The eyeglasses we wear — whether regularly or occasionally — require proper cleaning. Thorough cleaning means clear vision, and it also enhances the life of your eyeglasses.
Without regular cleaning, dirt and debris can accumulate, leading to scratches on the lenses. Dirt accumulation can also deteriorate the specialized coating, leading to unclear vision and a shorter lifespan of the glasses.
With regular (and thorough) cleaning, you can prevent dirt and debris from causing wear and tear to the eyeglasses. But are you really sure about the cleaning efficiency of microfiber cloths, tissues, or moistened wipes? Or should you try ultrasonic glasses cleaner, a high-tech cleaning approach?
In this post, we’ll compare these two approaches and find out which one renders better results.
How Traditional Glasses Cleaning Works
Eyeglass users often use shirt corners, handkerchiefs, and tissues to remove visible dirt, sweat, and stains. However, traditional approaches require a little more effort and patience.
The three most common approaches include:
1. Old School: Using Soap and Water
One traditional method (which is not so common these days) is washing glasses with soap and water. However, this technique is effective on hard-to-remove stains. Soap and water can easily remove oils and dirt but require careful drying to prevent water spots.
When using soap and water, the type of soap is critical to avoid damaging lens coatings. Harsh soaps can degrade anti-reflective coatings, shortening the lifespan of your glasses.
2. Cleaning with Microfiber Cloths
This method involves cleaning eyeglasses with a microfiber cloth soaked in a specialized eye glass cleaner solution. It’s an effective method for removing dust, smudges, and fingerprints.
That said, you need to be very gentle on the glass as sometimes it can leave streaks or scratches on the lenses. Moreover, make sure that you’re using a specialized cleaning solution that won’t harm the coating on the lens. Similarly, the quality of the cloth is vital for achieving satisfactory results.
3. Moistened Wipes
Pre-moistened wipes are convenient and portable, making them popular for on-the-go cleaning. They’re effective for quick touch-ups but not as effective as the above technique. The downside is that moist wipes often leave behind residue.
Other drawbacks include:
- Moist wipes can sometimes dry out before use, reducing their effectiveness.
- They contribute to waste due to their disposable nature.
- While they are practical, their single-use nature poses environmental concerns over time.
Key Differences: Ultrasonic vs. Traditional Cleaning
Ultrasonic glasses cleaner, on the other hand, offers thorough cleaning. This means it can prevent visible and invisible dirt, dust, stains, bacteria — you name it.
For instance, Sonic Soak is a portable ultrasonic cleaner with an excellent capability of producing 50,000 vibrations per second. These vibrations (ultrasonic waves) agitate the liquid, enabling it to produce low-pressure bubbles.
These bubbles are produced near the edges and corners of the submerged object. When popped, these bubbles cause hidden dirt, dust, and bacteria to leave the object’s surface, rendering thorough cleaning.
Below are the key differences between traditional and high-tech approaches to help you determine the best eyeglass cleaner:
Cleaning Mechanism
Traditional cleaning relies on manual effort. Sometimes, you may need a chemical solution to achieve the intended results.
On the other hand, an Ultrasonic glasses cleaner uses sound waves that produce microscopic bubbles, removing visible and invisible contaminants. These bubbles can reach hard-to-reach areas, like hinges and crevices, offering in-depth cleaning.
The ultrasonic method is non-invasive in nature. It ensures that even delicate lenses and frames remain intact during cleaning.
Effectiveness
One of the biggest challenges manual cleaning comes across is to clean intricate parts.
- You cannot remove grease near the hinges.
- It’s also quite difficult to remove residue around nose pads with manual cleaning.
This is where an ultrasonic eye glass cleaner excels. It can reach areas where a piece of cloth can’t effectively remove stubborn grime.
Time and Effort
Traditional methods require more effort and time, especially for stubborn stains or debris. On the other hand, ultrasonic cleaning is automated and usually takes just a few minutes.
Busy professionals and frequent travelers often appreciate the time-saving aspect of ultrasonic cleaners, as these devices work while you focus on other tasks.
Maintenance and Costs
Ultrasonic cleaners have a higher upfront cost but are reusable over the long term. Traditional cleaning supplies, like wipes and sprays, involve ongoing expenses for replacements.
While traditional methods might seem economical initially, the cumulative cost of consumables over time can rival or exceed the investment in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Benefits of Using an Ultrasonic Glasses Cleaner
An Ultrasonic glasses cleaner makes your daily chores much more convenient. It’s an upgrade that’ll not only be time-saving but would help save maintenance costs on so many things, such as eyeglasses, jewelry, small utensils, and much more.
Devices like Sonic Soak can prevent streaks and smudges on your glasses frame and increase their lifespan. If you’ve read a portable glass cleaner review, you’d know it won’t apply any unwanted pressure on the object, minimizing chances of damage next to zero.
