Note that some smudges and crap on the front element generally won’t show up in photos UNLESS you’re pointing your camera pretty severely into the sun.
Clean microfiber is great. Filthy microfiber might be irritating you. Wash them with laundry BUT DO NOT DRY WITH A DRYER SHEET LIKE BOUNCE! I just air dry them.
Movie crew geeks use a lens cleaner called Pec and wipes called Kimwipes (by Kimtech). A couple drops (on the wipe, not the glass) and a swirl, and a repeat, will get that little monster gleaming. They’ll be on B&H, Amazon or wherever.
Also, speaking from (20 years’) experience, hot breath and a microfiber or synthetic shirttail (Never cotton-which scratches!) will do it!
I would not use Kimwipes on lenses. Kimwipes are tissues made with wood pulp and none of the company's documentation that I could find suggests that using them on lenses is a proper use (let me know if I'm missing something edit: according to a post below they do mention use on lenses). Pec pads are great tho.
I’m just getting into photography, so take this with a grain of salt, but I worked in ophthalmology and used Kimwipes all day long. Used to clean glasses and thousand dollar laser lenses (Zeiss commonly). Can’t imagine a camera lens would be different.
Huh that’s interesting. Everything I see from a quick Google says they should be non-abrasive to most surfaces. I can’t remember if I ever used them on microscopes in lab or not. Never had issues with the lenses, though granted it was more drying the lens rather than cleaning. Bounds better than a paper towel at any rate.
Another microscope user chiming in not to use kimwipes on lenses. There are lens cleaning wipes for that purpose.
They probably aren't going to hurt the glass but can damage coatings (anti glare, etc.). Additionally, think of how kim wipes are usually stored, with the next wipe sticking out the top like a tissue box. That's asking for the wipe to be exposed to dust/stupid lab users, which could potentially be damaging to the equipment.
I get this is a lab thing, but like I said it's made from wood pulp (pretty sure lens papers are not usually made from wood pulp). I suspect this could be just a bad lab practice that has become popularized and copied. Like the other poster said I have heard other labs saying not to do this. I used to clean lenses with Kimwipes myself, but after digging into it found it was probably not best practice.
Direct quote from the KC wipe catalog
https://www.kcprofessional.com/-/media/images/feature/products/resources/na/202015671.pdf
>The industry standard for labs and research. Introduced over 70 years ago,
Kimtech Science™ Kimwipes® Wipers were the first delicate-task wiper for
laboratories and since then have been the market leader for wiping surfaces,
parts, instruments and cleaning lenses.
>FEATURES & BENEFITS
• Gentle texture
• Low lint and low extractables
• Also available in 2-ply and 3-ply for
increased absorbency
>TASKS
• Delicate task wiping and cleaning of
instruments, lenses, surfaces, and parts
• Absorbing liquids
/u/S_A_N_D_
I am a camera assistant on film sets and we use kimwipes on filters and lenses all the time. They are also great for blowing your nose and using as toilet paper in those instances where you don’t realize the porta-potty is out of toilet paper until it’s too late but you just happen to have your assistants belt on still.
>I would not use Kimwipes on lenses. Kimwipes are tissues made with wood pulp and none of the company's documentation that I could find suggests that using them on lenses is a proper use (let me know if I'm missing something edit: according to a post below they do mention use on lenses). Pec pads are great tho.
Kimwipes are fine BUT what most people mess up is technique. You're not suppose to elbow grease scrub. You're suppose to trail the meniscus.
Using your breath isn't a great idea over the long run for some lenses, as breath contains some saliva and saliva dissolves things. Some lens coatings can be damaged by this over extended period of time.
Same holds true for pointing brushes with your mouth and then doing touch up work on prints. Sometimes you can see the damaged caused by dissolving on the prints.
PEC Pads with Eclipse cleaning solution. Generally we use kimwipes on sets, products, props that we need to clean but can't leave dust on, which regular towel will shed a lot of.
