How to Clean Binoculars

In this blog post, I want to share a step-by-step guide on how to clean binoculars. Binoculars are useful tools for outdoor adventures such as hiking, bird watching, and hunting or sporting, where you need to view objects from a long distance. With good magnification and focus, you can view a large area without the need to move from one place to another. Binoculars allow you to enjoy any adventure without strain.

There are many binoculars in the market, and just like other tools, whichever type of binoculars you have will require regular maintenance to increase their life. However, note that it is not recommended to clean your binoculars often, reducing their quality, especially the lens. In this review, you will find the following discussed to help you understand and maintain your set of binoculars;

The different types of binoculars
The factors you need to consider when purchasing binoculars and the considerations you need to make
The different accessories that come with a set of binoculars and what you might want to purchase
Steps on how to easily and safely clean your binoculars.
How to safely store your binoculars

Types of Binoculars

Monoculars- they are generally smaller and lighter than normal binoculars. A monocular is a single scope and is best suited for short-term use.
Mid-size binoculars- this type refers to the standard binoculars that are most commonly available. They are most suitable for things like hunting and observing wildlife.
Full-size binoculars- these are the largest of them all. The full-size binoculars tend to be very heavy and more powerful. They are very suitable for serious wildlife enthusiasts for wildlife viewing and also for boating.
Bonus; CompactCompact binoculars are the smallest binoculars and are easy to carry around. They are also lightweight and perfect for adventures like hiking and traveling.

Accessories

Most binoculars come equipped with numerous accessories. However, most of these accessories are not the best, and you might want to change some of them, if not all, to enjoy the power of your binoculars fully. Below are the accessories that you might be looking out for to purchase separately.

Rain guards- these are essential, more so if your binoculars are not waterproof. Rain guards prevent your binoculars from getting wet. You can use a one-piece cap to prevent the eye caps from being soaked. Rain guards will easily attach to your neck strap and can hence be easily used when working through a heavy downpour.
Tethered caps- this refers to the little caps you can fit at the end of your binoculars to protect them from scratching when the binoculars are not in use. Tethered caps ends have loops that attach to the end of the binoculars for easy flipping over when using the binoculars. This prevents losing them when detaching them.
Eyecups- eyecups help to keep the eye at a good distance from the ocular lens. Certain brands will offer upgrades with different models.
Straps- binocular straps are important in ensuring that your binoculars are kept safe and insight. With the many options in the market, you could get a longer strap, an adjustable one, colored, and other extra features that you may not get with the strap that comes with the binoculars.
Harnesses– a harness will provide some extra support than a neck strap. There are also several options for this, including those designed to lessen the feeling of the binocular’s weight on your body and some that help stabilize the binoculars if you struggle with keeping your hands still.
Tripod adapters- Binoculars with higher magnification can be harder to hold as they are a bit heavier. Most of these heavy types of binoculars come with a tripod mount built into them that holds them in place. They may also lack this, and then you will need an adapter.
Digiscoping adapters- the adapters allow you to mount your phone to an eyepiece that will let you take magnified pictures using them. It is a great addition for people who are landscape lovers and like taking pictures of the landscape.
Cleaning supplies- for good maintenance of your binoculars, there are special tools you need to have. Some of them come with the purchasing package, while others you will need to buy according to the manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations. Things like cloth, solutions, cleaners, and kits help keep the binoculars in optimum condition.

How to Clean Binoculars Videos

These are some of the best video guides on how to clean your binoculars

What to have;

Lens pen or canned air
Lens cleaning solution, water, or kit
Cleaning cotton or microfiber cloth

For the safety and maximum durability of your binoculars, the following materials should not be used to clean binoculars;

Dish soap and detergent
Toilet paper or paper towel
Clothing items
Windex or other household cleaners

Steps to Follow

Go through the manual

It is important to thoroughly read and understand the user’s manual to know what the manufacturer recommends of particular tools or chemicals. The manual is important as it describes what not to use, as many binoculars have different lens coatings with varying reactions to cleaning solutions. Remember that using the wrong chemical translates to reduced quality of images and, consequently, the scope lenses’ life.

