The Koala cleaning kit with a pair of glasses. Kayla Solino/ZDNET
I've been wearing prescription glasses since I was 18 months old, 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. Of course, clean at your own risk, but I have damaged my lens coating once before from plain soap and water, and there is no fix for it besides getting brand 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.
The Koala cleaning kit with a pair of glasses and an iPad. Kayla Solino/ZDNET
Koala says its cleaner is safe for glasses and sunglasses, coated lenses, electronic displays, and more. It is alcohol—and ammonia-free and made in the US. The microfiber cloth captures and holds particles and is easy to wash and reuse.
Also: This 20-in-1 accessory kit is my new favorite tech essential, and it's very cheap
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