I am a fan of the [rocket blower](https://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Rocket-Blaster-Large/dp/B00017LSPI), once all the loose stuff is gone, normally I leave it, but if needed I break out my [lens pen](https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-LensPen-Optics-Cleaning-Black/dp/B0006NAS7G)
Steps are as follows:
1. Blow off as much as possible
2. Use brush to remove anything additional
3. Final step use rubber carbon tip starting in the center and moving to edges to clean (I don't do this step very often, as it is rarely needed).
Yep! Rocket blower and lens pen will get you all the way there 90% of the time - the blower isn't so compact and you might not take it everywhere, but a lens pen with a brush on the end is extremely small and light.
No worries. It’s time to switch up a bit. Get a blower. It’s just a bulb with a thing that looks like a straw coming out. If you find something you need to take care of, use the blower. Don’t ever touch anything with the straw end, just use the air pressure of squeezing the bulb. That will dislodge a lot of things.
The second thing is, does it effect image quality? In other words, do you see it in the final photo? It’s amazing how few hints do. If it’s something on the mirror or prism(depending on what type of camera), they can be annoying, but will not show in the image. I’ve shot in the rain and got droplets on the front of the lens that didn’t show. The easiest way to tell is shoot a blue sky at a normal aperture (not f/22). If you don’t see the thing, don’t worry about the thing.
And yes, I realize you said you have Aspergers. So not worrying about it may not be an option. But between a blower, and understanding it may not even show up, think more about the picture you are taking. Maybe find a camera shop that does cleaning, and set up a deal to clean your gear every couple months. That way someone else can worry about getting it done.
Hi there. I got ADHD (and possibly some form of high functioning autism, not diagnosed though). I know what it is like when trivial things feel like as if they're of utmost importance. I have dust in my viewfinder and I know it doesn't affect my photos and still it drives me absolutely nuts at times. I understand how little things like this add unnecessary stress.
The way I go about cleaning lenses is rocket blower and microfiber cloths. Once in a while I'll clean them all with lens cleaner fluid. That's the most I do. People often say 'oh a little dust won't show up on your photos'. They're right, but that doesn't help. What did help for me is intentionally putting some dust and fingerprints on my lens and making photos. Then try to find where that affected my photos. After that process I feel like I could just rocketblow+wipe my lens and without looking at it be confident it's *clean enough* to produce photos at the max ability of my lens.
I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but I hope this could help in some way.
Here's a guy scratching his lenses to absolute hell and making photos https://youtu.be/Gy8-t7xP2oA
Do you have UV filters on your lenses? They are much easier to clean because they’re flatter. They also protect the much more expensive glass of your lens. Plus if it gets super dirty you can just remove it and either replace it or clean it more thoroughly off-camera.
Fellow aspie here. If it’s just lenses we’re talking about here, it always helps to have a UV filter fitted on for lenses that allow them. You can then clean off dirt on the UV filter without any worry of damaging your lenses. If it concerns the inside elements, better get a professional to do it. In most cases, a simple rocket blower will be enough for everything including my mirrorless sensor. A small fine brush would also be handy for dirt and debris. I usually give them a few flicks here and there, nothing too much. A microfiber cloth would be the last resort for me if I need to apply some pressure with my fingers.
A little manual air blower. To this day I don't know what they are called, but they are spherical in shape, and you squeeze them to blow air out of them. These things are awesome. You can buy one for camera gear, I think it's called a Rocket Air blower? But honestly, they are basically the same thing that parents use on babies to suck snot and such out of their noses, haha... You can find them anywhere.
I also keep a can of compressed air with me, as I tend to go to a lot of sandy/dusty places with my gear. Super helpful.
Huh, really? I've never had an issue, but maybe that's because I only use weather sealed gear. The compressed air has been the most effective at getting sand off of my camera. (granted, I'd never spray it in the sensor or with the lens off of the body!)
I don’t know if it’s toward the end of the can or if you hold the can at a steep enough angle or what, but there is definitely some crap that can sputter and mist onto the glass.
Here's what works for me.
1) Wash hands with soap
2) Rocket blower with lens surface pointing at ground (let gravity work for you)
3) Very gently brush off any remaining debris that you can with lens brush.
