On 3 Mar 2002 22:05:35 -0800, barking_mad_don@yahoo.com.au (B.M. Don) wrote:

>I used to clean microscope lenses for a living and I know how easy it
>is to damage lenses. DO NOT use a normal glass cleaner, or tissues or
>solvents etc on your lense or optical cover. You might scratch it or
>damage any coating that's on it. If you can, just use an air puffer to
>blow the dust off or use a lense brush. If this doesn't work you could
>possibly use a microfiber cloth like the one used for cleaning reading
>glasses but be careful.

The coatings on most consumer-grade optics are remarkably
hard and resistant to damage from common (good) cleaning
techniques and materials *if* loose material is first carefully
removed by blowing or brushing. Kodak lens tissue,
cotton swabs, micro-fiber cloth, and various liquids applied
*not* directly to the lens surface to avoid having it slip
in past the glass edge (proprietary cleaners, alcohol, window-glass
cleaner, naphtha, dish-washing detergent, breath-fog
[applied *upward* to avoid "spit-spots"]) are
all usable. I avoid silicone-containing "cleaners" like the
plague, though, and "canned air" on principle (a large air
bulb with restricted nozzle size work as well, without
the cost, weight/size, atmosphere-damage, and
"goo-expulsion" potential for gear damage...).