How to Clean a Camera Lens: Without Lens Cleaner

There’s nothing more disheartening than taking a bunch of photos to go home to edit, only to find that your lens was dirty. Your images are now blurry, out of focus, or covered in smudges and fingerprints.

If that’s happened to you, then you need to know how to clean your camera lens. We’ll show you the best methods to keep your lens clean and images sharp, and to ensure that your lens lasts for years to come.

Keep reading for our favorite methods for both cameras and phones.

How Often Should You Clean a Camera Lens?

It depends on the state of the lens. The best rule of thumb is to clean it when it’s dirty. If you’re shooting all day, this might mean giving it a quick clean a few times a day. If you shoot once a week, you may get by with a weekly clean.

When you take your camera out of its case, check the front and rear of the lens. If you notice smudges, dust, or other spots, then clean your lens before you shoot.

How to Test a Dirty Camera Lens

Sometimes you can’t see the dirt and debris on a camera lens. You can perform a dirt test to check whether or not the lens needs cleaning. Here’s how:

1. Set lens: Turn your lens to manual focus. Focus on the furthest point away and lock it in place.
2. Set aperture: Set the lens to a narrow aperture. The higher, the better.
3. Take a picture: Point the camera at a bright clear surface, such as a white wall or blue sky. Take a few photos.
4. Check picture: Looking at the photo via your camera, phone or computer, zoom in on the image and check every part of the photo. If you see spots, streaks, lines, or smudges, then you will need to clean the lens and/or sensor.

How to Clean a Camera Lens

Let’s get into the best way to clean a camera lens. We have four different methods to try. You’ll notice that you can’t really clean lenses with household items. It’s essential to invest in specific lens cleaning products.

Find the best method for you or combine these cleaning methods for even more thorough results.

• Time: 5 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

What You’ll Need

Choose one of the following:

• Air blower or can of compressed air
• Soft-bristled brush
• Microfiber cloths or lens wipes
• Lens cleaning fluid and cloth

With an Air Blower

1. Position lens: Face the lens upwards. Make sure you have good light to see the dust and debris leaving the surface.
2. Blow air onto the lens: Hold your air blower or compressed air at a 45-degree angle from one side of the lens. Blow air onto the lens and watch the dust and debris lift. Rotate the lens as necessary.

With a Soft-Bristled Brush

1. Position lens: Face the lens upwards again. This allows you to clearly see what you’re doing.
2. Brush: With a soft brush, sweep gently from one side of the lens to the other. Continue until you’re satisfied with the results.
3. Don’t forget grooves: Use your brush to get into tight grooves and edges of the lens. You may also need to work harder to remove sticky residue on your lens.

With Microfiber Cloth and Lens Wipes

1. Position lens: Face the lens upright and work under good light.
2. Fold the cloth: Fold your microfiber cloth into a padded square or triangle.
3. Wipe: Gently wipe the lens to remove dust, debris, and streaks. Work from one side to the other. Then finish by moving in circular motions.
4. Wipe with lens wipe: You can finish the job with disposable lens wipes. These have a cleaning solution on them which can provide a deeper clean and remove sticky residue.
5. Airy dry: Leave the lens to air dry completely. This can take about an hour.

With Lens Cleaning Fluid

1. Apply liquid: Apply 3-5 drops of lens cleaner onto a microfiber cloth or lens tissue.
2. Position lens: Hold the lens upright under good light.
3. Wipe: Gently wipe the lens from side to side.
4. Dry lens: Use a dry microfiber cloth or lens tissue to remove the residual fluid.
5. Air dry: Leave the lens to air dry fully.
6. Examine: Examine the lens to ensure it’s clean. If not, repeat the above steps.

How to Clean a Camera Lens Without Lens Cleaner

If you don’t have lens cleaner fluid or lens cleaning wipes but need something liquid to remove stubborn marks, you can make your own lens cleaner.

Simply mix distilled water with 99 percent isopropyl alcohol in a 50:50 ratio. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and mix well. Apply a few drops of the solution to a microfiber cloth and wipe the lens from left to right. Wipe again with a dry microfiber cloth, then leave the lens to air dry.

How to Clean Camera Lens Fungus

Camera lens fungus is a combination of moisture and dust that creeps inside the camera lens. The dust and moisture combination forms a fungus that can rapidly grow. It looks like spiderwebs or patches inside the lens. Over time, it can ruin your images and, eventually, your lens. Here’s how to remove it.

• Time: About two days
• Difficulty: Intermediate

What You’ll Need

• Direct sunlight or UV lamp
• White vinegar
• Water

1. Remove the Front Lens

The first thing you need to do is remove the front lens, often known as the lens mount or protective ring. You can use a lens wrench or spanner to do so, though some lenses are secured with screws. Once it’s detached, you can remove the glass and access the fungi.