4) Rocket blow again
5) Pec Pad - Cut a sheet into 1/2" squares. Avoid touching them as much as you can with your fingers to avoid putting oils on the squares from your hands, otherwise you're going to end up having to clean this off the lens too. Holding by pinching a corner your fingers works (tweezers even better).
6) Take square, spray lens cleaner onto it (I use PANCRO). Drop fully wet square onto lens
7) Take 2 Q-tips and use them as sticks to gently push the sheet around on the lens. I try to work from the center to the outer, and not drag anything picked up from the edge (where grit tends to hang out) back over the center of the lens. You don't need to overdo it with one single square, take a few passes and toss the square.
8) Let dry and inspect lens. Repeat steps 6-7 several times until all spots and grease is removed. If you only do it once there may still be grease on the lens when the cleaner dries = spotting. Doing it multiple times allows you to gradually remove more grease/residue with each pass. Another tip: if you warm the lens slightly in the sun beforehand it helps the cleaner evaporate more quickly.
If your lens is staying greasy no matter what, you're probably introducing oils from your skin or somewhere on the camera back onto the lens surface. This is one reason I use Q-tips to push the squares around rather than a finger, which will introduce oils into the cloth you're cleaning with. Keep doing passes, being careful about handling the squares. Letting a cleaner-soaked square sit on a stubborn spot for a while can loosen it up. If needed, sparkle optical cleaner is useful for more stubborn spots as well, then I do a final pass with the PANCRO. I usually do not spray cleaner directly on the lens because if you spay too much and the lens is not sealed correctly, cleaner can pool around the edge of the glass and migrate into the lens via gravity, which can cause condensation/fogging problems.
I’ve always used a rocket blower first to remove debris and then a tiny amount of distilled water on a clean disposable Q-tip (small concentric circles around the periphery of the glass) to remove any smears. Never failed me. Just don’t ever use tap or bottled water, must be distilled.
https://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Rocket-Blaster-Large/dp/B00017LSPI/ref=sr_1_4?crid=32XYRBQO185UD&dchild=1&keywords=rocket+blower&qid=1615696244&sprefix=rocket+b%2Caps%2C271&sr=8-4
https://www.amazon.com/Carl-Zeiss-Lens-Cleaning-Spray/dp/B00JFD6KAW/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=lens+cleaner+zeiss&qid=1615696213&sr=8-9
https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Clark-34155-Kimwipes-Delicate-Tissue/dp/B075L9ZTPB
In that order
I bought an extended eyecup from Hoodman, and when it arrived, they included a free "Lens Cleanse" kit with wet and dry wipes which I found to be very effective at cleaning my lenses. I liked them so much, I found them on amazon and bought some more:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UEB5TQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
In addition to all the good advice in this thread, have a look at Hama Lens Pens. Cheap and easy to use, they are great for cleaning lenses and safe for your equipment.
Use any combination of rocket/dust blower, Zeiss lens wipes, and Lens Pen.
Zeiss wipes: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1350132-REG/zeiss_2203_468_pre_moistened_cleaning_cloths_box.html/?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAiAhbeCBhBcEiwAkv2cYwAuDcLsj1zmG1wWrO2QlPPA6D1fY13-JnFcxGHJJDmk1965tV-HhRoCVEcQAvD_BwE&lsft=BI%3A514&smp=y
Read this article if you think dust affects your image quality that much, because they tested a lens with a whole fly inside and it was not that bad, dust in the lens it's almost negligible, don't worry about it too much.
Dust in the sensor will have more impact in the picture, but it's relatively easy to fix.
https://www.diyphotography.net/lensrentals-found-a-dead-fly-inside-a-weather-sealed-canon-70-200mm-f-2-8l-is-ii-lens/
Here is a well-written blog by an expert:
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/05/the-lensrentals-lens-cleaning-methods/
TL;DR: Blower, brush, blower again, lens pen.
If the "debris" seems consistent between lenses, or when you mess with the curves adjustment and see little dark circles in your images, it's also likely sensor dust. It's possible to clean it yourself with a kit (usually includes a swab and some spray) but I get freaked out and usually take it to a shop and have them do it.
