There are a few realities that you just come to expect as a glasses-wearer.
Firstly, they can be a disaster to wear when working out. Secondly, they will fog up the instant there’s a scintilla of moisture in the air. And thirdly, pushing them up the bridge of your nose will become a signature move, even if you’re not wearing them.
And nothing is more irritating than a smudged spot on your lens blurring your vision.
Yet over the course of a regular day, it’s nothing short of a miracle not to collect a wayward fingerprint, dust or oily smudge on your spectacles. This is why most of us specs-owners need to carry some kind of glass cleaning tool with us at all times.
While rubbing the glass with the hem of your outfit offers a fast fix, it has also been known to exacerbate the issue, smearing more dirt around the surface instead of getting rid of it. Luckily there are plenty of pocket-sized wipes to give your specs a thorough clean so your eyes get the view it should.
They also work on keeping sunglasses spick-and-span, ready for sunny days - when they appear, that is. And they’re useful for cleaning smartphone and tablet screens as well as the camera lenses on the back for clear snaps every time.
We’ve rounded up the best options to buy now and add to every bag and pocket so you never have to suffer with smudged glasses again.
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Metene 100 Pack Lens Cleaning Wipes
This bulk pack contains 100 individually wrapped wipes, meaning you can stuff them into your bags and pockets so you’re ready for cleaning on the go. The gentle and effective unscented sheets are made from a streak-free, quick-drying formula that is safe to use on coated lenses as well as delicate glass, like tech gadgets and camera lenses.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Opticlear Lens Cleaning Wipes
Keep fragile and essential glass surfaces free from smears and smudges with Opticlear’s silicone-coated wipes, which come in a box of 200. The individually wrapped sachets have been dipped in a low-alcohol formula, making them safe to be used on glass that sits close to the eye, and with an anti-fog formula you can bid farewell to annoying fogging when wearing a face mask. They’ll even work on old glasses that need polishing up.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner
Forget fiddling with cloths and faffing with sprays: this cleaner uses carbon to make glasses unbelievably clear. This NASA-approved technology has been used to clean glass in space missions, in places that famously need to remain liquid-free.
A small brush on the opposite end will help remove lodged dust and particles caught between nose pads or the lens and your frames. The carbon tips remain effective for up to 500 uses; simply swipe back and forth to clean. Once you get through those, the replacement pads offer 1000 uses.
With no chemicals or disposable elements, they’re better for the environment and the compact design comes in myriad colours.
Buy now £22.99, Amazon
GoOpticians Microfiber Glasses Phone Lens Screen Cleaning Cloths
Trying to instil good cleaning habits in your kids? For children who wear glasses, encouragement is delivered in the form of these fun 18cm x 15cm microfibre cloths. The three-piece set is covered in bright patterns and works hard at lifting grease and splatters off the glass effectively. Simply add to your washing load when they need a clean.
Buy now £5.79, Amazon
Boots Eyecare Recycled Lens Cloth
Made from 100 per cent recycled materials, this cleaning cloth is an excellent addition to your eyewear accessories. The soft cloth will polish up glasses a treat and comes patterned with specs as a playful addition.
Buy now £3.49, Boots
Deruaku Ultrasonic Cleaner
The hi-tech way to deep clean your glasses? Using ultrasonic, of course. This clever gadget offers an intensive level of cleaning using ultrasonic waves with a frequency of up to 45khz to strip dirt and grime from glass without damaging it. It also works on watches, makeup brushes, jewellery and dentures! Simply add water, switch on and watch it go.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
ZEISS Lens Cleaning Spray
For those occasions when your glasses need a deeper clean, call in Zeiss. The cleaning sprays should be used with a soft cloth - a microfibre will do - and will eliminate dirt and grease with a few spritzes. The fast-drying formula promises a streak-free finish that won’t scratch delicate glass or plastic. As well as glasses, use the cleaner on ski goggles, microscopes, phones and camera lenses without worry.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Zeiss AntiFOG Kit
Blurred vision on the slopes spells disaster. Get to the apres part of your next ski trip safely by polishing your lenses with Zeiss’s anti-fog formula, which is included in this kit along with a travel polishing cloth. This works a little differently from regular cleaners in that it must be applied to clean, dry glass and then buffed until dry to apply the anti-fog properties. Once the effect has worn off, reapply using the same cloth.
The brand recommends not washing the included cloth for longer-lasting results so keep it in a dust-free case so it remains cleaner for longer.
Buy now £7.99, Boots
Spectacle Cleaner with Eye Glasses Cleaner Spray
Swapping a cloth for pincer-like cleaning pads allows you to zone in on areas that need cleaning without spreading the mess to other parts of your glasses. This set comes with 30ml of cleaning fluid as well as a small brush, eyeglass accessories and even a three-in-one screwdriver to keep your specs properly maintained.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
