1- Recommendations for Achieving a Good Lens Cleaning.
In general lines, it can be said that the removal of dirt on a lens can be done through two different procedures:
• by rubbing the dirt with a cloth, or
• by dissolving the dirt in a lens cleaning solution.
- cleaning efficiency of the eyeglass cleaner,
- ease of use,
- harmlessness of the product for the lens and even for the skin of our fingers.
For practical purposes, we make our recommendation for two main types of cleaning:
This is an easy cleaning for which most spectacle cleaners work. A microfiber cloth can be used due to its ease of use; yet making sure it is clean and completely free from abrasive dust (grit particles) which could scratch the lens.
b) Cleaning of dry fingerprints or well adhered stains on the lens.
In this case, which represents for example the cleaning of the accumulated dirt on the glasses throughout the day, we should avoid dry cleaning in favour of the use of a lens cleaning fluid.
The cleaning effectiveness achieved by dissolving the dirt in a lens cleaner solution is not comparable to the one obtained by rubbing the dirt with a microfiber cloth.
The superiority of the lens cleaner solution over the microfiber is clearly appreciated if we carry out both cleanings under direct sunlight or under the light of bright focus, in which case we will be able to see the shines produced by the thin oily film that the microfiber cloth leaves on the lens.
2- Recommendations to prevent scratching of lenses.
To prevent scratching of lenses when cleaning them with any type of product, being a microfiber cloth or being a lens cleaning solution, Artebel recommends that:
a) Before cleaning eyeglasses, always remove any visible grit particle on their surface. This can be done by simply brushing the lens surface with a cloth, by using a lens blower brush, or by placing the glasses under running tap water.
b) When using an eyeglass or spectacle cleaner solution, wipe dry the lens with a soft and disposable cloth rather than with a microfiber cloth, which will progressively accumulate the dirt of the eyeglasses and the residue of the cleaning liquid. Moreover, if the lens were wiped dry with a microfiber cloth, the cloth would have to be aerated for it to dry before the next use; with the consequent risk that the cloth could catch in some abrasive dust and then scratch the lenses.
c) When using a microfiber cloth for a dry lens cleaning, keep the cloth in a protective carrying pouch to prevent it from catching in any particles which may scratch the lenses.