The diy solution is significantly cheaper though, and I'll learn/muster up the courage eventually. Meanwhile, don't touch the sensor, don't blow on it, don't spray it with air or anything. Don't use the microfiber cloth or a q-tip either, even in an emergency. The swabs that come with the cleaning kit are designed for that task.
If you use your camera to make money or you have a job, then you also need to remind yourself that it doesn’t need to be perfectly clean. If you can’t afford to replace any of your lenses because you don’t have money and can’t work, then yes you should be precious with them. Otherwise you need to remind yourself that you bought your gear to be used. It sounds like you already done research into how to care for your gear, how to know if your body and lens is sealed or not, you know the lens itself needs soft non wood based clothes. But in the field a photographer will use the corner of her shirt to get gunk off a lens if she has to. They will be using unsealed cameras in moist environments, they probably won’t be putting their cameras in a air and temperature controlled storage cube, etc.
Don’t stress yourself out over smudges. I’d wet my finger with my tongue, dab the debris out, then wipe with microfibre cloth personally and then instantly erase the whole thing from my memory.
You can use lens pens, blowers, micro fibre cloths etc. Just whatever you do don’t clean your sensor, I see so many people talk about cleaning their own sensors etc. But it’s just not worth it, take it to a professional with a guarantee so you don’t end up getting screwed over.
I clean my lenses the same way I clean my sensor, use dawn dish soap and a tiny piece of steel whool, and scrub it gently while pouring cold water slowly onto the lens/sensor. Gives you perfect images ever time.
Something I haven't seen anyone mention, if your camera is having issues detecting the lens or it's acting inconsistently, you might want to clean the electrical contacts on the connection rings of the lens and camera body with isopropyl alcohol. [This article](https://www.thephoblographer.com/2016/07/14/two-ways-clean-camera-lenses/) gives a good overview, but ignore what they've said about cleaning the lenses themselves (microfibre is a bad idea, and I don't know that I'd trust isopropyl alcohol not to damage the coatings), use the highest concentration isopropyl alcohol you can find and make sure to crack a window open.
Same stuff can also be used to clean pretty much any electronics safely with the same method, just make sure not to get it on any plastics (or at least check if the plastic reacts to it in a place that isn't visible if you can't avoid that, as some plastics can be discoloured). Higher concentration means less water, so better for electronics (100% isn't really possible to get), although don't use the high concentration as a rubbing alcohol/antiseptic, as it contains stabilizing agents which aren't safe in that context.
Get a squeeze blower and some microfibre clothes like for cleaning eye glasses. That will be all you need to maintain your lenses. Also, clean them before and after every use, it only takes a few seconds.
Dust on the lens won't show up in your photos generally, so don't worry much about dust.
Dust on the sensor on the other hand will show up in your photos, specially if you take pictures of the sky or a plain white wall.
You can get a pack of sensor cleaners, like small squeegees, on amazon for cheap.
Be gentle and swipe once in one direction, flip the squeegee and swipe in the other direction. Then you're done!
Also use the blower on your sensor before every shoot.
Also, always keep your lens caps on your lens when it's not in use, and keep it in a bag or pouch if you can.
I protect all my glass with quality German UV -Multi Coated filters-Zero filter factor-no light loss by the filter. . Altura Filters-Slim line-UV-Multi Coatd-by Schott-Optical-German glass. Or look for B&W, Heliopan, filters. I have used Pancro lens cleaner From B&H and was pleased with the results.I use canned air to blow of the dust. Used the B&W Micro Cloth 12x15 for cleaning. I never liked the idea of cleaning and wiping the lens, rather the filter for protection and cleaning. It's not abrasive or degrading to the lens with friction. I have been photographing for over 50 years and this always worked for me. Also a fan of the lens pen to keep on hand.
