Many photographers would scream upon reading this, but hear us out. If you're out of cleaning fluid, then the condensation from breathing on your lens can lift dirt and grime when wiped with a cloth. You might be able to save a few quid if you have any of the following items lying around your house.

It takes approximately 1 minute to make this cleaner. And this DIY, I’m embarrassed to admit, has me happier than just about any other project on this blog. No more greasy coconut oil fingerprints on my glasses! Supplies neededTake A Photo: With the lens pointing at a plain white surface or a clear blue sky, take several shots. Working in good light, with the lens facing upward, blow across the lens from a 45-degree angle from one side of the lens to the other. Once you’ve wiped all of the surface, take a clean and dry piece of lens cleaning tissue to gently wipe away any remaining moisture.

Eyeglasses Cleaner– It’s readily available at the local optometrist and given out when you buy glasses or sunglasses. Makeup Brush– Use a high quality, soft makeup brush to sweep away dust and dirt. How to Make DIY Lens Cleaner When changing lenses, keep the rear lens element facing down, so dust does not fall onto it as you place it on your camera. The combination of ZEISS AntiFOG spray applied with the ZEISS AntiFOG Cloth can make your lenses stay fog-free for up to 72 hours without influencing optical quality.Keeping a lens filter clean is no different to keeping the fixed front lens element clean. The benefit of applying one is that if you scratch or damage it beyond repair, you can throw it away, and your lens is still in pristine condition. The easiest way to clean fungus from a camera lens is to place it in direct sunlight – UV light kills most fungi. Washing your hands is a proven practice to ensure good hygiene, and helps prevent the spread of harmful germs, but it is not the only sensible protective measure that we should take. Cleaning items that you touch regularly, such as spectacles and digital devices, should also be part of our daily hygiene routines. Wait for the lens to completely dry and inspect the surface to ensure that you removed smudges, oils, fingerprints and stubborn grime. When cleaning your glasses, make sure that any cloth you use is completely clean. Do not use paper towels, newspaper, or other paper products, over time they will scratch your lenses.

Avoid using clothes to clean camera lenses, there's a chance that the fibres can create micro-scratches.

Hydrogen Peroxide Solutions

Buy a couple of microfiber cleaning cloths and have one at home and one in your camera bag at all times. Your Breath– If you blow hot breath onto the lens surface, condensation will cover the lens. Use a soft material such as T-shirt material to wipe the glass clean. Lens Cleaning Liquid– To remove oil left by finger smudges and watermarks left by rain, you’ll need a liquid cleaning solution. These contain alcohol or are alcohol-free – some alcohol-based solutions impact the lens coating on vintage lenses. I use an alcohol-free liquid made by CURA in Japan, but camera stores sell something similar. Remember that not all lenses are weather-sealed, and as such, you should be very careful using liquids when cleaning the lens barrel.