Lens cleaning

[Chris71]

What's the best way to clean a lens if you only have very basic household stuff to hand? Would a sparing application of washing up liquid be okay?

[spike ST500]

I'd thought washing up liquid might leave a smear.

maybe a very dilute solution on a lint free cloth

[miniman]

Absolutely not. Here's a list of what's in Fairy Liquid:

• Aqua
• Sodium laureth sulphate
• Alcohol denat
• Lauramine oxide
• C9-11 pareth-8
• Sodium chloride
• 1,3-Cyclohexanedimethanamine
• PPG (polypropylene glycols)
• Dimethyl aminoethyl methecrylate/hydroxyproply acrylate copolymer cirate
• Parfum
• Geraniol
• Limonene
• Colourant

Sodium chloride being salt, which is abrasive.

[GetCarter]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sandpaper would be better than washing up liquid.

[LongQ]

Chris71 said:

What's the best way to clean a lens if you only have very basic household stuff to hand? Would a sparing application of washing up liquid be okay?

What are you trying to clean from it?

Does it really need cleaning?

Are you talking SLR type lens or compact or something between?

[Chris71]

It's an SLR lens. Okay, so no washing up liquid, got it. What can I use?

[miniman]

Lens cleaning solution and a pec pad, microfibre lens cloth, lens pen - basically something designed for the job.

[14-7]

Surely isopropyl alcohol would be ideal?

[spike ST500]

he did say household products!

[_dobbo_]

Is it bad that I just huff my breath on mine and then wipe with my shirt?

[LongQ]

_dobbo_ said:

Is it bad that I just huff my breath on mine and then wipe with my shirt?

Probably depends on what you have eaten in the previous 24hr and what sort of shirt you are wearing ...

With a modern lens and a reasonable certainty that the short is not impregnated with any form of abrasive dust at the time (eg. from a volcano or sand storm) you probably don't see any problems.

Washed one of mine in rainwater last weekend. Had to really - rain drops all over it affecting the image quality.

[Simpo Two]

_dobbo_ said:

Is it bad that I just huff my breath on mine and then wipe with my shirt?

I do the first part of that (but then use a lens cloth).

What's the nature of the dirt? Meths is an excellent geberal purpose degreaser but I've never tried it on a lens.