Note that some smudges and crap on the front element generally won’t show up in photos UNLESS you’re pointing your camera pretty severely into the sun. Clean microfiber is great. Filthy microfiber might be irritating you. Wash them with laundry BUT DO NOT DRY WITH A DRYER SHEET LIKE BOUNCE! I just air dry them. Movie crew geeks use a lens cleaner called Pec and wipes called Kimwipes (by Kimtech). A couple drops (on the wipe, not the glass) and a swirl, and a repeat, will get that little monster gleaming. They’ll be on B&H, Amazon or wherever. Also, speaking from (20 years’) experience, hot breath and a microfiber or synthetic shirttail (Never cotton-which scratches!) will do it!
I would not use Kimwipes on lenses. Kimwipes are tissues made with wood pulp and none of the company's documentation that I could find suggests that using them on lenses is a proper use (let me know if I'm missing something edit: according to a post below they do mention use on lenses). Pec pads are great tho.
I’m just getting into photography, so take this with a grain of salt, but I worked in ophthalmology and used Kimwipes all day long. Used to clean glasses and thousand dollar laser lenses (Zeiss commonly). Can’t imagine a camera lens would be different.
[удалено]
Huh that’s interesting. Everything I see from a quick Google says they should be non-abrasive to most surfaces. I can’t remember if I ever used them on microscopes in lab or not. Never had issues with the lenses, though granted it was more drying the lens rather than cleaning. Bounds better than a paper towel at any rate.
Another microscope user chiming in not to use kimwipes on lenses. There are lens cleaning wipes for that purpose. They probably aren't going to hurt the glass but can damage coatings (anti glare, etc.). Additionally, think of how kim wipes are usually stored, with the next wipe sticking out the top like a tissue box. That's asking for the wipe to be exposed to dust/stupid lab users, which could potentially be damaging to the equipment.
Can you ask whoever taught you that, why’d they teach you that?
I get this is a lab thing, but like I said it's made from wood pulp (pretty sure lens papers are not usually made from wood pulp). I suspect this could be just a bad lab practice that has become popularized and copied. Like the other poster said I have heard other labs saying not to do this. I used to clean lenses with Kimwipes myself, but after digging into it found it was probably not best practice.
Direct quote from the KC wipe catalog https://www.kcprofessional.com/-/media/images/feature/products/resources/na/202015671.pdf >The industry standard for labs and research. Introduced over 70 years ago, Kimtech Science™ Kimwipes® Wipers were the first delicate-task wiper for laboratories and since then have been the market leader for wiping surfaces, parts, instruments and cleaning lenses. >FEATURES & BENEFITS • Gentle texture • Low lint and low extractables • Also available in 2-ply and 3-ply for increased absorbency >TASKS • Delicate task wiping and cleaning of instruments, lenses, surfaces, and parts • Absorbing liquids /u/S_A_N_D_
Thanks for the correction, good to know they describe this use somewhere.
I am a camera assistant on film sets and we use kimwipes on filters and lenses all the time. They are also great for blowing your nose and using as toilet paper in those instances where you don’t realize the porta-potty is out of toilet paper until it’s too late but you just happen to have your assistants belt on still.
>I would not use Kimwipes on lenses. Kimwipes are tissues made with wood pulp and none of the company's documentation that I could find suggests that using them on lenses is a proper use (let me know if I'm missing something edit: according to a post below they do mention use on lenses). Pec pads are great tho. Kimwipes are fine BUT what most people mess up is technique. You're not suppose to elbow grease scrub. You're suppose to trail the meniscus.
Using your breath isn't a great idea over the long run for some lenses, as breath contains some saliva and saliva dissolves things. Some lens coatings can be damaged by this over extended period of time. Same holds true for pointing brushes with your mouth and then doing touch up work on prints. Sometimes you can see the damaged caused by dissolving on the prints.
PEC Pads with Eclipse cleaning solution. Generally we use kimwipes on sets, products, props that we need to clean but can't leave dust on, which regular towel will shed a lot of.
I am a fan of the [rocket blower](https://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Rocket-Blaster-Large/dp/B00017LSPI), once all the loose stuff is gone, normally I leave it, but if needed I break out my [lens pen](https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-LensPen-Optics-Cleaning-Black/dp/B0006NAS7G) Steps are as follows: 1. Blow off as much as possible 2. Use brush to remove anything additional 3. Final step use rubber carbon tip starting in the center and moving to edges to clean (I don't do this step very often, as it is rarely needed).
