Cleaning Your Lens Cloths

I'm sure you are like me in the fact that, at some point, your lens cleaning cloths need cleaning.  Also, I find that the cloths with which I keep my iPad and mobile phone screens clean need cleaning on occasion as well.  What's the best way?  Do you have a suggestion?  If so, please comment so the rest of us can benefit.

Personally, I found two methods that seem to have worked pretty well for me.  The first method is to use an isopropyl alcohol soak for a couple of hours to remove the oils and contaminants the cloth has picked up (gently massaging and turning the cloths over the soak time), then soak and rinse the cloths repeatedly in distilled water.

The second method is similar.  Instead of isopropyl alcohol, I have used Dawn dish washing liquid detergent, which is well known for removing grease, oils, wax, and other grime.  I'll also gently massage the cloth to use its friction to remove contaminants.  Like above, I then soak and rinse thoroughly several times in distilled water.  (Note: Never use Dawn to wash your vehicle as it will strip every bit of wax away!). Dawn can be harder to fully rinse out.  You don’t want to leave any detergent residue in the cloth.

After each of the methods I've highlighted above, I wring out the cloths then lay the now clean cloths onto a clean, smooth hard surface such as the rim of a bath tub or sink to dry.

I try minimize handling the cloths as handling them will deposit my skin oils back onto the cloths and then onto the surface of my lenses.

I have found that if I rinse with tap water, the cloths seem stiff and not as soft.  The distilled water seems to make the difference.

Do you have a better method?  Please share it.  There probably is a recommended method that I've missed somewhere.  

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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