I’m waiting for the day that DIY Lasik is invented. Until then, I’m stuck with contacts and glasses. Not long ago, my 2-year-old gave me the gift of pink eye, and that, plus lovely spring allergies, has made wearing contacts almost impossible. So I’ve been stuck wearing my glasses a lot more since. And it drives me completely crazy how dirty they get. After going through a box of eyeglass cleaner wipes it occurred to me that 1) those individually wrapped wipes are incredibly wasteful and 2) surely I could make homemade eyeglass cleaner myself.
How to make homemade eyeglass cleaner
It takes approximately 1 minute to make this cleaner. And this DIY, I’m embarrassed to admit, has me happier than just about any other project on this blog. No more greasy coconut oil fingerprints on my glasses!
Supplies needed
Supplies needed- Rubbing alcohol
- Water
- Dish soap
- Small spritz bottle
Instructions
Combine 3 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part water in the spritz bottle. Add 1-2 drops of dish soap. Swirl mixture together and replace cap. To use, spritz onto glasses and wipe with a soft cotton cloth.
Y’all probably already knew how to make this, didn’t you? It’s such a life saver! My eyes still can’t handle wearing contacts, and I’ve never worn glasses for such an extended period of time. Now I’m not sure I need to go back to contacts. 🙂
Taufiq Habib says
Do NOT use rubbing alcohol to clean your glasses, unless you have the cheapest kind! Most coatings including anti-reflective, anti-scratch, etc. are adversely affected by rubbing alcohol.
Also see KoalaEyE: “The stimulus effect of alcohol will damage the coating of the lens. If the coating of the lens is destroyed, the transmittance of the lens will decrease and the clarity of the lens will decrease. In addition, if the film layer of the lens is damaged, the scratch resistance and anti-reflective properties of the lens will decrease. Especially if the film layer of the lens is damaged severely, the lens is easily scratched, which directly affects the vision. Therefore, when cleaning the lens, you must be careful not to use irritating cleaning.”
Cedric Gist says
Thank you for sharing this recipe for eyeglass cleaner. I have a small pocket-sized spritzer from Walgreens that I can refill.
Christina says
This is great! Thanks, so easy and cheap, I had all these ingredients at home and got to re-use the spray bottle 🙂
Chris Coles says
Would this be anti fogging too? I am struggling with wearing my glasses all day at work with compulsive masks
Stan says
NEVER EVER PUT ALCOHOL ON EYE GLASSES. IT WILL REMOVE THE SPECIAL COATINGS YOU PAID FOR AND VOIDS YOUR WARRANTY.
Dianna Moore says
Thank you, I will definitely try this out for myself.
Got any more good tips to share?bird
Star M says
Hello. Is it really okay to have rubbing alcohol in this solution? I took a look around somewhere and they say that you should not use rubbing alcohol when cleaning eyeglasses because it can damage the lens? But I also really need a DIY eyeglass cleaner. So I am really conflicted, help?
Adrienne says
Does this cause breakdown of the coating on lenses?
Linda Smith says
I made this and it has stripped the colour from my husband’s glasses frame.
Laharl_Chan says
i made this and it broke down my anti scratch coating. causing it to look like the coating chipped at the edges.
Jerry Rigker says
So siliconE glass cleaner and not sandpaper.
Tracie says
https://www.homehints.org/alcohol-free-homemade-eyeglass-cleaner/
Here is good information as well as a alcohol free diy eye glass cleaner.
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?
Veronica says
I work for one of the biggest glasses and sunglasses manufacturer and so I know how to clean glasses properly. And you should never ever use something with alcohol! It just destroyes your glasses and you rub off the coating of your glasses. Always use silicon based spray! You should get informed before you post tips like this.
Best regards,
Veronica
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! “
Vickie says
Then why does my expensive store-bought lens cleaner contain isopropanol?
GS says
Expensive store-bought stuff isn’t always “the best”!
Ron Rosenau says
Because if they used ethanol, you might drink it! (Ethanol is pure grain spirits alcohol). The wide use of isopropanol is a hold-over from the Prohibition era.
Marie says
Veronica, your employer should fire you, and to use your own words, “You should get informed before you post tips like this.” Silicon is an element, a hard and brittle crystalline solid, commonly used in semiconductor electronics and other industrial applications. If you used a “silicon based spray” you would rub off a lot more than the coating on your glasses (like rubbing the lenses with sand). SILICONES are the polymers used for lubricants, adhesives, caulking, cooking aids, and yes, even used in eyeglass cleaning solutions. There are reasons to use both silicone and non-silicone lens cleaning solutions, and you can read about it at the Bausch + Lomb website: http://www.bausch.com/our-products/safety-and-industrial-cleaning-products/liquid-cleaning-fluids/liquid-cleaning-fluids
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
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!
Ron Rosenau says
ANTHING! 3 teaspoons water plus 1 teaspoon alcohol, or 3 gallons water plus 1 gallon alcohol. It’s the same thing.
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!
Stephanie says
That easy?! Finally , the end of buying these expensive sprays! I’m so happy that I found your blog! I’ll share this post on my facebook!
GreenToBlack says
That’s perfect, exactly the kind of thing I never knew I needed, but I do!
— http://greentoblack.co.uk —