The following benefits show why it’s the best glass cleaner on the market.
Plays Hard on Mysterious Smudges
Finding your glasses dirtier after the cleaning attempt is quite frustrating, and it happens because of mysterious smudges that seem to stay there forever. But before you decide to replace your glasses, try an ultrasonic glasses cleaner.
As said, it produces microscopic bubbles to remove all the dirt and grime from your eyeglasses, including intricate spots. After the first use, you’ll realize that there is no need to worry about a blurry patch ever again.
Smooth “Scratchless” Cleaning
Stop using your shirt’s hem or sleeves or using an ordinary tissue to clean your glasses! It could develop scratches on the lenses — Scratches that’ll stay there forever.
Try effortless and risk-free cleaning with the best glass cleaner.
You just have to put the glasses into the container, and they’ll come out like new.
Sanitization and Deodorization
The ultrasonic cleaner not only removes visible dirt but also annihilates invisible bacteria and germs. Moreover, it’ll also remove bad odor, ensuring your eyeglasses look clean and smell fresh.
Protect Lens Coatings
If your eyeglasses have specialized coatings, like anti-reflective layers or UV-blocking, manual cleaning can be harmful. You can use an ultrasonic glasses cleaner to preserve these coatings and keep them intact.
Efficient Cleaning
There’s no need to spend time on wiping to ensure your lens comes out streak-free. With an ultrasonic glasses cleaner, you can do that in just a minute or two — and that without doing anything.
Cost-Effective
There’s an initial investment as you have to buy the device. But you’ll notice that it’ll extend the life of your eyeglasses by keeping them in good condition. It’ll help you save the cost of glass repair and lens replacements in the long run.
Portability
Portable ultrasonic cleaner reviews often highlight their convenience for frequent travelers.
Travel-friendly designs often feature lightweight builds and compatibility with international power supplies.
Flexibility of Use
Ultrasonic cleaners are not just meant to clean eyeglasses. You can clean watches, dentures, jewelry, small LED lights, and every other small item that needs cleaning. All in all, it’s a worthwhile addition to your household.
Which Glasses Cleaning Method Is Right for You?
The following table gives a good idea about the eyeglasses cleaning approaches:
|
Features |
Ultrasonic Cleaner |
Moist Wipes |
Microfiber Cloth |
|
In-depth Cleaning |
Microscopic cleaning |
Effective on surface |
Can’t reach crevices |
|
Effectiveness |
Prevents dirt, stains, bacteria, etc. |
Often leave residue and streaks |
Risk of scratches |
|
Comfort |
Hands-free cleaning |
Manual cleaning takes longer |
Requires effort, increasing the risk of damage |
|
Environmental Impact |
Sustainable, low-energy use |
Wasteful (disposable) |
Chemicals add more carbon footprints |
|
Cost |
One-time investment |
Recurring purchases |
Damage can be costly |
To determine which cleaning method is suitable, you’ll compare thin terms of different aspects, such as usage, lifestyle, convenience, and, more importantly, budget.
Lifestyle and Usage
Occasional users may be more interested in manual cleaning, while frequent eyeglass users will find an ultrasonic glasses cleaner more attractive. If you have multiple pairs of glasses or you wear sunglasses, you can benefit from ultrasonic cleaning.
Budget Considerations
Traditional cleaning seems cheaper, but it involves recurring expenses. On the other hand, ultrasonic cleaners require a one-time investment.
In the long run, they can help you save on lens replacement and repairs. Above all, you don’t have to buy disposable cleaning supplies again and again.
Convenience Needs
For those seeking convenience and minimal effort, ultrasonic cleaners are the clear winner. Traditional methods, though more labor-intensive, can be handy in emergencies.
Having both options available might be ideal for balancing convenience and immediacy.
Environmental Impact
Traditional methods, especially pre-moistened wipes, generate more waste compared to the reusable nature of ultrasonic cleaners. Opting for an ultrasonic cleaner can be a more eco-friendly choice.
Environmental enthusiasts might appreciate the reduction in single-use plastics and other disposable materials.
Conclusion
Eyeglasses or sunglasses require proper cleaning in order to stay with you longer. Therefore, investing in a good long-term cleaning method can save you time and money in the long run.
We’ve discussed traditional cleaners and a hi-tech ultrasonic glasses cleaner. It’ll help you determine the best eyeglass cleaner to keep your lenses and frames intact.
With ultrasonic cleaner at home, all you need is just a single session every week to keep your glasses in brand-new condition. You’ll also notice that your glasses will be cleaned with just a few quick wipes.
So, stop bothering about those stubborn smudges on the lens. Put your glasses in the ultrasonic cleaner and enjoy a spotless view!
