Blue light glasses have become a necessity in a world where screens are used all day for both work and pleasure. You spend all day working at your computer, taking breaks to check your phone, only to go home and watch TV or play video games.
The right pair of blue light glasses can support your day-to-day life and protect your vision so you don’t have to deal with the repercussions of constantly looking at a screen. But how do you keep your glasses looking clean and performing their best?
Learning how to clean blue light glasses is paramount to protecting your investment and maintaining good personal hygiene simultaneously. However, cleaning blue light glasses the wrong way could do more harm than good, leaving you squinting through streaks or smudges.
That’s why we’ve put together this resource on the best way to clean blue light glasses, walking you through what to clean blue light glasses with and other tips on getting the job done quickly, easily, and most importantly, correctly.
Why is Cleaning Blue Light Glasses Necessary?
Routinely cleaning blue light glasses is more than just a measure to keep yourself looking tidy in the workplace – it’s important to keep them working well for the long haul while also protecting your health and wellness.
Preserving Lens Efficacy
First, how do blue light glasses work? They are designed to filter out harmful blue light emitted from digital screens, reducing eye strain and potentially improving sleep patterns. However, dirt, dust, and smudges can obstruct this filtration process.
Regular cleaning ensures the lenses can perform optimally. Dirt particles can also cause micro-abrasions on the lens over time, degrading the quality of the protective coating. Thus, cleanliness directly impacts the longevity and effectiveness of your glasses.
Enhancing Visual Clarity
What good is a pair of computer reading glasses if you can’t see clearly through them? Dust and smudges can accumulate on your lenses through consistent daily wear.
It’s not just about seeing clearly, though. It’s about ensuring your glasses don’t inadvertently contribute to eye strain. Regular cleaning maintains the clarity of the lenses, ensuring you can benefit fully from your eyewear.
Hygenic Considerations
Glasses sit on your face, close to your eyes, nose, and mouth. This proximity means they can easily become a vehicle for transferring bacteria and germs, especially if you often touch or adjust your glasses.
Keeping your blue light glasses clean reduces the risk of skin irritation around the eyes and nose and prevents the build-up of bacteria that can lead to acne or infections.
Why Do Blue Light Glasses Get So Dirty?
It may seem like your blue light glasses attract dirt and smudges more than any other item you own. There are several reasons for this, each related to their frequent use and the nature of their design:
- Constant Handling: You probably adjust your glasses many times throughout the day, unknowingly leaving fingerprints and smears. Oils and dirt from your skin transfer onto the lens and frames each time you touch your glasses.
- Environmental Factors: Dust and pollutants in the environment can also accumulate on your glasses. If you work in front of a computer, small particles of dust from the workspace can settle on the lenses. Even everyday activities at home generate dust and debris that can cling to your glasses.
- Facial Oils and Makeup: Facial oils, lotions, and makeup can easily get onto your glasses. When you put on or take off your glasses, they can brush against your skin, picking up oils and cosmetic residues. This buildup can create a film on the lenses over time, requiring more frequent cleaning.
- Condensation and Temperature Changes: Moving between different temperatures, such as going from an air-conditioned room to outdoor heat, can cause condensation on your lenses. This moisture attracts more dirt and dust, which sticks to the damp surfaces.
Whatever causes your glasses to lose their shine and clarity, it’s important that you know how to clean blue light glasses correctly. The biggest challenge here is figuring out what to clean blue light glasses with to get the job done right without causing more harm than good. So, let’s weigh your options below.
What to Clean Blue Light Glasses With: the Do’s and Don’ts
The last thing you want is to use an abrasive cleaner only to discover your glasses frames discolored and tainted, or your lenses permanently clouded. You also need to think about what you’re wiping your glasses lens with to prevent scratches.
There are specially formulated eyewear cleaners out there that you can rely on to safely clean your glasses frames and lenses. It’s as simple as spraying the cleaner on the glasses and then gently wipe off with a microfiber cloth.
Can you clean blue light glasses with water, though? What about rubbing alcohol or other household cleaning products you already have on hand? Let’s address some of the common questions we get asked as to what to clean blue light glasses with.
Can You Clean Blue Light Glasses With Water?
Yes, cleaning blue light glasses with water is advisable, but it is crucial to use lukewarm water. Both cold and hot water can cause irreversible damage to the glasses.
Using lukewarm water helps gently remove debris and dust particles without affecting the lens coatings or the frame integrity. Pair with a soft microfiber cloth and you’ve got a simple cleaning solution that won’t compromise the integrity of your frames or lenses.
We’ll talk more about the actual process behind how to clean blue light glasses later on, but warm water with mild dish soap is a great choice. Can you clean blue light glasses with alcohol, though?
Can You Clean Blue Light Glasses With Alcohol?
No, it is not recommended to use alcohol for cleaning blue light glasses. Alcohol, especially if not diluted properly, can damage the lens coatings and affect the certain types of glasses frames.
How to Clean Blue Light Glasses: Step-by-Step Guide
Now, let’s get into the step-by-step guide on how to clean blue light glasses. This is something you need to do carefully, but don’t stress over it too much – the best way to clean blue light glasses is fairly simple and straightforward!
