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How to Clean VR Lenses: Get Rid of Smudges

Updated
Learn how to clean VR lenses for an amazing virtual reality experience.

Virtual reality lenses give you the ability to travel all over the world in your living room. You can experience a world you never imagined existed. However, while Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift lenses are fun to use and designed to handle intense movements, they’re still delicate.

They need to be cared for properly in order to maintain your lenses, prolong their life, and keep them hygienic.

Key Takeaways

  • Clean VR lenses with compressed air and a dry microfiber cloth, avoiding liquids and alcohol wipes.
  • Ideally, clean VR lenses before and after each use, or at least once a month.
  • To prevent scratches, use screen protectors cut to fit VR lenses and replace when needed.
  • Prevent lens fogging by warming up lenses, adjusting fit, using a cloth on the nose bridge, and keeping cool during use.


How Often Should I Clean My VR Lenses?

VR lenses need to be cleaned regularly. Ideally, you should clean your VR lenses before and after each time you use them. They pick up dust while they’re in storage, and you’ll put some oil smudges on the lenses while you’re using them.

Even if you don’t use them often, you will still need to clean the lenses at least once a month. This will prevent dust, grease, and dander from building up on the lenses.

How to Clean Oculus Lenses

When you’re cleaning Oculus Lenses, be sure not to use a liquid cleaner, including alcohol, lens cleaner, and disinfectant wipes, on the lenses. These can damage and scratch them. You can however use disinfectant wipes on external surfaces and accessories.

  • Time: 5 minutes
  • Difficulty: Beginner

What You’ll Need

1. Read Manufacturer’s Instructions

Before you use or clean your Oculus lenses, read the manufacturer’s instructions for any particulars as to how you should care for your lenses.

2. Remove Dust

The first step to cleaning is to remove all the dust from your lenses, cushions, and headphones. Use the compressed air to blow the dust away from the lenses. Also blow air over the cushions and headphones as well, although be sure to aim the air away from the lenses to prevent dust from blowing onto them.

3. Wipe Lens

Use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to wipe your lenses. Be sure to use a gentle circular motion moving from the center of the lenses towards the outside.

Remember that you should never use liquid on your lenses. The liquid can scratch your lenses or damage electronic components.

Wipe your lenses 2 or 3 times if needed.

4. Wipe Cushions & Headphones

Now use a skin-safe disinfectant wipe to wipe down your cushions and headphones. Avoid anything with alcohol as it may damage them.

5. Dry

Give your cushions and headphones time to thoroughly dry before putting your Oculus lenses away.

How to Clean VR Lenses Without Microfiber Cloth

If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, you can pick up a Lenspen to clean your VR lenses.

First, you will need to use the brush on the Lenspen to remove all the dust from your lenses. Then remove the cap. You will see a carbon cleaning tip.

Use the tip to remove smudges, dirt, and any other gunk from your glasses.

Taking Care of Your VR Lenses

Here are a few maintenance tips you can follow to help take care of your VR lenses.

Wash Hands

Always wash your hands before using your VR lenses. This will help to keep you from accidentally smearing dirt, oil, and grease on your VR lenses.

Wash Your Face

Wash your face before using your VR lenses or wipe your face with a facial wipe. This will help to remove any oils on your skin that will get onto the lenses during use.

Clean Surfaces Regularly

Clean all the surfaces of your VR lenses regularly, even if you have them in storage. Dust will build up on the surfaces which will make it harder to clean your VR lenses when you want to use them.

Screen Protectors

Use screen protectors to protect your VR lenses. You can purchase cell phone screen protectors, then cut them into the shape of your VR lenses. Put the screen protectors on your lenses to help keep them from getting scratched or damaged during use.

When the screen protectors become dirty, you can change them for a new set of screen protectors.

Use a Fan or Air Conditioning

People often get hot while using VR lenses, so one tip is to have a fan or air conditioning on while you’re playing. This will reduce the amount of sweat you produce and help to prevent the sweat from getting on your lenses.

