The Koala cleaning kit with a pair of glasses. Kayla Solino/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
I've been wearing prescription glasses since I was a baby, so trust me when I tell you I know a lot about keeping lenses clean and protected -- I've had over 20 years of practice.
While it may seem like you can clean your sunglasses or glasses with any old "glass cleaner," or something as simple as soap and water, I am here to tell you that it can be a huge (and costly) mistake. Most glass cleaning products (even dish soap) can be too abrasive and harsh on specialized lenses and damage protective coatings for UV, glare, blue light, and more.
Also: The new iPad Pro's biggest upgrade isn't the M5 chip
Of course, clean at your own risk, but there is no fix for damaged lens coatings -- you'll have to pay for new lenses.
Also: I tested the $15 screen-cleaning solution used in Apple stores and it worked like magic
And just like glasses, the screens on your tech products should be handled with the utmost care. Lucky for you, I'm sharing one of my best-kept secrets that can clean lenses and screens with ease -- without damaging either. Meet Koala cleaner.
Koala Cleaner is my all-time favorite cleaning product for my glasses, and it has been for many years. Nothing keeps my lenses crisper or as crystal clear as Koala does, and the included K-Cloth (which is made of Japanese microfiber) is the best for cleaning. It puts dozens of other microfiber cloths I've used to shame, and I can always tell when I haven't used one.
Koala cleaner is available at Amazon in a 2-piece, 4-piece, and 6-piece set, with the smallest set starting at $8 and the largest coming in at $18. I've purchased several iterations of these kits over the years, but the 2-piece set is a great place to start if you're purchasing for the first time or want to try it out. Included in this kit is a 2-ounce bottle of Koala Cleaner (about 275 sprays) and a K-Cloth microfiber cleaning cloth for under $10.
... continue reading