Lens cleaning cloths - Buyer beware

Cleaning
4 replies•207 views
John Tucker avatar
John Tucker avatar

As much as I hate to do it, from time an accidental smudge occurs, and it becomes necessary to wipe a fingerprint or the like off a lense. I usually use an electronics compressed gas de-duster to remove any potential abrasive particles from the surface, lightly brush the surface with a lens cloth, then with a wet lens wipe, and finally with a microfiber lens cloth.

This last time I noticed that my lens was smudged after the final gentle wipe, forcing me to reluctantly clean it again. Once again, I got to the last step and the lens was smudged.

Took the lens cloth (a new one from right out of the package) and washed it in water containing a little dish soap. Before and after pictures of the water are shown below. After washing the lens cloth, you cannot even see through the measuring cup to read the graduations on the other side.

Dunno why it never occurred to me to wash these things before using them, but I will in the future.

📷 Screenshot 2026-02-23 212155.jpgScreenshot 2026-02-23 212155.jpg

Well Written Helpful Respectful Engaging
John Hayes avatar
John Hayes avatar

The cheapest and most easily available “wipe” for cleaning optical surfaces is Kleenex tissue. Avoid anything with lotion or scent. Just get the pure and simple Kleenex brand facial tissue. It may leave a little “lint” on the surface but that is easily blown off. My recommendation comes after once seeing a study done back in the ‘70s’ at the College of Optical Sciences that looked at the best way to clean optical surfaces. One big take away was how well Kleenex worked. Kim wipes are also good but you have to special order them.

John

Well Written Helpful Respectful Concise Engaging Supportive
John Tucker avatar
John Tucker avatar

John Hayes · Feb 24, 2026, 03:44 PM

The cheapest and most easily available “wipe” for cleaning optical surfaces is Kleenex tissue. Avoid anything with lotion or scent. Just get the pure and simple Kleenex brand facial tissue. It may leave a little “lint” on the surface but that is easily blown off. My recommendation comes after once seeing a study done back in the ‘70s’ at the College of Optical Sciences that looked at the best way to clean optical surfaces. One big take away was how well Kleenex worked. Kim wipes are also good but you have to special order them.

John

Interesting and useful, thanks. I used to work in lab and found that blowing my nose with kimwipes would leave me with some pretty nasty abrasions around my nose if I did it more than half a dozen times, and so always made it a point to keep Kleenex around if I had a cold.

So I might be careful about Kimwipes, no matter what the manufacturer claims. I dunno if cellulose will scratch glass, but I’d wonder about the coatings.

Helpful Concise Engaging
Bill McLaughlin avatar
Bill McLaughlin avatar

I have had great luck with PEC pads, which are kind of a staple for regular photographers.

Arun H avatar
Arun H avatar
Bill McLaughlin:
I have had great luck with PEC pads, which are kind of a staple for regular photographers.

Likewise I have used PEC pads and their cleaning solution with success. I have a box of Kim wipes that I bought from Amazon too.