How to clean microscope optics

Don’t let dirty optics ruin your microscope experience!

No matter how high-tech your microscope is, it won’t give you the clear images you crave if your lenses are covered in dirt and grime.

That’s why it’s essential to take good care of your microscope’s optical system.

Luckily, our Microscope Optics Cleaning Kit make this task a breeze, and with just a bit of free time, you can ensure that your optics are in perfect condition.

Here’s a quick guide to help you get started.

What do you need?

It's not enough to just wipe the lenses with a tissue or cloth – you need the right tools to get the job done safely and effectively. The following is a list of everything included in our cleaning kits that you’ll need: 

• Pisen air blower: this is used to safely remove dust and debris without risking damage to your lenses.
• Residual oil remover (ROR): a surface cleaner and emulsifier used to clean your optics and to remove any oil residue.
• Livingstone cotton tip applicators: used to apply the ROR and to clean surfaces.
• Lint-free Kimwipes: used to gently dry surfaces and to wipe away dust and debris.

 Eyepieces

Your eyepieces are the most exposed part of the optical system, and the most susceptible to accumulating dirt and debris.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you clean your eyepieces.

1. Start by detaching the eyepieces from the microscope. Depending on the model, you may be able to simply pull them out, or you may need to loosen a screw first.
2. Use the Pisen air blower to blow away any dust or debris from the surface of the eyepiece lenses. If there is any dirt or debris trapped on the inside of the eyepiece, you can use the blower on the inside as well.
3. Next, spray a small amount of ROR onto a Livingstone cotton tip applicator. Place the applicator in the centre of one of the eyepiece lenses, then clean outwards in a circular motion until you reach the edge. Repeat this process with the other eyepiece. (Don’t try to clean the inside of the eyepiece with ROR).
4. Once you’ve finished cleaning with the ROR solution, gently dry the lenses using a lint-free Kimwipe in a circular motion.

Head

Dust and debris can sometimes make their way inside the microscope head, especially if it’s left uncovered.

Here’s how to clean the head of your microscope:

1. First, remove the eyepieces for safety, and then detach the head from the microscope. This usually involves loosening a screw or two.
2. Check the prisms inside the head for any visible dust or debris.
3. If you see any, tilt the head so that the eyepiece tubes are angled downwards, and use the Pisen air blower to blow away the dust. For any stubborn debris, use a fresh Livingstone cotton applicator to gently sweep it off. Avoid using ROR or cleaning fluids on the prisms.
4. Finally, to clean the lens on the bottom of the microscope head, simply follow steps 2 to 4 of the eyepiece cleaning instructions.

Objectives

For the best image quality, you need your objectives clean and oil-free. They can get surprisingly dirty, particularly if you use oil immersion microscopy.

Here’s how to clean your objective lenses:

1. Remove the objective lens from the microscope.
2. Use the Pisen air blower to blow away any dust or debris on the surface of the lens. If needed, use the blower on the back of the lens to remove any trapped dirt or debris.
3. Spray a bit of ROR onto a Livingstone cotton tip applicator. Gently clean the surface of the lens with the applicator, moving in a circular motion from the centre to the edge. Don’t attempt to clean the rear or inside of the objective.
4. Take a lint-free Kimwipe and gently dry the lens using a circular motion.
5. To check if the lens is clean, you can use one of your microscope eyepieces. Remove an eyepiece and flip it around so you’re looking down the eyepiece backwards. It will act as a 10x magnifying glass. Angle the objective lens so that it catches the light and look at it through the reversed eyepiece. You’ll be able to see any residual dirt or oil.

Abbe condenser and base

To keep your Abbe condenser and base clean, follow these steps:

1. For the surface of the upper lens of your Abbe Condenser, you can either follow steps 2 to 4 for cleaning eyepieces, or take one of the lint-free Kimwipes and just wipe it clean.
2. For the base condenser lens, simply wipe it clean with a Kimwipe.

Stereoscopes

Cleaning the optics of a stereo microscope requires a slightly different approach since the objective lenses can’t be removed. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Remove the objective protector lens or supplementary lens and clean both sides using steps 2 to 4 of the eyepiece cleaning instructions.
2. Clean the front of the unremovable objective lens using the same method.
3. Apply some ROR to a fresh Kimwipe and wipe the light source cover lenses clean.

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your microscope optics stay clean and in top working condition for years to come.