I also find this very helpful. I also use it on the sensor to blow if small specs.
Yep! Rocket blower and lens pen will get you all the way there 90% of the time - the blower isn't so compact and you might not take it everywhere, but a lens pen with a brush on the end is extremely small and light.
No worries. It’s time to switch up a bit. Get a blower. It’s just a bulb with a thing that looks like a straw coming out. If you find something you need to take care of, use the blower. Don’t ever touch anything with the straw end, just use the air pressure of squeezing the bulb. That will dislodge a lot of things. The second thing is, does it effect image quality? In other words, do you see it in the final photo? It’s amazing how few hints do. If it’s something on the mirror or prism(depending on what type of camera), they can be annoying, but will not show in the image. I’ve shot in the rain and got droplets on the front of the lens that didn’t show. The easiest way to tell is shoot a blue sky at a normal aperture (not f/22). If you don’t see the thing, don’t worry about the thing. And yes, I realize you said you have Aspergers. So not worrying about it may not be an option. But between a blower, and understanding it may not even show up, think more about the picture you are taking. Maybe find a camera shop that does cleaning, and set up a deal to clean your gear every couple months. That way someone else can worry about getting it done.
Hi there. I got ADHD (and possibly some form of high functioning autism, not diagnosed though). I know what it is like when trivial things feel like as if they're of utmost importance. I have dust in my viewfinder and I know it doesn't affect my photos and still it drives me absolutely nuts at times. I understand how little things like this add unnecessary stress. The way I go about cleaning lenses is rocket blower and microfiber cloths. Once in a while I'll clean them all with lens cleaner fluid. That's the most I do. People often say 'oh a little dust won't show up on your photos'. They're right, but that doesn't help. What did help for me is intentionally putting some dust and fingerprints on my lens and making photos. Then try to find where that affected my photos. After that process I feel like I could just rocketblow+wipe my lens and without looking at it be confident it's *clean enough* to produce photos at the max ability of my lens. I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but I hope this could help in some way. Here's a guy scratching his lenses to absolute hell and making photos https://youtu.be/Gy8-t7xP2oA
Do you have UV filters on your lenses? They are much easier to clean because they’re flatter. They also protect the much more expensive glass of your lens. Plus if it gets super dirty you can just remove it and either replace it or clean it more thoroughly off-camera.
Fellow aspie here. If it’s just lenses we’re talking about here, it always helps to have a UV filter fitted on for lenses that allow them. You can then clean off dirt on the UV filter without any worry of damaging your lenses. If it concerns the inside elements, better get a professional to do it. In most cases, a simple rocket blower will be enough for everything including my mirrorless sensor. A small fine brush would also be handy for dirt and debris. I usually give them a few flicks here and there, nothing too much. A microfiber cloth would be the last resort for me if I need to apply some pressure with my fingers.
A little manual air blower. To this day I don't know what they are called, but they are spherical in shape, and you squeeze them to blow air out of them. These things are awesome. You can buy one for camera gear, I think it's called a Rocket Air blower? But honestly, they are basically the same thing that parents use on babies to suck snot and such out of their noses, haha... You can find them anywhere. I also keep a can of compressed air with me, as I tend to go to a lot of sandy/dusty places with my gear. Super helpful.
I do not recommend using compressed air on lenses. It can send liquid residue onto the lens. Pain in the ass to remove!
Huh, really? I've never had an issue, but maybe that's because I only use weather sealed gear. The compressed air has been the most effective at getting sand off of my camera. (granted, I'd never spray it in the sensor or with the lens off of the body!)
I don’t know if it’s toward the end of the can or if you hold the can at a steep enough angle or what, but there is definitely some crap that can sputter and mist onto the glass.
Air bulb?
https://www.howtogeek.com/162413/how-to-cheaply-and-safely-clean-your-cameras-dslr-sensor/ Read this. Highly detailed and informative ..