Remove any dirt or dust

There are many ways to accomplish this, and while it might be tempting to use a microfiber cloth to clean off dust, this can lead to microscopic scratches on the lens that will cause the images to be cloudy over time.

You can hold the binoculars upside down and use a lens cleaning pen’s bristles to brush off any light material. The brush is soft and won’t harm the glass or coatings. You can also blow off loosened dirt with a can of air but DO NOT use your breath as breath contains minute droplets of water that will be trapped and spot your lens. Also, avoid using compressed air canisters as the chemicals inside can damage your lens coating.

Use cleaning solution

Dip a cotton swab in water or a cleaning solution and gently wipe away any remaining dirt. Avoid pouring the solution directly onto the lenses as it can seep into the internal components of the binoculars and cause damage. However, if your binoculars are waterproof, you can gently run a light stream of water over the lenses to remove excess grime. Make sure your binoculars are fully dry before storage.

Avoid using window or glass cleaner on the binoculars as the products include chemicals that can damage the lenses’ integrity.

Use a cloth

Now that you have all the dirt removed use the lens pen pad or lens cloth to wipe away any remaining smudges. Only apply very little pressure and work in a circular motion to consistently clean the lenses. This will prevent any form of scratches on the lens.

Always keep the cloth in a clean environment to avoid re-dirtying the lens, and avoid using clothing items and paper towels. They contain fibers that will leave scratches on the lenses that could remove the coatings.

Clean the body

Apart from the lenses, the binocular’s body components go through many tough times when the binoculars are in use and therefore deserve as much care. From sticky fingers to unpredictable weather, many things can affect the cleanliness of the exterior and the rubber eyecups of the binoculars. It is effortless to clean the body compared to the lenses. It should be done routinely to keep the binoculars in good condition. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the body to remove any excess dirt and dust. You can use your blower (not mouth) to loosen dust across the binocular body, then wipe it gently with a damp cloth. It would help if you used a different cloth from the one used to clean the lenses.

Store them in their case

The best binoculars in the market come with a carrying case that helps keep them protected and dust-free while they are not in use. You should cap the lenses and store them in a clean, dry place.

Tips on keeping your binoculars safe and well maintained

Do not touch- to keep your lenses at their best, keep your fingerprints off them. Especially if your fingers are dirty, do not touch the lenses to prevent smudges.
Avoid over-cleaning the binoculars- it might be tempting to remove every speck of dust off the lenses; however, this might end up causing more damage in the long run.
Accessorize- things such as the harness should be purchased if the binoculars begin to feel very heavy. This is to avoid dangling them, which may cause more dirt and dust to accumulate on the lenses.
Use the lens cap to keep the lenses protected against disaster. The lens caps should be on at all times when not in use.
When not in use, storage store the binoculars in a clean, dry bag to protect against dust in the car or house.

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Frequently asked questions

1) How do you fix foggy binoculars?

You can;

Keep the binoculars in a warm, dry place for several days, or seal the binoculars inside an airtight plastic bag along with some commercial desiccant. Remember to keep the binoculars as dry as possible on future outings once the moisture has been removed.

2) Why are my binoculars cloudy?

Your lenses might seem cloudy and foggy on the inside sometimes. A leak in the camera could cause this, but most often, it’s just condensation caused by an instant change of temperature. It means that you will need to learn how to clean binoculars on the inside. See the steps of cleaning above.

3) How do you get sand out of binoculars?

If your binoculars are waterproof, get a spray bottle and fill it with distilled water. Then gently hold the binocular or lens upside down, pointing to the ground, and gently wash off the sand away. Make sure all the water flashes off downward to remove the sand and debris.

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Conclusion

As much as cleaning binoculars is essential in good maintenance and durability, this alone is not enough. You need to ensure you take good care of the tool both out in the field and during storage. This will ensure the best performance for a prolonged time.

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