# Green gunk on glasses **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623 "2003-06-04T15:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/1 "2003-06-04T15:59:29Z")
This is a problem that has annoyed me for years. What causes the green gunk that appears around the nosepiece on my glasses? I know this area collects a lot of facial oil, which I try to clean off regularly, but what causes the accumulation to turn green? Also, how can I clean off the gunk and keep it off? I’ve tried scrubbing the area with an old toothbrush and I have tried using cotton swabs, but neither of these methods has proven to be very effective as much of the residue still remains. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/2 "2003-06-04T16:09:26Z")
The acid of your skin reacting with the alloy of the metal. Toothpaste and other fine abrsives can clean/help clean. Jewelers polish (?) too. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/3 "2003-06-04T18:03:13Z")
It turns green because there’s copper in it. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/4 "2003-06-04T18:11:28Z")
Thanks for the replies. Does the acid reaction break down the metal (i.e. weaken it) significantly? I’ll try using some toothpaste on it, and failing that, I think I can get some jeweler’s polish from someone in my family. ---
**Author:** ![cybersnark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@cybersnark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cybersnark)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/5 "2003-06-04T18:27:44Z")
The nosepiece is probably brass (golden-colored metal), which is a mix of copper and tin. When it is exposed to a salty fluid (like sweat), copper oxide is formed, which is green. Only the surface portion of the metal is affected, so I seriously doubt if any substantial weakening is occuring (nor have I noticed any myself, having worn wire-rim glasses for about 35 years). If you want to stop it, clean the places that are green with soap and water, dry them, and then paint with a coating of clear nail polish. Note that the nail polish may wear off after time, so re-application may be necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/6 "2003-06-04T18:34:31Z")
Nickel, as well as copper, will form green salts. The corrosion isn’t normally bad enough to weaken the frames. If it’s turning your face green, or is just too annoying, try coating the corroded spots with clear nail polish. ---
**Author:** ![soulburnz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@soulburnz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulburnz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/7 "2003-06-05T02:40:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*Does the acid reaction break down the metal (i.e. weaken it) significantly? \*\* Both of my bows (part that is in between the earpiece and the front of the glasses) look like swiss cheese from the metal being eroded. They have been weakened. I have 2 green marks on the sides of my face where they rest. ---
**Author:** ![Calladair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Calladair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calladair)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/8 "2003-06-05T11:30:04Z")
They’re rather inexpensive. It might be more satisfactory to buy new nosepieces. If you’re a regular customer, your optician might even replace them for free and adjust your glasses to boot. Mine does. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/9 "2003-06-05T11:34:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by soulburnz \* > \*\*Both of my bows (part that is in between the earpiece and the front of the glasses) look like swiss cheese from the metal being eroded. They have been weakened. I have 2 green marks on the sides of my face where they rest. \*\* How long have you been wearing those glasses? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/10 "2003-06-05T11:51:58Z")
I’m womdering something - I have the same thing happpen, but my nocepeice is covered in plastic. Why would I get that green gunk? ---
**Author:** ![soulburnz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@soulburnz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulburnz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/11 "2003-06-06T02:38:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\*How long have you been wearing those glasses? \*\* About 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/12 "2003-06-06T03:35:14Z")
I noticed the same thing on mine. A 50%-50% solution of water and bleach sprayed on mine and letting my glasses sit for a day did the trick. I wasn’t worried about it, but it just looked weird. Tripler Who am I kidding. I’m weird anyway. . . ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/13 "2003-06-06T03:46:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by soulburnz \* > \*\*Both of my bows (part that is in between the earpiece and the front of the glasses) look like swiss cheese from the metal being eroded. They have been weakened. I have 2 green marks on the sides of my face where they rest. \*\* You’ve got to stop using those sulfuric acid towelettes on your face! Seriously, though, those frames must have been poorly manufactured. I’ve got frames twice that age, and they have only a trace of green oxidation near the earpieces. ---
**Author:** ![MikeRochenelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@MikeRochenelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeRochenelle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-gunk-on-glasses/179623/14 "2003-06-06T04:03:41Z")
I have titanium frame glasses (light and strong as hell, and will not corrode at all) and I still get massive green junk around the pads. The only thing that seems to make it go away even temporarily is about a 4 hour soak in rubbing alcohol, with the pads fully submerged. That keeps it away for about 3 months. As a bonus, this seems to clean the lenses far better than anything else I’ve tried. -Ben