Prep first
Before you start
- Blot up standing water promptly with a dry, white absorbent cloth or paper towels.
- Brush off dust before you wipe anything.
- Use a lens wipe on lenses, and mild soap on frames.
Water spots on glasses are a film left behind when water dries on the lenses or frames. A fresh spot wipes off easily, but one that has sat and dried can leave a smear that calls for a gentler second pass rather than more pressure. Glasses can't take abrasive cleaners or heat, so most of the work is a soft lens wipe and a light touch.
Wipe the lenses right after a splash, because water stains on eyeglasses lift far more easily before they dry. Saline spots on prescription eyeglasses can be stubborn, so don't reach for anything harsh on the coating. Keep a clean spare cloth handy, since a gritty one drags dust across the lens and leaves new marks.
Before you start
What eyeglasses can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Hot water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid2
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Dry, white absorbent cloth or paper towelsBlots up standing water before it dries. (opens Amazon)
- Lens wipeCleans the lenses without a tissue, tie or sleeve. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap (dishwashing liquid)Lifts the water film off the frames. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterUsed with the soap and for the final rinse.
- Soft, lint-free clothDries the lenses and frame without leaving fibers. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot and brush off the water and dust
Blot up any standing water promptly with a dry, white absorbent cloth or paper towels. Then brush off the dust, so grit isn't dragged across the lenses when you wipe.
Step 2 of 6
Test a hidden spot first
Pretest any cleaner on a hidden area, such as the inside of a temple or the underside of the frame. Check that spot before you treat the visible one, since a surface can react differently from one part of the glasses to another.
Careful. Pretest any cleaner on a hidden area first, even one that seems mild.
Step 3 of 6
Wipe the lenses with a lens wipe
Use a lens wipe in small circular movements, working from the center of each lens out to the edge. Keep the pressure light and let the wipe do the work.
Tip. Fold the wipe so a clean side always faces the lens.
Step 4 of 6
Wash the frames with mild soap
Wipe the frames with a soft cloth dampened in mild soap (dishwashing liquid) and warm water. Pay attention to the hinges and nose pads, where water and soap collect.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse the soap off the frames
Wipe the frames again with a cloth dampened in warm water to remove the soap. Check the hinges and the join between the lens and frame, since soap left there leaves its own film.
Step 6 of 6
Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth
Dry the lenses and the frame with a soft, lint-free cloth. Look at the lenses in good light, and if a ring or smear is still there, use the lens wipe once more.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for water stains on eyeglasses
Use a lens wipe made for eyeglasses, and keep a soft, lint-free cloth just for drying.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on eyeglasses, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The lenses should look clear with no haze or ring when you tilt them toward a light. The frame should feel smooth, with no soap left in the hinges or nose pads. If a ring still shows from one angle, repeat the lens wipe before you call it done.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your eyeglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses take the same two-part approach: the lens wipe for the lenses and mild soap with warm water for the frame. Brush off the dust before you wipe, so grit isn't dragged across the lens.
If you can't tell whether the lenses have a coating, stick to the lens wipe and warm water only, and skip the soap on the lenses. Check the spot again in good light, and repeat the lens wipe if a ring remains.
Lenses and smears
A smear is what's left on the lens after water dries, and it shows most when light hits the lens at an angle. Use a lens wipe in small circular movements, starting at the center and working out to the edge.
Only the lenses change here, so the frame doesn't need soap for a smear. Finish with a soft, lint-free cloth so no fibers or dust stay behind.
Prescription eyeglasses
Saline spots need a gentler start: rinse the lenses with warm water first so the salt loosens before you wipe. Then use the lens wipe in small circular movements, with light pressure.
Prescription lenses can have coatings you can't check at home, so don't reach for a stronger cleaner. If the spot is still there after one round, stop rather than trying something new.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
A spot that has been on the glasses for days is harder to lift than a fresh one, so the first pass may not clear it. Repeat the lens wipe and the frame wash once more, keeping the same light pressure each time.
If the spot has dried on, let the damp lens wipe sit on it for a moment before you move to the next section of the lens. Don't add pressure or switch to a stronger cleaner, because a lens coating can't be checked at home.
If the spot is still there after two rounds, it may have bonded to the lens or frame, and the next step is a professional rather than a harsher product. Until then, leave the glasses be rather than trying anything new.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on water stains on eyeglasses?
Most household remedies are built for fabric, stone or metal, and several are unsafe on the materials glasses are made from. Only a lens wipe, mild soap and warm water are needed on glasses. The others each have a reason they're unsafe on eyeglasses.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't wipe lenses with a tissue, tie or sleeve
Those aren't made for lenses, so a lens wipe is the right tool. A sleeve or tie also carries dust and grit back onto the glass as you rub.
Don't use abrasive cleansers or scrub pads
Gritty cleansers and scrub pads are off the list for glasses, even the plastic or nylon kind. The soap, water and lens wipe do all the work instead.
Don't leave glasses in extreme heat
A hot car is a bad place for glasses while you treat them. Keep them somewhere cool and shaded until the spot is gone.
When to call a professional
If a spot stays after the lens wipe and the frame wash, take the glasses to an optician. They can check the lens coating and tell you what is safe before anything stronger is tried.
Questions
Can I put glasses in the dishwasher?
Wash them by hand instead, since that's the gentlest choice for glasses. Use mild soap (dishwashing liquid) and warm water on the frame, and the lens wipe on the lenses.
Does the spot come back after drying?
It can, if the lens or frame wasn't fully dried or soap was left behind. Rinse the frame, dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth, and check the lens in good light.
Do sunglasses need a different method?
No, the same two parts apply: the lens wipe on the lenses and mild soap with warm water on the frame. The only change is that you stick to the lens wipe alone if the coating is unclear.
What about saline spots on prescription lenses?
Rinse the lenses with warm water first, then use the lens wipe in small circular movements. If the spot stays after one round, stop, since prescription lenses can have coatings you can't see.
Can I clean drinking glasses this way?
Drinking glasses and windows are a different surface, so see the Glass, Windows & Mirrors guide for those. No, this cleaning is for eyeglasses and sunglasses only.
Why use a lens wipe instead of a cloth?
A lens wipe is made for lenses, so it's the safe choice when water and dust are on them. Use it in small circular movements, and fold it so a clean side faces the lens.
Water Stains on other materials
Other stains on eyeglasses
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.