How to Store VR Headset Correctly

Always store your VR headset and all its gear in a drawer or cloth bag to prevent dust from accumulating on your VR lenses. You can also use a foam protector for your VR headset.

How to Stop VR Lenses From Fogging

VR lenses can fog up while you’re using them. The reason is that the lenses are usually cool and you’re warm. So condensation happens when the warm moisture from your breath or skin touches the cool lenses.

There are a couple of tricks you can use to help prevent your VR lenses from fogging up.

Warm Up the Lenses

You can warm up the lenses before use by placing them on your forehead for 5-10 minutes before playing. You won’t be producing any sweat, so the lenses get a chance to warm up to your body temperature. No condensation.

If you’d like to start using your lenses more quickly, you can also use a hairdryer to heat up your glasses. Be careful not to use too hot of a temperature, and to not let any odd hairs blow from the hairdryer onto your glasses.

Adjust Fit

Sometimes your VR lenses are fogging up because you have too tight of a fit. Too tight of a fit doesn’t allow any airflow. So make sure there’s a gap between your lenses and your nose.

Cloth On Bridge of Nose

Place a cloth on the bridge of your nose. This will help to prevent the glasses from fogging up while you’re wearing them.

Keep Your Body Cool

Keep your body cool while using your VR lenses. You can do this by running the air conditioning while playing, or you can have a fan blowing over you. Either method will help to keep your body cool.

FAQs

Can You Use Alcohol Wipes On VR Lenses?

No, do not use alcohol wipes on VR lenses. The alcohol will damage them.


Why Are My VR Lenses Blurry?

There are two reasons your VR lenses are blurry. The first is that you have a low-end headset with poor lens quality. You need a high-quality lens for good focus.

The second reason is that you may have an eye box problem. The eye box provides the best viewing experience but it needs to be properly positioned to be in focus. If it’s not in position, your vision will be blurry.

To fix the issue, you’ll need to make sure the VR lenses are properly positioned, which may mean that you need to calibrate it to your specific eye distance. If someone else uses the VR headset, they’ll need to re-calibrate it for theirs.

Can You Clean VR Lenses With Water?

No, do not clean VR lenses with water. The moisture can damage the lenses or the electronic components. So you always need to use a microfiber cloth or Lenspen to clean your VR lenses.

How Do You Prevent Scratches On VR Lenses?

The best way to prevent scratches on your VR lenses is to put a screen protector over your lenses. You can purchase a VR screen protector for your lenses or you can purchase a cell phone screen protector. If you purchase a cell phone screen protector, you’ll need to cut it to the shape of your VR lenses before placing it over the lenses.

When it’s dirty or scratched, you can easily replace the old screen protector with a new screen protector on your lenses. This is easier than finding a replacement for your VR lenses.

How Can I Make My VR Headset More Comfortable?

There are simple ways to make your VR headset more comfortable, including upgrading the strap, removing the Meta foam, getting a grip, and adjusting the lenses.

Should I Wear My Reading Glasses With a VR?

You should wear your reading glasses with a VR, although it depends on what feels comfortable. You may need to adjust the headset for the most comfortable experience.

Can You Use Windex on a VR Headset?

You can’t use Windex on a VR headset. The manufacturers state that you must use a dry optical lens microfiber cloth to clean the headset.

Cleaning VR Lenses

When you’re cleaning your virtual reality lenses it doesn’t matter if they’re PSVR, Valve Index, or Vive lenses. Do not use a lens cleaner on the lenses. Instead, you will need to use compressed air to blow dust from the lenses before carefully wiping them down with a microfiber cloth.

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About the Author

Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis is a coffee-loving freelance writer, homeschool blogger, and mom of six kids. In her free time, Sara loves reading books and researching more efficient and effective ways to keep a clean house, homeschool her children, and blog better while making a home for her large family.