How to Clean and Care for Your Binoculars

Unlike other new items, the best binoculars will never become outdated. For this reason, you should take good care of them. Luckily, there are plenty of great binocular lens cleaning kits and binocular accessories to help - and with the right care, quality binoculars can last a lifetime.

So whether you love binoculars for birdwatching or astrology, read on for our tips on how to clean and care for your binoculars internal and external features, plus a guide to the best binocular accessories to use.

Make use of the included neck strap and case

Straight out of the box, your binoculars will likely come with a neck strap and some sort of protective case. It’s a wise idea to keep your binoculars attached to the strap at all times - and make sure you put it comfortably around your neck when viewing. Even the sturdiest of hands can slip up. 

A neck strap is a quick, easy safety measure that takes little effort - but will save you from the majority of mishaps. Likewise, when your binoculars are not in use, keep them stored away in the convenient case.

Keep your lens caps close by

If your binoculars came with protective caps, front or rear, make use of these handy binocular accessories whenever you’re not actively viewing.

Some lens caps even come with the focal length clearly labeled on the cap, helping you grab the right lens, faster.

Don’t forget your fold-down eyecups

If your binoculars feature fold-down eyecups, use them! Keep these little guards folded up when not in use to prevent damage and stop wear and tear occurring over time.

Store in a safe place

You’re unlikely to leave your binoculars out on a windowsill if you are following our first few points, but it’s still worth mentioning: do not store your binoculars in direct sunlight! They are best kept in a safe, cool and dry place, free from heat and humidity.

Treat them kindly 

Even if they are the tough, rugged kind of binoculars - like Bushnell binoculars - it’s important not to abuse your binoculars if you want them to stay in mint condition for a long time. Avoid dropping them, bumping them, or leaving them outside - treat them well, and they’ll treat you well.

Do not clean or wipe binoculars with improper items

A big part of caring for binoculars is to not attempt to clean them with improper items. Common mistakes that should be avoided are paper towels, tissues and similarly abrasive items.

You can’t beat a blower brush

Many people aren’t sure how to clean binocular prisms or how to clean the sticky rubber on binoculars properly. A blower brush can get rid of dust without actually having to make contact with your lenses, and are great for reaching tricky places, such as in and around eyecups.

This is a good first step, as rubbing tiny particles of dust around your lenses and eyepieces can produce small scratches that accumulate over time and damage your view.

Make use of a microfiber cloth 

The quickest and safest way to remove fingerprints and smudges from your binocular lenses is with a microfiber cloth. These are cheap binocular accessories to buy and take up very little space in your bag, so pick up a couple to help ensure the longevity and performance of your binoculars.

Change your cleaning cloths over every so often and make sure they are kept clean and free from dirt to avoid you scratching the lenses while wiping.

How to use a lens cleaning pen

A lens cleaning pen can be very useful for cleaning any spots from your binocular lenses that are a bit more on the stubborn side. This handy, easy to use tool will make quick work of dust and fingerprints, and are usually safe to use on more valuable lenses.

Lens cleaning pens are great for cleaning camera lenses, binocular lenses, small aperture spotting scopes and telescopes, eyepieces, and other optical items. Some come with a retractable dust removal brush, and a special non-liquid cleaning element, designed to never dry out.

Keep calm with a lens cleaning solution

Keeping your binocular lenses spotless is crucial for high-quality viewing or photography. If you already have a level of dust and grime on your lenses that can not be cleaned by the above methods, you can try some lens cleaning solution. A good multipurpose cleaning solution is suitable for use on cameras, lenses, computers, mobiles, and all LCD screens.

Shake off the saltwater

(Note: This is for waterproof binoculars only)  

If you’ve been spending some time by the ocean with your suitably rugged or waterproof binoculars, it’s important to properly remove traces of saltwater as it can be very damaging to all areas of your binocular. A gentle rinse under fresh, running water is the most simple and effective way to remove saltwater.

We highly recommend not attempting this if you are unsure if the binoculars you own is waterproof or not as this may damage your binoculars.

Use a damp cloth on the binocular body

The best binoculars feature a body that is covered in a type of rubber armour. This is quite sturdy but it is important to occasionally clean it for longevity. A soft cloth will do the trick for this - dampen it slightly for best results!