How to Clean Plastic Lens Covers

Lens covers keep out dust and prevent items from scratching the lens.

Plastic lens covers are the only thing protecting the lens of a camera from environmental elements. A camera's lens must be clean and without blemish to take pictures without distortion and flaws. A plastic lens cap is used to seal the area in front of the lens and prevent contaminates like dirt and oils. Keeping the lens cover clean prevents the transfer of grime and is essential to properly protecting the condition of the lens.

Things You'll Need

• Lens brush
• Microfiber cloth
• Clean water

Instructions

1. Remove the lens cover from the lens and use a soft lens brush to free accumulated particles of dust from the inner rim and grooves.

2. Add a couple of drops of clean water to the corner of a small microfiber cloth and twist the cloth to squeeze out the excess so it is only slightly damp.

3. Wipe all the inner and outer surfaces of the plastic lens cap with the damp corner of the towel. Do not rub in a circular motion, instead make single pass swipes that pull debris away from the lens cap.

4. Switch to a dry corner on the microfiber cloth and completely dry the lens cover before putting it back over the lens.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not detach a lens cover from its tether when cleaning. The small strings that keep some lens covers attached are helpful in remembering to use and not lose lens covers.

• Strong solvents and abrasive cleaners can melt or scratch a plastic lens cover and cause it to stop fitting securely over the lens.

References

• Earthbound Light: Lens Cleaning
• Simply Good Stuff: Microfiber Cleaning Cloth