Glasses — daily micro-buildup of oils

Glasses on your nose collect the following daily:

• Finger oils (when you put them on/take them off)
• Skin oils/dead skin from your nose and ears (where the lenses touch your face)
• Pollen, dust (from the air)
• Sweat droplets (especially in summer)
• Raindrops (winter/autumn)

After 1-2 weeks you notice: lenses are cloudy when viewed at an angle to the light, frames are sticky to the touch, hinge screws are dirty. Microfiber removes fresh oils from lenses but does not reach into the micro-gaps of hinges and nose pads.

Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate + an ultrasonic cleaner breaks down oil from every crevice — glasses look like new. 3-5 minute cycle, once every 1-2 weeks.

Procedure — daily glasses

What you need

• Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate — 15 ml (1 tablespoon)
• Ultrasonic cleaner 600+ ml (Hozly, Vevor)
• Lukewarm water ~25-35°C (not hot, as some coatings are delicate)
• Clean microfiber cloth (typically included with glasses)

Procedure

1. Pour into the cleaner: 15 ml of Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate + 600 ml of lukewarm water (1:40 ratio)
2. Place the glasses in the basket — they can be unfolded (with open hinges) for better cleaning
3. 3-5 minute cycle for daily hygiene (10 min for glasses that haven't been cleaned in a long time)
4. Remove the basket
5. Rinse the glasses under running lukewarm water for 10 seconds — this removes residues of Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate
6. Dry with a microfiber cloth — gently from the inside of the lens outwards (direction does not matter for modern coatings)
7. Check under light — lenses should be crystal clear, frames fresh

Time: 5-7 minutes. Cost: under 0.60 PLN.

Safety by glasses type

Lenses

Frames

Special eyewear types

Daily prescription glasses

Standard procedure. Cycle once every 1-2 weeks. Microfiber daily.

Sunglasses

Cycle once every 1-2 months (used less intensively than prescription glasses). Polarization, mirror coating — all safe.

Sport glasses (Oakley, Adidas Performance)

Special materials: TR-90, polycarbonate, lightweight rubber. 3-5 min cycle, safe. Some Oakleys have interchangeable lenses — they can be cleaned separately (shorter, 2-3 min).

Reading glasses (ready-made from drugstore)

Cheaper plastic frames — safe, but cheaper AR coatings can wear out after repeated washing. 3 min cycle once a month.

Children's glasses

Safe for acetate and metal frames. Short 3 min cycle — children often hit their glasses, micro-cracks in the frames may expand during a long cycle.

Luxury glasses (Cartier, Tom Ford, Chanel)

Standard procedure. Cartier with gold plating — check if it is gold-plated (thin gold): then a shorter 3 min cycle, max once every 2 months.

Glasses with wooden frames

DO NOT use ultrasonic cleaners. Clean by:

1. Damp microfiber
2. Neutral soap (e.g., Aleppo soap, glycerin soap)
3. By hand, in circular motions
4. Rinse under running water for 5 seconds
5. Dry with microfiber immediately

Frequency — plan

Daily glasses (prescription)

• Daily: microfiber + moisturizing spray (if offered by the optician)
• Once a week: 5-minute cycle with Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate
• Once every 6-12 months: optician visit (check hinges, fit)

Sunglasses

• After use: microfiber
• Once a month (summer season): 3-5 minute cycle with Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate
• Once every 3-6 months (winter/autumn): cycle with Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate

Sport glasses

• After session: microfiber + spray
• After season: 5-minute cycle with Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate
• Interchangeable lenses: clean separately

Comparison: Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate vs alternatives

Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate + cleaner = much cheaper than an optician with similar effectiveness.

Most common mistakes

Paper towel for drying — cellulose fibers scratch AR coatings (coating is 0.1-0.3 μm thin). Only microfiber.

Hot water — some AR coatings are made for max 35-40°C. Lukewarm 25°C = safe.

Full concentration of Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate — 1:40 is mandatory. Stronger may damage some delicate AR coatings.

Wooden frames in ultrasound — permanent damage. Only microfiber.

30+ min cycles — excessive. 3-5 min for daily, 10 min for neglected = enough.

Without a basket — glasses on the bottom of the cleaner: frames get scratched against the vibrating steel bottom. Always use a basket.

Toothpaste on lenses — a common myth. Toothpaste is abrasive, it scratches AR coatings. NEVER.

After the cycle — what next

1. Microfiber for drying (water drops)
2. Check hinges — are they loose? (after a Vitaclean cycle, they may become loose if they were already loose — an optician will replace the screws for 5-20 PLN)
3. Check nose pads — are they cracked? (replacement 10-30 PLN at an optician)
4. Glasses case: hard (not textile — dust settles between fibers)

Related articles

• Ultrasonic cleaner — complete guide
• Cleaning jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner
• Watches in an ultrasonic cleaner
• E-cigarettes in an ultrasonic cleaner

Related products

• Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate — 1 L ultrasonic cleaner concentrate — for all types of glasses (except wooden ones)

Sources

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate (PDF)
• Eyewear manufacturers (Ray-Ban, Persol, Oakley) — care guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an ultrasonic cleaner safe for glasses with anti-reflective coatings? +

YES — Vitaclean ultrasonic cleaner concentrate (pH 10.0 (DIN 19261)) does not attack anti-reflective or mirror coatings. The coatings are under the glass/plastic layer of the lens — cavitation acts on the surface, not deep inside. A 3-5 minute cycle is safe for all typical coatings (anti-reflection, blue light filter, mirror coatings, photochromic Transitions).

How long should the cycle be for daily glasses? +

3-5 minutes for daily hygiene (once every 1-2 weeks). 5-10 minutes for glasses that have not been cleaned for a long time. Shorter cycle than for jewelry because: (1) glasses have more accessible areas (frames, lenses), (2) plastic frames (acetate) are potentially more sensitive to vibrations. DO NOT exceed 15 minutes.

Are Ray-Ban frames (acetate / plastic) tolerant of ultrasound? +

YES — acetate (the most common plastic in glasses) is stable in ultrasound. Ray-Ban Wayfarer, Aviator (with plastic frame), Clubmaster — all are either acetate or combination (metal + acetate). A 3-5 minute cycle leaves no marks. The polishing of acetate disappears after repeated washing — this is natural wear, not an effect of the ultrasound.

What about wooden frames (Bewell, Shwood)? +

DO NOT use ultrasound. Wood (even impregnated) is porous — water penetrates the pores during the cycle, and the wood swells and cracks after drying. After one cycle in an ultrasonic cleaner, wooden glasses can be permanently damaged. Cleaning: damp microfiber cloth + neutral soap, by hand, rinse with clean water, and dry.

How to dry glasses after the cycle? +

Use only a soft microfiber cloth (the type used for camera lenses). DO NOT use: paper towels, tissues, shirts, kitchen towels — all can scratch anti-reflective coatings (the coating is thin, 0.1-0.3 μm). For moisture condensing in the lenses after rinsing: use a keyboard blower (compressed air for 1 second).

Can I clean polarized sunglasses? +

YES — polarization (the polarizing layer in the middle of the lens) is between 2 layers of glass/plastic; cavitation will not affect it. Safe for polarized Ray-Ban, Persol, Maui Jim, Oakley (Hydrofreak, ProBaseline). Standard 5-min cycle.

What about progressive / multifocal glasses? +

YES, it is safe. Progressive lenses have different focal zones within one lens (layers of glass of gradually varying thickness). Cavitation acts on the outer layer and does not affect the progressive structure. 5-min cycle — lenses return to full clarity without losing optical function.