cleaning paint mist off your eye glasses

SDE · Jun 6, 2015

This morning, while laying in bed, I realized that I had forgotten to use my old glasses when I painted yesterday. Of course I had also forgotten to clean the glasses when I finished painting. I believe the lenses are poly carbonate. I had some generic glass cleaner and that did not work. I could use mineral spirits or paint thinner on my old glasses to see if those cleaners will damage the lenses, but I would rather not wreck them either. Surely, I am not the only one to do this. How did you clean yours?
Thank you
SDE

MarkB_MI · Jun 6, 2015

Harsh cleaners and strong solvents will wreck polycarbonate lenses, if that's in fact what you have. (Unless they're safety glasses, I think most plastic lenses are acrylic rather than polycarbonate.) I think anything strong enough to dissolve dried paint is going to hurt your glasses. Mineral spirits shouldn't hurt the plastic, but I doubt it's going to remove the paint. I'd try a plastic cleaner/polish, or maybe Flitz.

Dr. Walt · Jun 6, 2015

I've used both GOOP and/or FAST ORANGE Hand Cleaners - WITHOUT PUMICE. They both work reasonably well for me; while they are on the lens I scratch at the paint with my fingernail (anything more abrasive than your fingernail will permanently scratch the lens). Afterwards, wash your glasses with mild soapy water and then dry. HTH

:>)

gtractorfan · Jun 6, 2015

Just yesterday a friend told me he'd cleaned his glasses after painting and then heard a "plink". One of the lenses cracked. Don't know what kind of cleaner he used.

Oregon Tractor Jack · Jun 6, 2015

I have used mineral spirits to clean off my polycarb safety glasses and it works fine. DO NOT use lacquer thinner, MEK or acetone. If your glasses have any type of coating like anti-scratch or anti-glare, I would contact your dispensing optical shop to find out before I tried anything.

Ivan in Mich · Jun 6, 2015

I have some Dawn dish soap mixed up in one of those foaming bottles for hand cleaner and I use it on my glasses if I forget to change to my old ones. I have taken paint mist off the next day with it and it does not hurt your glasses. Make sure they are clean no sand or dirt on them before. I have also used hand cleaner

rustyfarmall · Jun 6, 2015

(quoted from post at 07:01:48 06/06/15) This morning, while laying in bed, I realized that I had forgotten to use my old glasses when I painted yesterday. Of course I had also forgotten to clean the glasses when I finished painting. I believe the lenses are poly carbonate. I had some generic glass cleaner and that did not work. I could use mineral spirits or paint thinner on my old glasses to see if those cleaners will damage the lenses, but I would rather not wreck them either. Surely, I am not the only one to do this. How did you clean yours?
Thank you
SDE

I've done the same thing many times until I learned to just leave the eyeglasses in a safe place. Plain old isopropol (rubbing) alcohol and a soft paper towel came to the rescue every time.

onefarmer · Jun 6, 2015

I have polycarbs and use a 50/50 mix of dawn and iso alcohal. Paint spots just wipe off with this mix.

ss55 · Jun 6, 2015

Ditto on the Dawn and isopropyl alcohol mix. Use a soft cotton cloth and very light pressure, paper towels are too abrasive for polycarbonate lenses.

Dachshund · Jun 6, 2015

I recently had a spray paint can blow up all over me. I used Liquid ERA Laundry soap, and it took it off my glasses, skin, and even my beard.

Scott 730 · Jun 6, 2015

If it was latex paint, iso alcohol will work just fine.

fixerupper · Jun 6, 2015

If ISO will work, will paint prep surface cleaner work? I am able to see fairly well without glasses so I take them off and put them in a an airtight space, but some people aren't that lucky.

SDE · Jun 6, 2015

I tried some Dawn and watered it down with some home made glass cleaner that had some Isopropal alcohol in it. It took some off and I will try again later.
Thank you
Steve

Jeff NWOH · Jun 6, 2015

Fingernail polish remover.

Scott 730 · Jun 6, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:50:21 06/06/15) Fingernail polish remover.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has plastic lenses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

37chief · Jun 6, 2015

Like someone else said, might contact the eye doctor where the glasses come from. A person at work got some kind of solvent in their eyes. They had contacts. What ever the solvent was turned the contacts cloudy. They thought they went blind, until they removed the contacts. Stan

JF in MI · Jun 6, 2015

I use Gojo with good success

Jeff NWOH · Jun 6, 2015

Have you ever tried it?

I've used it many, many times on my plastic lenses. You can try it
at your own risk, but I've had no issues.

I just wet a kleenex and wipe gently. Paint comes right off. I
wouldnt recommend soaking overnight though.

VADAVE · Jun 6, 2015

Been there done that!
I too have poly carbonate lens and with the new plastic lens it is to worry about.
acetone is a little bit strong but can be used with care. Better is Lacquer thinner, its not so strong as to soften the lens yet will cut of the paints used today and most that were used in yesterday.
I was involved with the painting of a truck I am working on the last of April and my glasses as well as the rest of me was misted with metallic green urethane paint. I used acetone that I allowed to mostly evaporate and it worked well. I had lacquer thinner handy but used the acetone anyway--its faster.

NoNewParts · Jun 6, 2015

toothpaste

davediehl@hotmail.com · Jun 6, 2015

My glasses are glass. I use Rain-x anti fog to clean eith. It takes paint off in seconds.

Chief 83 · Jun 6, 2015

eye doctor I go to uses Acetone. Wont hurt the plastic lenses at all. I've used it for years now after asking them what the heck they used.

Stephen Newell · Jun 6, 2015

I use lacquer thinner to clean my glasses however it's better to clean them before the paint fully cures. I have a few stubborn specks on my glasses which I left too long and won't come off. I ended up having to use a cotton buffer with rubbing compound to get those few specks off.

cleaning paint mist off your eye glasses

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