcohol, and soap?
Sara says
I don't wear eyeglasses but it's sunglass season and I'm always pushing my glasses up into my hair and down again...especially after putting sunscreen on all my kids. I'm going to make this to keep in my park bag!