How to Clean Camera Lens without A Kit

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Are you a photographer or a hobbyist? It’s no wonder you have faced dust issues in your camera lens. Well, dust is inevitable; you just have to accept that dust will eventually end up on your camera lens.

Except for the dust, you may also find other substances such as fingerprints, oily touches, food leftovers (by mistake) on your camera lens.

So, you may think you have the best camera lens cleaning kit, but what happens when you don’t have one?

Here we will describe some easy methods on how to clean a camera lens without a kit.

There are some exciting ways that you might not even believe until you use it. Let’s hop in.

Contents

How to Clean A Camera Lens Without A Kit

For cleaning a camera lens, it requires your ultimate attention sensibility while doing the task. Otherwise, you might end up damaging your lens and cause an expensive repair.

So, the processes are neat and straightforward. A few items that you need for cleaning the lens.

Items you need:

Bulb blower
Soft brush
Microfiber cloth
Cleaning fluid
Plain Water

Now, let’s get into the process of how to clean the stains.

Method 1: Using A Bulb Blower

Using a bulb blower is the first method to clean off the dust and dirt as it is the possible way to clean without even touching the lens and create any problems.

If you face dust on your camera lens, a few puffs of the blower can be likely to get it cleaned. It will just provide a tiny puff of air without putting any pressure on the lens.

Make sure you avoid applying canned air or using your breath (though an instinct of any person). Canned air has the possibility of spraying liquid difluoromethane, which is naturally a gas in liquid form.

And your breath. You must avoid this one, or else it can produce condensation and saliva on the lens, doesn’t matter how cautious you are.

So, a few simple puffs of the blower is enough to get rid of dust and debris from your camera lens.

Method 2: Using a Soft Brush

If your blower didn’t do the job, then a soft brush is your next stop. Brushes are generally made of different materials, but te camel hair is likely the most acceptable option because of its fine and soft hairs.

To avoid scratches, brush off the stain from the mid-section of the lens to the edges. Then to dislodge the stain, hold the camera pointing downside.

The critical fact to notice that brushes can be riskier than a simple bulb blower because it can lift up other elements when your mind is drifted.

Remember, do not touch the brush with your bare hands and fingers, or else brushes will catch up with oily touches. To prevent that, cap the brush in a bag to stay clean.

So, lastly, the use of a soft brush can remove all stains without any additional damages.

Method 3: Using A Microfiber Cloth

Now, when you removed the dirt and stains from the lens, you have to use a microfiber cloth, or in case, you can take cleaning tissues to give a shiny look on the glass. This is the best way to clean the lens.

A microfiber cloth is an efficient tool to clean your lenses as it eliminates dust evenly. This cloth costs around 2 to 4 dollars and an expensive one costs as high as 10 dollars, based on the quality and brand.

You don’t start rubbing with the microfiber cloth, being gentle, and doing small wipes in a circular phase. While wiping the glass, hold the fabric firmly contrary to the glass.

Press gently to feel like you’re removing spots and debris away, not too much like you become a hulk. However, with consistent wipes, you can remove any dust and oily spots quickly.

Moreover, you can use the microfiber cloth for cleaning other parts of a camera.

Method 4: Using a Cleaning Fluid

If a brush or bulb blower or a microfiber cloth doesn’t clean your camera lens, then a bottle of cleaning fluid can be your cleaning option. These cleaners are basically alcohol-based cleaners, which can remove any stains quickly without evaporating your lens.

The bottles typically spray bottles, sizes around 1 Oz, 2 Oz, and even 8 Oz sizes and per bottle costs around $6-$8.

Cleaning solutions can be applied with the help of microfiber cloth or cleaning paper tissues. But, don’t use facial tissues or any fabric that might cause scratches on the lens.

While using an alcohol-based cleaner, just a tip of one or two sprays can do the job. You don’t have to spray a lot.

Method 5: Using Plain Water

Last but not least, if you fail to attempt the rest of the methods, then this one is for you. Take a microfiber cloth or a slice of tissue paper, then a few drops of water to dampen the piece.

Or, you can also use a paper towel instead of a microfiber cloth and tissue paper.

Remember, you must avoid using any kind of scents or lotions attached to cloth or tissue. Otherwise, they will be the reason for dirt, dust, and additional dark spots instead of properly cleaning the lens.

That’s all of the methods. Pick one to clean your camera lens without any cleaning kit.

Tips for maintaining the camera lens

Shooting and roaming with your camera can be a passion and profession, but without proper maintenance, your love can cost you professional cleaning with an expensive price tag. So, maintaining your camera is a must, as with other mandatory works.

Since you open and start using your camera, it is fully exposed to dust and moisture. Avoid doing that. If your camera has already got moisture, dust will attach to your camera lens like a magnet, and eventually, it can destroy the lens and camera itself (sometimes).
While you are about to switch lenses, make sure you do it in dust-free and humid-free environments. Also, please don’t risk your camera to use underwater unless it is entirely waterproof.
It’s better to seal the lens with a lens cap to keep it firm and stain free for storing cases. In some camera kits, you will get additional cloth cases to hold the camera lens; take them to keep the lenses.
As long as possible, stay away from touching your camera lens; otherwise, fingerprints will start shining on the camera lens.
Lastly, the foremost and the best thing to do is using a camera bag. If you store your camera in your camera bag, it won’t be stained with any food leftovers, oily touches, fingerprints, and not even dust particles.

Note: Use a little vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust from your camera bag.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I really need a cleaning kit to clean the camera lens?

Well, when you’re outside to shoot, you can’t always pack your cleaning supplies and roam around. Plus, you won’t the time for thorough cleaning. Go through the mentioned methods to have fast and easy cleaning.

Can I use alcohol to clean the camera lens?

Yes, you can use alcohol with a microfiber cloth or tissue paper. Just a few drops on the cloth can do the job, don’t damp the cloth-like dripping water.

Should I touch my camera lens while cleaning it?

Never do that. Do not touch your camera lens when you are cleaning it. Or else, you will end up messing with it instead of cleaning it.

Can I use Windex on my camera lens?

Nope, this is highly prohibited. Glass cleaning products like Windex can damage your camera lens’s anti-glare coating.

How can I know if my lens is full of dust or dirt?

After clicking a picture, zoom on the image. Roll the images from top to bottom, left to right – then if you find dark spots in your lens, your lens is affected with dust.

Wrapping up

So, there you go. That’s how to clean a camera lens without a kit, with the only use of a few basic materials. With these methods, you can clean your camera lens in a sip, rather than running towards the shop to find the right cleaning supply. But, if you are in need of cleaning a bunch of camera products at once, it’s better to use a real cleaning kit. If you just need a quick cleaning of dirt and oil smudge, the above-posted tips will help you on the way.

Happy cleaning!