Why do my glasses get dirty so bloody often?

[StubbornStool]

I always seem to be cleaning my glasses and I never see anybody else doing it as much as me. No, they really are dirty. It’s not just me. Please give me your top 10 glasses cleaning tips (I mean reading glasses not drinking glasses).

I’m wearing my glasses more now after years of contact lens wearing.
It seems to me that I have the muckiest glasses in the world. I clean them in the morning then by lunchtime I look like I’ve eaten my dinner off them.

I sympathise.

I feel ya. I am trying really hard to retrain my muscle memory so that when I push them up my (greasy) nose with my (greasy) hands I go for the arms instead of the bridge. It’s a work in progress!

Long eyelashes don't help if they're constantly brushing them.

A couple of years ago I read a similar thread as I was in the same position. I've always worn glasses and somehow my adult glasses got more dirty than my teen glasses from forty years earlier. Some said it was because the lens are usually plastic now rather than glass but also the cleaning cloths have changed. Someone recommended using the good old fashioned 100% cotton mens handkerchiefs (which we used to clean glasses with in the 1970s) and now mine stay cleaner a lot longer!

Will try that @Pixiedust1234

My optician told me to wear them in the bath once in a while, and give them a wash!

he said grease builds up where the lens meets the frame, and cleaning cloths just push it around.

Aaaah. Extensions!!

The little plastic nose pads get filthy , I use an ultrasonic cleaner with a dash of washing up liquid ( don;t know if it's right or wrong ) the filth just wafts out !

I think this is the reason for me.

I've decided there's a gnome who lives in my home whose life's work is smearing stuff on my glasses. It's the only explanation

dry eyes
meaning, ironically, that they are more watery. means I get those annoying little droplets on the inside.

I’ve no idea how they get dirty, my eyelashes aren’t that long and I’m never aware of touching the lenses.

I bloody love this thread

ITS NOT JUST ME

ITS NOT JUST ME

No it definitely isn't.

Years ago I cleaned my glasses now and again but now it's every day.

I said this to a friend just recently.She looked at me surprised and said she'd always cleaned hers every day. She's exceptionally fastidious though.

I thought it was because they now have a coating which holds the dirt.

I have one of these too!

I’ve heard soap and water is helpful but I don’t get what kind of soap. Can I use my carex liquid hand soap?!

Definitely not alone OP! Since I got vari focals, I have to clean them several times a day. Somebody told me just use a drop of washing up liquid.

I just cleaned mine they were steamed up from shower steam,they were disgusting so mucky, I don't really touch them during the day so it's not fingerprints, just grime!

Oh mine are varifocals I wonder what that's about?

I wash mine with liquid soap once a week it's just whatever I have by the kitchen sink atm it's a supermarket brand.

Varifocals. Greasy skin, mucky pup, been a speccy bam for nearly 50 years. 🤓

Wash 'em once or even twice a day (after showering, then again if I've cooked/sweated) by just touching the top of the washing up liquid bottle and rubbing gently with fingers, then sluicing, then drying with a clean cotton napkin. You do need to use a tiny dod of w-up liquid then really rinse it or it just smears around.

Worst thing for it: the sprays and cloths recommended by the opticians - have NEVER got clean glasses that way.

And anything moisturising, like hand soap of shampoo, leaves a greasy film - has to be the washing up liquid.

T-cut would probably be going too far.

soap removes the coating. which then looks like dirt/smudges.

Yes, this drives me mad too. Have been buying lens wipes but plan to try soapy water and and a cotton cloth after reading this thread

I was told anything too harsh can remove the surface glaze over time so as gentle as possible. But the gnome will be back before long!

I have to change my glasses every year so I take the risk... It's more expensive than having a boat... 😞