Gather Your Cleaning Supplies
As we mentioned earlier, you don’t necessarily need a fancy glasses-cleaning solution. Lukewarm water and a mild dish soap will get the job done. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
- Lotion-Free Dishwashing Liquid: A mild, gentle soap without added lotions is ideal for cleaning the lenses and frames without leaving residue.
- Microfiber Cloth: This lint-free cloth is essential for drying and polishing the glasses after cleaning to avoid scratches or smudges.
- Soft-Bristled Toothbrush or Cotton Swab: These tools can be handy for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, like the crevices around the hinges or where the frame meets the lens
Assessing Your Glasses for Specific Cleaning Needs
Inspect your glasses for specific problem areas. Look for dirt or debris in the crevices, particularly around hinges or nose pads. If your glasses have accumulated oils from your skin or makeup, this might require extra attention during the cleaning process.
That being said, it’s worth cleaning all the various parts of glasses even if nothing jumps out at you. It takes just a few moments and goes a long way in maintaining the longevity and appearance of your glasses.
Specific Blue Light Glasses Lens Cleaning Methods: Steam, Dish Soap, and Other Approved Solutions
So, what is the best way to clean blue light glasses? From the standard solution of using warm water and dish soap to lesser-known approaches like steam cleaning, there are three options you can choose from:
- Warm Water and Dish Soap Method: Rinse the glasses under lukewarm water and apply a drop of dishwashing liquid to each lens. Gently rub the soap on both sides of the lenses and the frame, focusing on areas that make the most contact with your skin, like the temples and nose pads. Rinse off the soap and dry with a microfiber cloth.
- Eyeglass Cleaner: These liquid solutions are specially formulated for cleaning glasses. Spray the cleaner over the glasses, ensuring that all parts are covered. Then, use a microfiber cloth in a circular motion to remove the cleaner and dry the glasses.
- Using Steam: Although not the most recommended method, steaming the glasses and then wiping them with a microfiber cloth can be effective. Be cautious to avoid direct contact with hot water, as this can damage the lens coating.
Removing Nerdwax or Other Residue From the Frame
The toughest part of cleaning blue light glasses is getting Nerdwax or other residue off the frame, particularly, the nose pads. Nerdwax certainly helps keep your glasses stay in place, but that same benefit becomes a challenge when cleaning.
Your microfiber cloth may not cut it here. It’s time to call in the big dogs – like a toothbrush. Use it to carefully clean the nose pads and hinges without scratching the frames.
You may need to disassemble the nose pads for deeper cleaning taking care to keep track of all the small components. Don’t do this if you don’t feel confident piecing everything back together, though.
While the grime may tempt you to use harsher cleaning chemicals for rapid removal, remember that these can do more harm than good. Take your time and be patient as you brush away the Nerdwax to reveal a like new shine.
Drying Tips for Avoiding Streaks and Water Spots
Proper drying is essential to prevent streaks or water spots, especially on the lens. You can use the same microfiber cloth you cleaned your glasses with, finding a dry spot on the towel to gently wipe away any moisture.
Avoid using newspaper, tissues, or clothing as these can scratch the lenses or leave behind lint. Similarly, we recommend you steer clear of fabric softeners or dryer sheets when laundering microfiber cloths, as they can leave a residue that smears the lenses.
Advice on Keeping Your Blue Light Blocking Glasses Clean in the First Place
There you have it – how to clean glasses with blue light filter quickly and easily. But, you know what they say – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
So, we want to leave you with a few tips on keeping your glasses clean in the first place before we wrap up our guide on the best way to clean blue light glasses:
- Wear Only When Needed: Limit wearing your glasses to necessary activities. This reduces exposure to elements that could dirty or damage them.
- Minimize Face and Glasses Touching: People often touch their faces, leading to smudges on the glasses. Adjust your glasses by the temple, not the lens, to minimize direct contact with the lenses.
- Clean More Frequently: Cleaning your glasses regularly prevents the buildup of dirt and makes subsequent cleaning easier. Addressing marks or stains immediately prevents them from drying and becoming harder to remove.
- Dedicated Glasses Case: Always store your glasses in their case when not in use. This protects them from dust, dirt, and potential damage from falls or scratches – so you don’t have to stress about how to fix broken glasses.
Parting Thoughts on the Best Way to Clean Blue Light Glasses
Regularly cleaning blue light glasses is paramount to preserving your investment, and thus, your vision. Now that you know how to clean glasses with blue light filter and what to clean blue light glasses with you can feel confident getting the job done right – without causing more harm than good.
Using warm water with dish soap, specialized eyeglass cleaners, and drying with a microfiber cloth are the best practices. Remember, the longevity and effectiveness of your glasses largely depend on how well they are cared for.
Learn more in our blog with resources like what are reading glasses, how do colorblind glasses work, depth perception issues, face shape for glasses, od meaning eyes, and more.
But, if you discover that even after applying our advice on how to clean blue light glasses that you’re unable to restore lens clarity or get Nerdwax off the frames, it may be time to treat yourself to a new pair at Felix Gray.
We have the best reading glasses for men and women alike, along with a great selection of amber-tinted glasses, anti-glare blue light glasses, non prescription glasses for fashion, acetate frames, and more.
Browse our catalog and elevate your style and vision simultaneously as we wrap up our guide on the best way to clean blue light glasses!