How to Clean Glasses: The Right Way to Get Streak-Free Lenses

The 5-Step Cleaning Method (Optician-Approved)

1. Rinse under lukewarm running water. This is the most important step. Running water lifts away grit and dust particles that would scratch the lens if you wiped dry. Skip this step and you risk grinding microscopic debris into your coatings.
2. Apply one drop of plain dish soap to each lens. Use a basic formulation — Dawn Original, Palmolive Original, or similar. No moisturizers, no antibacterial additives, no citrus oils.
3. Gently rub both sides of each lens with your fingertips. Spend about 10 seconds per surface. Also clean the bridge, nose pads, and temple arms — they collect skin oil and makeup.
4. Rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water. Make sure all soap is gone. Leftover soap residue causes streaking and hazing.
5. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Blot or pat rather than rubbing in circles. If you don't have a microfiber cloth, let them air dry on a clean lint-free towel.

That's the entire process. Under a minute, costs nothing, and it's the same method lens manufacturers recommend. Charm Optical in South Edmonton gives a microfiber cloth with every glasses purchase, and you can pick up extras anytime.

What NOT to Do When Cleaning Glasses

These common habits slowly destroy your lenses:

• Breathing on lenses and wiping with your shirt. Your shirt carries dust particles. Without a water rinse first, you're grinding that grit into the coating.
• Using paper towels or tissues. The wood fibres are microscopically abrasive. They create tiny scratches that accumulate into visible haze.
• Spraying with Windex or glass cleaner. Ammonia-based cleaners degrade anti-reflective coatings. One use won't destroy them, but regular use will.
• Using hot water. Thermal shock can crack or craze the thin coating layers. Lukewarm only.
• Wiping dry lenses. No liquid means no lubrication between the cloth and lens surface. Dry wiping is the #1 cause of micro-scratches.
• Hand sanitizer. Leaves a sticky film and the high alcohol concentration attacks oleophobic coatings.

If you're uncomfortable making adjustments yourself, or if the issue persists after trying these steps, take your glasses to a professional. Optical stores have specialized tools designed specifically for eyewear — household tools like regular pliers can easily crack lenses or snap frame hinges. Most adjustments take less than five minutes in-store and are typically free of charge.

Charm Optical in Edmonton offers free adjustments and minor repairs for any glasses — even if you didn't buy them there. Their opticians can also check whether your frames are still aligned correctly with your prescription, which is especially important for progressive lenses where even small shifts affect vision quality. If your glasses need more than an adjustment, they carry replacement parts for most major brands and can often fix broken hinges, replace nose pads, and resurface temple tips on the spot.

Quick Cleaning On-the-Go

You won't always have a sink available. For midday touch-ups:

• Lens cleaning spray + microfiber cloth. Spray both sides of each lens, then wipe gently. Zeiss lens spray is widely available and safe for all coatings. Keep a small bottle in your desk or bag.
• Pre-moistened lens wipes. Individually wrapped wipes from Zeiss or Bausch + Lomb are convenient for travel. They're safe for coatings and a step above dry wiping.
• Peeps carbon lens cleaner. A compact tool that uses a carbon pad to lift oils. No liquid needed. Good for a quick clean but not a replacement for periodic soap-and-water cleaning.

None of these match the thoroughness of a full soap-and-water wash, but they're significantly better than breathing and shirt-wiping.

If you're uncomfortable making adjustments yourself, or if the issue persists after trying these steps, take your glasses to a professional. Optical stores have specialized tools designed specifically for eyewear — household tools like regular pliers can easily crack lenses or snap frame hinges. Most adjustments take less than five minutes in-store and are typically free of charge.

Charm Optical in Edmonton offers free adjustments and minor repairs for any glasses — even if you didn't buy them there. Their opticians can also check whether your frames are still aligned correctly with your prescription, which is especially important for progressive lenses where even small shifts affect vision quality. If your glasses need more than an adjustment, they carry replacement parts for most major brands and can often fix broken hinges, replace nose pads, and resurface temple tips on the spot.

