If you’re someone who wears glasses, it’s hard to think of anything more annoying than a smudge on one of the lenses. 

There you are, trying to read or drive or even just watch TV, and no matter what you do, that stubborn spot won’t disappear. Luckily for those of us limited by our poor vision, toothpaste is an effective way to clean our eyeglasses.

You might be wondering why anyone would try this method in the first place. Why not use lens cleaner? The answer is simple: it works great as a lens cleaner, and it’s readily available. You probably have some in your bathroom cabinet right now.

In this article, you’ll learn how to use toothpaste to clean your eyeglasses.

Let’s start.

What You’ll Need:

• Toothpaste – This is the star of this show, so make sure you’re using toothpaste that’s gentle. Be sure to avoid any “whitening” toothpaste that contains baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, as these may actually scratch your lenses.
• Water (tap water will do) – You’ll need this to rinse off your glasses after cleaning them.
• Microfiber cloth – These are great for all kinds of uses, including cleaning eyeglasses! You can use one to buff out the excess toothpaste and dry your glasses.
• Cotton swabs/cotton balls/Q-tips – These are useful for getting into small spaces between the frame and lenses, which would be difficult to reach with cloth alone.

Steps:

1. Lather up a small amount of toothpaste on your fingers.
2. Rub it on the lenses in circular motions. Rub gently. Avoid getting it into the frame.
3. Rinse off well with water. Make sure to remove all traces of toothpaste.
4. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe dry.

What Kind of Toothpaste to Use

Now that we’ve established that toothpaste is the way to go, we need to discuss what kind of toothpaste you should use.

Ideally, you want a paste that has a low abrasion, so avoid any gel-based pastes. You also don’t want any kinds of toothpaste that have whitening agents in them as these are harsh on your lenses and should be avoided at all costs. Whitening toothpaste should be completely avoided for this purpose.

Go with basic white toothpaste for this DIY.

Won’t Toothpaste Scratch Glass Lenses?

Toothpaste is mildly abrasive and may scratch your lenses if you use too much. It will also depend on the type of toothpaste you use.

So, it’s important to not overuse it when cleaning your glasses. A little goes a long way.

How Often Should You Clean Your Glasses?

Cleaning too often is never a bad thing when it comes to eyeglasses! Cleaning your glasses before and after wearing them will ensure that they stay free of oils from your skin which can accumulate over time.

If you wear glasses all day long, you should be cleaning them daily. Before putting your glasses on for the day and after taking them off at night, clean your lenses with warm water and a gentle soap or non-alcohol-based lens cleaner.

 If you are using a solution to clean your lenses, make sure to dry them completely before wearing them again.

Also, try not to leave your glasses on top of your head or resting on the collar of your shirt as these habits can cause dirt and oil to build up along the frame of your glasses. 

Finally, if you work in a hot room such as an engine room or kitchen, consider removing and cleaning your glasses at least once during the day as perspiration can accumulate on both sides of the lenses.

How About the Frame?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could clean your glasses frames with the same toothpaste? Unfortunately, toothpaste is abrasive by nature. 

When used on the frame, it may leave tiny scratches or fade the color of the frame. If you have an anti-reflective coating on your lenses, toothpaste can also damage or remove this coating.

No matter what kind of frames you have, it’s best to avoid using any kind of household cleaner. For example, alcohol-based products can strip some finishes from plastic or metal frames. Ammonia and glass cleaners are also bad for any type of frame material because they can wear down the finish and cause them to weaken over time. 

Instead of using cleaning chemicals, use a microfiber cloth or a cotton swab dipped in warm water to wipe away dirt from the frames each day.

Tips to Keep Your Glasses in Good Shape

After cleaning your glasses, take a few steps to keep them that way.

• Get in the habit of putting your glasses into a protective case when you’re not wearing them. That way you won’t be tempted to use a dirty shirt or napkin to remove smudges when you need to check your phone or look at a menu at restaurants.
• Keep them out of your pocket. Your back pocket is one of the last places on earth you want your eyeglasses to spend time in. Phones, keys, and anything else you tend to store there can put scratches on lenses, and they’ll come out with dust and lint all over them—and probably some loose change stuck between the frame and the lenses too!
• Don’t leave them in the sun. If it’s hot enough outside that sitting in direct sunlight is uncomfortable for you, it’s too hot for your eyeglasses or sunglasses as well. Heat can influence plastic frames so they warp (especially if they’re cheap) or can melt if they’re made from polycarbonate materials. If left long enough in the car during the summer months, the color of the frame may fade.

Conclusion:

Now you know how to clean eyeglasses with toothpaste. Eyeglasses are prone to accumulating grime, especially around the nose pads where they touch our face and hair. Keeping them clean is an important part of maintaining good vision while also caring for your eyes and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

If you follow all of these tips, you will have your glasses cleaned in no time and be able to see all the interesting things that life has to offer.

If you want more DIY cleaning tips, read my article on how to use toothpaste to clean silver jewelry.

Thanks for reading.

-Baking Soda Guy

Photo by Alizee Marchand from Pexels