Our family’s sunglasses are always greasy from sunscreen. Wiping them with microfiber cloths doesn’t remove the oily sheen. Since white distilled vinegar is so good at removing grease on dishes, I wondered can I make an eyeglass cleaner with vinegar?
Teresa Z., Spokane, WA
I have the same problem with my sunglasses. They get oily from sunscreen and makeup. And you’re right; you can make eyeglass cleaner with vinegar. It’s a cheap and easy way to degrease glasses and frames. All you need is three parts vinegar to one part water. Once you spray the mixture on your glasses, just wipe them clean with a dry microfiber cloth. That should remove any greasy residue on the lenses and frames.
Also, if your glasses tend to steam up, you can make an anti-fog formula with one part vinegar, one part rubbing alcohol, and one part distilled water. That’s handy for keeping your vision clear on humid days or when you’re perspiring.
Next, there is a variation of the anti-fog cleaner that uses ammonia instead of vinegar. You can see the recipe in this article: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/homemade-eyeglass-cleaner/ As you can see, these homemade cleaners all use common household items.
Now if you have lenses that have anti-reflective or anti-scratch coatings, you might be safer with an alternative formula that doesn’t contain alcohol or ammonia. All you need is a couple of drops of dishwashing soap mixed in warm water. Not only will that remove greasy sunblock, but it also shouldn’t damage the protective layers.
In conclusion, you’re likely to find that these homemade glass cleaner solutions save you money. Additionally, you can prepare them ahead of time and store them in spray bottles. More importantly, cleaning your sunglasses with an appropriate liquid and soft cloth will keep them safe from scratches.