There are several things to watch out for when cleaning microscope optics. Follow some of these tips when cleaning your microscope lenses to ensure you do not scratch or damage them.
- When cleaning a microscope eyepiece, start out by using a dust blower to remove dust particles.
- Never wipe lenses with dry tissue as it can scratch the lenses.
- Do not use any solvents before trying distilled water. A thin film of distilled water can always be created by breathing on the surface of the lens.
- Do not use abrasive materials such as a dry linen cloth to clean microscope lenses as they may scratch the surface.
- Older microscopes should not be cleaned using ethanol, diethyl ether or acetone.
- Use Clean Tip swabs rather than Q-Tips for cleaning.
- Refrain from using optical spray cans containing pressurized liquid air to clean lenses. These can leave a residue that is difficult to remove.
- Do not use acids or ammonia to clean microscope objective lenses.
- Do not try to clean internal optical surfaces, cameras or adapter optics. Contact a microscope service technician if you need to clean these items.
Contact Microscope World regarding microscope service and repair.