The human is amazing but also limited in terms of range. Sometimes, we’re out sightseeing or hunting, and we can’t see what’s ahead: we’ve found a way around this with the invention of visual aids.
There are several visual enhancers or aids, but our focus is binoculars. Binoculars are among the most used visual aids, and we can see their application everywhere.
The binocular is dependent on its lenses and other components. If the lens is dirty, you’ll have a hard time using the binoculars. You should learn how to clean binocular lenses: we’re here to give you simple steps.
How to Clean Binocular Lenses
Binoculars are used mostly outdoors and are prone to accumulating dirt on the lenses and body. If the lenses are dirty, it will become difficult to see through them, and you need to clean your lenses. Also, dirt from the body can easily transfer to the lenses, so we’ll also show you how to clean the body later in this post.
Cleaning your lenses goes beyond getting rid of dirt: it also includes maintaining the binoculars and preventing further contamination. We’ll look at detailed steps on cleaning the lens and also how to maintain a clean lens.
Owner’s Manual
Before you take any steps, first check the owner’s manual. The manual should contain instructions regarding cleaning and other things. Nobody knows the product more than the manufacturers.
Some chemicals shouldn’t be used on the binoculars, and all these are included in the instruction manual. Also, the instruction manual gives the warranty condition. Check to ensure none of your cleaning steps violate your warranty.
Materials
After reading through the manual, get the materials you need for cleaning. The lens of the binoculars is sensitive and should be cleaned with care, and also, the tools used should be soft to avoid scratching the lens.
You’ll need lens pens, a rubber blower, a soft cloth or microfiber material, a lens cleaning solution, water, and a binoculars kit.
Although a binoculars kit is recommended, you can still clean your lenses in the absence of one. Just ensure you use soft materials and a solution that won’t affect the chemicals coating the lens.
Cleaning the Lenses
Once you’re equipped with the knowledge of the manual and your cleaning materials, you’re ready to begin.
Remove the Caps
Your binoculars have two sets of lenses, the eyepiece (or ocular lenses) and the objective lenses. Both the ocular and objective lenses have a protective cover called the lens cap. First, remove these lens caps to access the lenses.
After removing the lens caps, hold the binoculars so the lenses of interest face you.
Blower Pump
After removing the cap, don’t touch the lens with your fingers. Use a rubber blower pump if there’s any debris, dust, or particle on the lenses. You can also use any other source that can generate a gentle stream of clean air.
Never blow air from your mouth onto the lenses: it can contaminate them further. If you don’t have a blower, you can get one from any hardware store.
Use the blower on the objective lenses first, then move to the ocular lenses, or vice versa. Ensure the lens is facing you at an angle to prevent dust from falling on it again.
Use the Lens Cleaning Pen
After you’ve used the blower, there might still be some stuck debris: don’t use your finger or any hard thing to scratch this stuck dirt. Instead, use your cleaning pen to gently scrape the remaining dirt off each lens.
The cleaning pen has a brush-like end with bristles. The bristles are specially designed for cleaning lens surfaces and are very soft.
You can substitute the cleaning pen with any soft alternative. However, it’s better to use the recommended pen brush to be safe.
Ready the Solution and Microfiber Cloth
Next, bring out your cleaning solution and microfiber cloth. We recommend microfiber material because it’s soft and won’t scratch your lens. Also, some cleaning solutions may not be as recommended as others: check your manual for any recommendations.
Some lens cleaning solutions have chemicals that can remove the protective coats on the lenses. If you use these solutions, excess light transmission will enter your binoculars, affecting the formed images.
Once you have your proper solution and cloth, slightly moisten the center of the cloth. Don’t use too much of the solution, or your lens will become messy. Also, don’t apply the solution directly to the lens – ensure you apply it to the cloth first.
Clean the Lens
Before you use the damp cloth on the lens, ensure no debris is left: this is what the cleaning pen can be used for. If there’s still debris on the lens, rubbing it with the cloth can scratch the lens. Also, adding moisture to dirt will spread it over the lens.
If you’re sure there’s no debris on the lens, clean it with a moist cloth. Rub the lens in circular motions until it appears completely clear. Don’t use too much force, or you can damage your lenses.
Remember, don’t use just any material on the surface of your lens: use only microfiber material. Tissue paper or paper towels should also not be used, as they aren’t soft enough.
After cleaning the lenses, cover them with the lens caps if not in use.
Maintenance
Cleaning your lens is important, but it’s not a good idea to clean it consistently. If you keep cleaning the lens, the lens coating will become scratched over time. To avoid this, maintain your binoculars and prevent dirt from building up.
Let’s see how we can maintain our binoculars:
Limited Cleaning
The binoculars don’t require regular cleaning: cleaning them as few times as possible is best. Frequent cleaning can damage the lens and also wash off the protective coat. It’s good to avoid cleaning your lenses unless they are actually dirty.
Prevent Moisture Buildup
Make sure water doesn’t get inside or in contact with your binoculars. It’s not necessary for water to touch your binoculars when you’re cleaning. It’s not a good idea to wash your binoculars under running water.
Most manufacturers will say their product is waterproof, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Water can get into your binoculars, and this will cause mold to grow.
If, by chance, water touches your binoculars, leave them to dry. Wait to replace the lens cap until completely dry, or mold will form on your lenses.
Store Them
Your binoculars should come with a case. The case is perfect for preventing the binoculars from getting dirty. You can simply place your binoculars on a clean, flat platform without a case. Ensure you don’t place the binoculars with any of the lenses facing upwards.
Cleaning Your Binoculars
Cleaning the body is the same process as cleaning the lenses. Before you begin, ensure you cover the lenses with the lens cap to prevent dirt from falling on them. After you’ve used the lens cap, you can start the process:
Blowing
Just like the lenses, use a rubber blower to blow off the body’s dust, debris, and dirt. Use the blower on every inch of the body until it’s clean. The purpose of the blower is to remove loose or stuck dirt.
Cleaning
After blowing, you can use a clean rag to wipe the body. You don’t have to be picky about the rag, since the body won’t scratch easily, but we still advise using a soft material. Use the rag to clean off any stuck debris.
You can use a moist rag if there are still stains or dirt. Apply a little warm water or a suitable cleaning solution to the rag and use it to wipe the body. Once you’re done with proper cleaning, allow the body to dry, and store the binoculars in the case.
How to Clean the Inside
Suppose you see the need to clean the inside of your binoculars. If you open the binoculars, you’ll damage them. If mold grows inside your binoculars or dirt manages to get into them, take them to an expert.
Your binoculars are not something you can open anyhow: the internal structure isn’t simple, and some properties will be lost after exposure. Contact the manufacturer if you notice any anomaly inside the binoculars.
Conclusion
Binoculars are handy visual enhancers that improve our range of vision. Due to outdoor usage, our lenses can get dirty. When this occurs, we have to clean our binocular lenses, or we won’t be able to see.
We’ve given you a step-by-step guide if you don’t know how to clean binocular lenses. With this guide, you can take proper care of your binoculars and other hardware.
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