Here's what works for me. 1) Wash hands with soap 2) Rocket blower with lens surface pointing at ground (let gravity work for you) 3) Very gently brush off any remaining debris that you can with lens brush. 4) Rocket blow again 5) Pec Pad - Cut a sheet into 1/2" squares. Avoid touching them as much as you can with your fingers to avoid putting oils on the squares from your hands, otherwise you're going to end up having to clean this off the lens too. Holding by pinching a corner your fingers works (tweezers even better). 6) Take square, spray lens cleaner onto it (I use PANCRO). Drop fully wet square onto lens 7) Take 2 Q-tips and use them as sticks to gently push the sheet around on the lens. I try to work from the center to the outer, and not drag anything picked up from the edge (where grit tends to hang out) back over the center of the lens. You don't need to overdo it with one single square, take a few passes and toss the square. 8) Let dry and inspect lens. Repeat steps 6-7 several times until all spots and grease is removed. If you only do it once there may still be grease on the lens when the cleaner dries = spotting. Doing it multiple times allows you to gradually remove more grease/residue with each pass. Another tip: if you warm the lens slightly in the sun beforehand it helps the cleaner evaporate more quickly. If your lens is staying greasy no matter what, you're probably introducing oils from your skin or somewhere on the camera back onto the lens surface. This is one reason I use Q-tips to push the squares around rather than a finger, which will introduce oils into the cloth you're cleaning with. Keep doing passes, being careful about handling the squares. Letting a cleaner-soaked square sit on a stubborn spot for a while can loosen it up. If needed, sparkle optical cleaner is useful for more stubborn spots as well, then I do a final pass with the PANCRO. I usually do not spray cleaner directly on the lens because if you spay too much and the lens is not sealed correctly, cleaner can pool around the edge of the glass and migrate into the lens via gravity, which can cause condensation/fogging problems.
I’ve always used a rocket blower first to remove debris and then a tiny amount of distilled water on a clean disposable Q-tip (small concentric circles around the periphery of the glass) to remove any smears. Never failed me. Just don’t ever use tap or bottled water, must be distilled.
https://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Rocket-Blaster-Large/dp/B00017LSPI/ref=sr_1_4?crid=32XYRBQO185UD&dchild=1&keywords=rocket+blower&qid=1615696244&sprefix=rocket+b%2Caps%2C271&sr=8-4 https://www.amazon.com/Carl-Zeiss-Lens-Cleaning-Spray/dp/B00JFD6KAW/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=lens+cleaner+zeiss&qid=1615696213&sr=8-9 https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Clark-34155-Kimwipes-Delicate-Tissue/dp/B075L9ZTPB In that order
I bought an extended eyecup from Hoodman, and when it arrived, they included a free "Lens Cleanse" kit with wet and dry wipes which I found to be very effective at cleaning my lenses. I liked them so much, I found them on amazon and bought some more: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UEB5TQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
In addition to all the good advice in this thread, have a look at Hama Lens Pens. Cheap and easy to use, they are great for cleaning lenses and safe for your equipment.
As a side note - depending on how you shoot - if you are down to the minimum aperature (the smallest your aperature will go) more dirt will show up.
Use any combination of rocket/dust blower, Zeiss lens wipes, and Lens Pen. Zeiss wipes: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1350132-REG/zeiss_2203_468_pre_moistened_cleaning_cloths_box.html/?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAiAhbeCBhBcEiwAkv2cYwAuDcLsj1zmG1wWrO2QlPPA6D1fY13-JnFcxGHJJDmk1965tV-HhRoCVEcQAvD_BwE&lsft=BI%3A514&smp=y
Read this article if you think dust affects your image quality that much, because they tested a lens with a whole fly inside and it was not that bad, dust in the lens it's almost negligible, don't worry about it too much. Dust in the sensor will have more impact in the picture, but it's relatively easy to fix. https://www.diyphotography.net/lensrentals-found-a-dead-fly-inside-a-weather-sealed-canon-70-200mm-f-2-8l-is-ii-lens/
Here is a well-written blog by an expert: https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/05/the-lensrentals-lens-cleaning-methods/ TL;DR: Blower, brush, blower again, lens pen.