2. Expose to Light

Place your front lens on a soft towel or microfiber cloth and lay it outside in direct sunlight for 24 hours. If it’s easier, you can place it under a UV lamp. The UV rays can kill fungi and prevent growth.

3. Clean the Lens

Once the fungi are killed, you still need to clean the lens. Mix a 50:50 solution of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spritz it onto a microfiber cloth and wipe the lens from left to right to remove fungi residue.

4. Dry Lens

Wipe the lens dry with a separate microfiber cloth. Leave it to air dry for 24 hours. Replace it to the lens.

How to Clean Camera Lens On an iPhone

You might not think about it too often, but your iPhone (and other types of phones) camera lens gets dirty, too. If you don’t clean it, your photos can look hazy or blurry. We’ll show you how to remove smudges and fingerprints on your iPhone. Your pictures will look amazing afterwards!

• Time: 15 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

What You’ll Need

• Two microfiber cloth
• Lens cleaning fluid
• Lens sticker

1. Wipe Lens

Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the lens. Remove dust, debris, fingerprints, smudges, and other dirt.

2. Apply Fluid

Spritz a little fluid onto a separate cloth and wipe the lens from top to bottom several times.

3. Use Lens Sticker

After leaving the lens to dry for about 10 minutes, use a lens sticker to remove any extra dirt and dust from your lens. Afterward, use a dry side of the microfiber cloth to give it one more clean.

How to Keep a Camera Lens Clean

We want to ensure your camera and phone lenses are in the best condition possible. After all, we love to photograph our lives, and for those photos to be Insta-worthy, your lens needs to be clean. Here are our top maintenance tips:

• Use a lens cap: Always attach a lens cap when you’re not using your camera, especially before you place it into its bag.
• Use a camera bag: Using a camera bag can keep your lens safe from damage and dust.
• Avoid dust: Dust is the number one culprit for dirtying up a lens. Avoid dust by properly changing lenses. Always tilt the camera down when you change lenses. Wipe dust and dirt off your lens mount and lens regularly. Cleaning your camera lens before each use is super helpful at kicking dust to the curb.
• Avoid certain cleaners: Don’t clean your lens with abrasive cleaners, chemical cleaners, hard-bristled brushes, baby wipes, clothes, cotton swabs, or soap. These can damage the lens and the protective coating, and leave behind lint.
• Avoid moisture and humidity: Try and keep your camera in a cool or warm, dry, environment. Heat and moisture can damage your lens. You can buy dry cabinets to store your lenses and cameras if you live in a humid environment.
• Avoid touching the lens: The more you touch the lens glass, the dirtier it will become. When changing lenses, try to avoid touching the glass.
• Use a UV filter: Some photographers like UV filter protective lenses, which protect your actual lens from dirt and smudges. It can also prevent cracks and scratches. You don’t even need to remove this cover while you’re shooting!

FAQs

Can You Clean the Inside of a Camera Lens?

We don’t recommend doing this at home. It’s best to let the professionals clean the inside of your camera lens. If you expose it to moisture, even lens cleaning fluid, you can cause permanent damage.

Can You Use Windex to Clean a Camera Lens?

No, Windex is too harsh and can wear down the protective coating on your camera lens.

Can You Use Hand Sanitizer to Clean Camera Lens?

Don’t use hand sanitizer to clean your camera lens. The texture and components in hand sanitizer can smudge and ruin your camera lens.

Can You Repair a Scratched Camera Lens?

There are a few DIY methods floating around. In our experience, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. But you can try one if you’re willing to take that risk.

• Rubbing alcohol: Dilute a 1:20 ratio of rubbing alcohol and water. Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution. Gently rub the scratch until it disappears.
• Vaseline: After cleaning your lens, apply a little Vaseline to the scratch using your finger. Wipe the excess off with a microfiber cloth.
• Toothpaste: Apply a little toothpaste to a microfiber cloth before gently rubbing the scratch in circular motions.

Be careful with these methods, as they can wear down the lens’s protective coating.

Cleaning Cameras Carefully

When your camera lens needs cleaning, you must follow these methods. Using any old cloth or cleaner can damage your lens, cause scratches and wear down the protective coating.

You must only use the suggested materials, such as an air blower, microfiber cloths, or lens cleaning fluid. When in doubt, take the camera to a professional.

Overall, these methods will work great on all kinds of camera lenses, whether you have a chunky Canon DSLR, a beloved Nikon, a laptop webcam, or a regular smartphone. Keep your lenses clean and your images sharp.