How to properly and safely clean your camera lens

Using your breath to blow away dust can cause moisture build-up and condensation on the lens which can damage it, so it’s advised to use a blower tool instead. This is a simple and inexpensive tool which can be used to blow ordinary ambient air onto the lens, thus pushing away accumulated dust particles and other impurities without the risk of moisture exposure. This is ideal for everyday cleaning, and can safely be done even multiple times a day to keep your lens clean.

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For stubborn dust and dirt particles, a lens brush might be necessary. One with soft bristles will be able to dislodge the dust particles, without causing damage to your delicate lens. However, this isn’t something that should be done too often, since any contact with the lens, even by the soft bristles of the brush, can be detrimental in the long run. Similarly, avoid touching the bristles with your fingers, since the oils on your fingertips can transfer onto the lens and do damage to the glass.

Remember to wipe in circles, and start at the centre while moving towards the edges when wiping. This will ensure that even if any microscopic quantities of grime remain on the lens even after cleaning, it’s at the edge and will therefore not likely affect the quality of your pictures. Its advised to use lens cleaner and cloth to clean your camera lenses only occasionally, as this could be detrimental to the equipment over time.

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Remember to clean the lens barrel, camera and viewfinder too

The glass elements of the camera lens are the most important component to keep clean, but there’s more to the lens than just that, including the lens barrel, camera body, and viewfinder. The lens barrel and camera body are much more studied than the glass of the lens and can thus be cleaned using any cloth or tissue, while a microfibre cloth is suitable for the viewfinder.

Proper storage

While cleaning of your camera lenses is important, the best way to keep them safe and in good condition is to minimise the need to clean them altogether. Store your camera equipment in proper camera bags, use lens caps and pouches, and generally keep your equipment properly covered when not in use, to ensure they remain clean and in good condition.