How to Clean Nose Pads and Frames

The frame itself accumulates skin oils, sweat, hair products, and makeup residue, especially around the nose pads, hinge areas, and behind the ears.

Nose pads: Use a soft toothbrush with a drop of dish soap to gently scrub the pad surface and the pad arms. Rinse well. If the pads are yellow or cracked, your optician can replace them for a few dollars — Charm Optical does this while you wait.

Acetate frames: Wash with soap and water. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners, which can cause acetate to become cloudy or brittle. Acetate absorbs moisture slightly, so don't soak frames for extended periods.

Metal frames: Soap and water works well. For tarnished or green-tinged metal, your optician can polish them with professional tools.

Hinge areas: A soft-bristled toothbrush gets into the crevices where grime builds up around the screws. This is also the area that benefits most from an ultrasonic cleaning — stop by Charm Optical for a free ultrasonic clean anytime.

Microfiber Cloth Care

Your microfiber cloth is the unsung hero of lens care — but a dirty cloth does more harm than good.

• Wash weekly in a regular laundry load with mild detergent. No fabric softener — it coats the fibres and leaves residue on lenses.
• Replace every 3–6 months even with regular washing. The fibres wear down and lose their ability to trap particles effectively.
• Store it properly. Keep your cloth in a glasses case or clean pouch, not loose in a pocket or bag where it picks up lint and grit.
• Have multiple cloths. Keep one in your glasses case, one at your desk, and one in your car. Your optical store usually has free ones available — ask at Charm Optical.

This is one of the most common questions that comes up during eye exams, and the answer often depends on individual factors that only a professional assessment can evaluate. What works for one person may not be ideal for another — your prescription, daily activities, facial anatomy, and budget all play a role in determining the best approach.

If you're in the Edmonton area, Charm Optical offers comprehensive eye exams that go beyond just measuring your prescription. Their optometrists assess your overall eye health, discuss your visual needs, and recommend lens and frame options tailored to your lifestyle. With direct insurance billing for most Alberta providers and same-day glasses for many prescriptions, getting the right eyewear doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Book online — appointments are usually available within a few days.

Why Good Eyewear Matters

Your eyes are one of the most important tools you have, and they deserve proper care and correction. The technology behind modern eyewear has advanced remarkably in recent years — from digital freeform progressive lenses that customize the optics to your exact wearing position, to lightweight titanium frames that weigh less than a coin, to anti-reflective coatings that virtually eliminate glare. Understanding these options empowers you to make better choices about your eye health and get glasses that genuinely improve your quality of life rather than just meeting a basic need.

Regular eye exams are the foundation of good vision care. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends exams every one to two years for adults and annually for children, seniors over 65, and anyone with diabetes or a family history of eye disease. A comprehensive exam does far more than measure your prescription — your optometrist checks the health of your retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels, catching conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration in their earliest stages. Many serious eye conditions have no noticeable symptoms until significant damage has occurred, making preventive exams essential.

The Bottom Line

The best next step is always a professional eye exam. Your optometrist can evaluate your specific needs and recommend the right combination of lenses, coatings, and frames for your lifestyle and budget. In Alberta, most employer insurance plans cover comprehensive eye exams, and children under 18 and adults over 65 receive coverage through Alberta Health.

Charm Optical at 5035 Ellerslie Rd SW in South Edmonton offers thorough eye exams with experienced optometrists, a selection of over 500 designer frames from brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Versace, and same-day glasses for many prescription types. They offer direct insurance billing for most Alberta providers, so you only pay the difference at the counter.

Whether you are buying your first pair of glasses, upgrading to progressive lenses, or just need an adjustment on your current frames, having a trusted local optician makes the process smoother. Book an appointment online — most appointments are available within a few days, and walk-ins are welcome for adjustments and frame browsing.