Looking after your glasses well keeps your lenses clear, your frames comfortable, and your eyewear lasting far longer. Most damage — scratched lenses, loose arms, worn coatings — comes from small everyday habits that are easily avoided. This guide covers how to clean, handle and store your prescription glasses properly, so they stay in good condition for years.
In short: rinse before you wipe, use a microfibre cloth and proper lens cleaner, handle your glasses with both hands, and store them in a case away from heat. Avoid tissues, shirts, household cleaners and leaving them lens-down.
How to Clean Your Glasses Properly
Cleaning is where most lens damage happens, usually with good intentions. The safest routine takes seconds. First, rinse your glasses under clean, lukewarm water to wash away dust and grit — this is the most important step, because wiping a dry lens drags those particles across the surface and causes fine scratches. Then apply a small drop of washing-up liquid or a dedicated lens spray, and gently clean both sides of each lens with a clean microfibre cloth.
Dry them with a second clean microfibre cloth, or let them air-dry. Avoid tissues, paper towels and the corner of your shirt, all of which are abrasive enough to mark a lens over time. Steer clear of household glass cleaners too, as the ammonia and alcohol they contain can degrade lens coatings, including anti-reflective and blue light finishes.
The Dos and Don’ts at a Glance
Here is a quick reference you can come back to:
| Do | Don’t |
| Rinse under clean water before wiping | Wipe dry lenses with grit still on them |
| Use a microfibre cloth | Clean with your shirt, tissue or paper towel |
| Use lens spray or a drop of washing-up liquid | Use household or glass cleaners with ammonia or alcohol |
| Hold and remove with both hands | Take them off one-handed |
| Store in a hard case when not worn | Rest them face-down on hard surfaces |
| Keep them away from heat | Leave them on a car dashboard or windowsill |
How to Handle Your Glasses
The way you put your glasses on and take them off affects how long the frame stays true. Always use both hands, holding each arm, rather than pulling them off one-handed — repeatedly removing glasses with one hand slowly bends the frame out of shape, so they sit crooked and slip. When you take them off, fold the arms gently rather than forcing them, and try to keep your fingers off the lenses to avoid smudges and marks.
How to Store Your Glasses
When your glasses are not on your face, they are most at risk. A hard case is the single best protection against scratches, dust and accidental crushing, so keep one to hand and use it. If you are putting your glasses down briefly, always place them lens-up on a clean surface, never lens-down, which scratches the lenses in seconds.
Keep them out of the heat, too. A car dashboard, a sunny windowsill or the edge of a hob can reach temperatures high enough to warp frames and craze lens coatings. And resist resting glasses on top of your head — it stretches the arms and loosens the fit over time.
Caring for Coated and Specialist Lenses
Coatings need the same gentle routine, and it keeps them performing at their best. An anti-reflective coating in particular lasts longest when you always rinse before wiping and avoid harsh cleaners. The same applies to varifocal, high-index and photochromic lenses — the careful approach protects both the coating and the optical surface underneath.
When to Replace Your Glasses
Even well-cared-for glasses do not last forever. Deep scratches, a worn coating, or a frame that no longer sits right are all signs it may be time for a new pair. Your prescription matters too — it is worth checking the date, as a UK prescription is typically valid for two years. If yours is due an update, our guide on how to read your glasses prescription explains what the values mean before you reorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to clean glasses?
Rinse them under clean lukewarm water first to remove grit, then use a drop of washing-up liquid or lens spray and a microfibre cloth. Dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Never wipe dry lenses or use tissues, which cause scratches.
Can I use household cleaners on my glasses?
No. Household glass cleaners often contain ammonia or alcohol, which can damage lens coatings such as anti-reflective and blue light finishes. Use a dedicated lens spray or a little washing-up liquid instead.
Why do my lenses keep getting scratched?
The most common cause is wiping lenses while they are dry, which drags dust across the surface, or resting them lens-down. Always rinse before wiping, use a microfibre cloth, and store glasses in a case or lens-up.
How do I stop my glasses going loose?
Remove them with both hands rather than one, don’t rest them on top of your head, and store them in a case. These habits stop the arms bending out of shape. If they do loosen, most opticians can adjust the fit.
Can I use household cleaners on anti-reflective lenses?
No. Anti-reflective coatings are particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals. Stick to lens spray or mild soapy water and a microfibre cloth to keep the coating intact.
Keeping Your Glasses at Their Best
A few small habits — rinsing before wiping, using a microfibre cloth, handling with both hands and storing in a case — are all it takes to keep your glasses clear and comfortable for years. When it is time for a new pair, you can shop glasses online from £10, with every pair glazed in-house and backed by a 12-month warranty.
