How To Remove A Cloudy Film From Eyeglasses

Foggy glasses are not just annoying, but also have the potential of affecting your vision. Nobody enjoys wearing eyeglasses with cloudy lenses. And nobody should do it. If you’ve recently discovered that you have this issue, there might still be hope for having them fixed. Here’s what you should know about removing cloudy films from eyeglasses, especially if you have a habit of using the dishwasher to clean them.

The quality of water in your area may have a significant impact. If it’s hard water, the mineral deposits from its composition will slowly but surely build up to the surface of glassware, dishes, and your eyeglasses. If it’s soft water, corrosion will sneak in, sooner than you know.

Now, if you normally hand wash your eyeglasses, soft or hard water may not be the culprit. If, on the other hand, you frequently put them into the dishwasher, at least you have a clue on what’s causing it. Coming up next, we’ll show you how to tell if the cloudy film is caused by hard water, soft water, or anything else.

Make sure you read it all, as we’ll give you some tips on how to better care for your eyeglasses, too!

So, is the hazy film caused by hard water or by soft water?

You’ll be able to tell more about the nature of the cloudy film, depending on how you’re cleaning it faster. For the mineral buildups, white vinegar works wonders. Just pick up a soft cloth, like a dish towel, and soak it a little bit in white vinegar.

If you wipe your lenses with it and the cloudy film disappears, the answer is simple: it’s hard water. If vinegar has no effect on it, the good news is that you can tell it’s because of soft water. The bad news is that it is actually a sign of corrosion, and there’s nothing you can do about it!

For the part you can control, meaning the cloudy film caused by mineral buildup (magnesium and calcium ions mostly), you also have the alternative of acetone and a mild detergent. Use the nail polish remover first, and then do a second cleanup with a mild detergent.

If you can see an improvement though not a significant one, the buildup may be more stubborn and require a 15-minute soak in distilled vinegar.

A few extra tips on eyeglasses cloudy films

Using your dishwasher to clean your eyeglasses is generally not a good idea. Unless the manufacturer specifically mentions that they are dishwasher-safe, you should probably not even think about it.

If you do decide to handle them this way, it’s important that once the washing cycle ended, you don’t take out your eyeglasses immediately. Instead, open the door first and wait for the steam to escape and the glasses to completely cool down.