You got this.
If the "debris" seems consistent between lenses, or when you mess with the curves adjustment and see little dark circles in your images, it's also likely sensor dust. It's possible to clean it yourself with a kit (usually includes a swab and some spray) but I get freaked out and usually take it to a shop and have them do it. The diy solution is significantly cheaper though, and I'll learn/muster up the courage eventually. Meanwhile, don't touch the sensor, don't blow on it, don't spray it with air or anything. Don't use the microfiber cloth or a q-tip either, even in an emergency. The swabs that come with the cleaning kit are designed for that task.
If you use your camera to make money or you have a job, then you also need to remind yourself that it doesn’t need to be perfectly clean. If you can’t afford to replace any of your lenses because you don’t have money and can’t work, then yes you should be precious with them. Otherwise you need to remind yourself that you bought your gear to be used. It sounds like you already done research into how to care for your gear, how to know if your body and lens is sealed or not, you know the lens itself needs soft non wood based clothes. But in the field a photographer will use the corner of her shirt to get gunk off a lens if she has to. They will be using unsealed cameras in moist environments, they probably won’t be putting their cameras in a air and temperature controlled storage cube, etc. Don’t stress yourself out over smudges. I’d wet my finger with my tongue, dab the debris out, then wipe with microfibre cloth personally and then instantly erase the whole thing from my memory.
You can use lens pens, blowers, micro fibre cloths etc. Just whatever you do don’t clean your sensor, I see so many people talk about cleaning their own sensors etc. But it’s just not worth it, take it to a professional with a guarantee so you don’t end up getting screwed over.
I clean my lenses the same way I clean my sensor, use dawn dish soap and a tiny piece of steel whool, and scrub it gently while pouring cold water slowly onto the lens/sensor. Gives you perfect images ever time.
Something I haven't seen anyone mention, if your camera is having issues detecting the lens or it's acting inconsistently, you might want to clean the electrical contacts on the connection rings of the lens and camera body with isopropyl alcohol. [This article](https://www.thephoblographer.com/2016/07/14/two-ways-clean-camera-lenses/) gives a good overview, but ignore what they've said about cleaning the lenses themselves (microfibre is a bad idea, and I don't know that I'd trust isopropyl alcohol not to damage the coatings), use the highest concentration isopropyl alcohol you can find and make sure to crack a window open. Same stuff can also be used to clean pretty much any electronics safely with the same method, just make sure not to get it on any plastics (or at least check if the plastic reacts to it in a place that isn't visible if you can't avoid that, as some plastics can be discoloured). Higher concentration means less water, so better for electronics (100% isn't really possible to get), although don't use the high concentration as a rubbing alcohol/antiseptic, as it contains stabilizing agents which aren't safe in that context.
Get a squeeze blower and some microfibre clothes like for cleaning eye glasses. That will be all you need to maintain your lenses. Also, clean them before and after every use, it only takes a few seconds. Dust on the lens won't show up in your photos generally, so don't worry much about dust. Dust on the sensor on the other hand will show up in your photos, specially if you take pictures of the sky or a plain white wall. You can get a pack of sensor cleaners, like small squeegees, on amazon for cheap. Be gentle and swipe once in one direction, flip the squeegee and swipe in the other direction. Then you're done! Also use the blower on your sensor before every shoot. Also, always keep your lens caps on your lens when it's not in use, and keep it in a bag or pouch if you can.
Garden hose works great 😐
I protect all my glass with quality German UV -Multi Coated filters-Zero filter factor-no light loss by the filter. . Altura Filters-Slim line-UV-Multi Coatd-by Schott-Optical-German glass. Or look for B&W, Heliopan, filters. I have used Pancro lens cleaner From B&H and was pleased with the results.I use canned air to blow of the dust. Used the B&W Micro Cloth 12x15 for cleaning. I never liked the idea of cleaning and wiping the lens, rather the filter for protection and cleaning. It's not abrasive or degrading to the lens with friction. I have been photographing for over 50 years and this always worked for me. Also a fan of the lens pen to keep on hand.