# What is in lens cleaning solution? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111 "2010-07-09T17:13:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/1 "2010-07-09T17:13:46Z")
For cameras and eyeglasses. I’m not talking about the methanol that is used for cleaning the sensor filter surface in cameras, just the everyday cleaner for lenses. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s 100% water, but hope that there something else in there that makes it worth paying for. The one I have in my hand says if it contacts skin, rinse with water, but says it contains no alcohol or ammonia. BTW I usually use a dry microfiber cloth but occasionally like to use the fluid to do a better job getting rid of oily smudges. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/2 "2010-07-09T17:19:58Z")
I don’t think it’s just water – my cleaning solutions don’t “wet” the same way as water. Yours, since it has no alcohol, may contain a surfactant (soap, detergent, or softener) that helps it to wet the surface, lift off dirt, and remove oils. I prefer alcohol, myself, which is pretty good at cutting oil. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/3 "2010-07-09T17:21:42Z")
Here’s a homemade solution that contains alcohol and soap: [http://www.chesterscleanhouse.com/2007/08/homemade-eyeglass-cleaner.html](http://www.chesterscleanhouse.com/2007/08/homemade-eyeglass-cleaner.html) If you search for “homemade eyeglass cleaner” you’ll find lots of such recipes. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/4 "2010-07-09T17:28:40Z")
I Googled “lens cleaner msds” (the material data safety sheet) and most of the ones I looked at had alcohol and glycol. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/5 "2010-07-09T21:35:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Here’s a homemade solution that contains alcohol and soap: > > [http://www.chesterscleanhouse.com/2007/08/homemade-eyeglass-cleaner.html](http://www.chesterscleanhouse.com/2007/08/homemade-eyeglass-cleaner.html) > > If you search for “homemade eyeglass cleaner” you’ll find lots of such recipes. Interesting. If you recommend it then I know it’s safe 🙂 But this particular recipe gives _parts_ of water and alcohol but _a few drops_ of detergent. If you’re making a quart of solution I would think a drop of detergent is probably enough, especially if you’re not going to rinse with clear water afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![cromulent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b4bc9f/32.png) [@cromulent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cromulent)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/6 "2010-07-09T21:47:03Z")
The stuff that is used to clean anti-reflective lenses has to my understanding at least, soaps that will not remove the coating as well as a small amount of the anti-reflective coating chemicals dissolved in the solution, which makes the cleaning solution less likely to strip the AR coating from the lenses. I wouldn’t use alcohol or a solution containing alcohol on AR coatings, as it might strip it from the lens. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-lens-cleaning-solution/546111/7 "2010-07-09T22:05:49Z")
Personally I wouldn’t use any solution on my lenses. Microfiber only. And maybe a little fogging with my breath. (And just a note: If you feel you **must** use a solution, put it on the cloth, not directly on the lens.)