My favorite ruler for all of my artistic projects is a sewing ruler. The particular one that I own measures 2" by 18" and is see through. I can see my design under the ruler, making it so much easier to know right where I want to place my next mark, and or where I need to measure from.
My canvases can vary, from regular canvas, paper, to my computer screen. Yes, you read that right. I don't know if my current upgrade of my artist software has a grid pattern that I can use or not; I have never bothered to find out. It is so natural for me to reach for my see through ruler.
I can hold it up to the computer screen, shift it this way or that, and I have figured out what I need to know. It is also flexible; it has just enough flex to it that I can maneuver it across my computer screen without any issues.
This is one gal that does not want a touch screen on my monitor. I want to be able to use my see through ruler.
Some people may refer to this as a seamstress ruler, quilter's ruler, etc. But it is so much more versatile to use than just for sewing. But if you're looking for one in the art section, you may need to go over to sewing to find one.
Not just any see through ruler will do. This sewing ruler is smooth on both sides and on the edges too. That is another criteria for my ruler. Some of the see through rulers for school have raised ridges to designate the different measurements.
If you are looking for something that gives you the option for straight lines, that has a decent length to it, (They do come in other sizes though.), is smooth on both sides and edges too, then I recommend a sewing ruler for your creative needs.
The two or three that I own, are all from Artist's Loft. You can find them at Michael's and also on Amazon.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Most of us are pretty good about putting sunscreen on our faces and necks
before we head outside. But if you’re like I used to be, you might not give
much thought to your hands. The truth is, they’re one of the first areas to
show sun damage—age spots, thinning skin, and those little freckles that pop
up over the years. And, of course, unprotected hands are just as vulnerable to
skin cancer as the rest of your body.
My sister, who’s a physician, has urged me to take sun protection seriously
for decades, and as I've gotten older I have become a bit obsessive about
wearing high SPF sunscreen and UV protective clothing. Our dad developed skin
cancer after his time in the Navy, and that was a turning point for both of
us. We learned firsthand that protecting your skin isn’t just about looks—it’s
about health. She was actually the one who convinced me to start wearing UPF
50+ gloves, not just outside, but even in the car. I don’t drive myself, but
UV rays easily penetrate car windows, and the exposure really adds up over
time.
My sister's recommendation is how I discovered the Coolibar UPF 50+ UV Gloves.
Coolibar was the first sun-protective clothing company to receive the Skin
Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, and it’s a brand I’ve come to
trust.
Coolibar UPF 50+ UV Gloves Review: My Go-To Sun Protection for Hands
Even though I have been diligent about applying sunscreen to my face, neck and
chest for many years, I have been less diligent about protecting the skin on
the rest of my body. Sunscreen lasts only so long, and it is more difficult to
reapply it to the body than to the face when you're on the go. About five or
six years ago I really started noticing some of the sun damage incurred during
my twenties and thirties, when I was not diligent about sun protection or
sunscreen use. I have succeeded in reversing a lot of the sun damage on my face, neck and chest with diligent use of well designed, high-quality AM and PM skincare routines, but again, I haven't been as careful with the skin on my arms and legs.
Fortunately, using Coolibar UPF 50+ UV Gloves to protect the skin on my hands has really helped, especially when I'm in the car, running errands, or at an outdoor event for longer than two hours. Although my hands obviously show signs of age, they're fairly youthful for 71-year-old hands, with minimal wrinkles and only a few, small age spots, thanks in part to the Coolibar Unisex UV Gloves with UPF 50+ UV protection.
(Not sure what the strange reflection is!)
Why I Love These Sun Protection Gloves
The first pair of these gloves that I purchased two years ago were the Coolibar UPF 50+ Unisex Gannet UV Gloves (sun protection isn't just for women!) in the color Beige. I wear a woman's size 7 glove and the size Small fit me perfectly. The Gannet style comes just over the wrist.
The first thing I noticed was how soft and
feather-light they felt. They’re made from Coolibar’s UCmax™ fabric, a blend
of 87% polyester and 13% spandex with breathable micro-mesh and four-way
stretch. They fit snugly but not tight, and they don’t make my hands sweaty.
In fact, the Cooltect® technology wicks away moisture and keeps my hands
feeling cool, even on hot days.
And the best part is that they block 98% of UVA and UVB rays, giving UPF
50+ protection without having to slather on sunscreen that washes off or needs
reapplying every hour or two. Honestly, I almost forget that I’m wearing them because they’re so comfortable.
Touchscreen-Friendly (So I Don't Need to Remove Them to Use My Phone)
One feature I use constantly is the touchscreen-compatible thumb and pointer fingertips. I can grab my phone, scroll, or send a quick text without peeling the gloves off and exposing my skin. It’s such a small detail, but it makes a huge difference in how practical they are for daily use.
Perfect for the Car, Walks, Everyday Errands and Outdoor Events
I keep my UV gloves in my purse so I can easily slip them on whenever I go out. I love that they come with a zippered pouch to keep them clean and neat when not in use.
Since I don’t drive, I’m usually in the passenger seat and I like knowing my hands are protected from UV rays coming through the side windows. I wear these gloves while I'm walking, shopping, or sitting outside with a book. They’re just an easy habit now, like sunglasses or sunscreen on my face.
Need More Coverage? Try the Longer Version
When I looked at the sun damage on my arms recently, I decided to buy a pair of the Coolibar UPF 50+ Unisex Culebra UV Long Gloves as well. They use the same UCmax™ fabric and the same touchscreen-compatible thumb and pointer fingertips as the wrist-length Gannet style, but they extend well past your elbow. I reach for these when I’m wearing short sleeves or sleeveless tops or spending more time outdoors. It’s that extra layer of peace of mind against sun damage, especially at the beach.
A Great Gift for Gardeners and Outdoor Enthusiasts
Men or women who work outdoors or enjoy gardening, driving, spending time at the beach, walking for exercise or pleasure, and anyone else who spends time exposed to the sun (directly or indirectly) for extended periods of time could benefit from either style of these Coolibar UPF 50+ UV gloves. I think they would make a great gift, especially since they come nicely packaged in a matching zippered storage pouch.
Final Thoughts
Sun protection is a big deal for me, and not just because I want the skin on my hands and arms to look good as I get older. After seeing what skin cancer did to my dad, I take sun protection very seriously. The Coolibar Gannet UV Gloves make it effortless. They’re light, comfortable, easy to wash, and practical enough to wear every day. Plus, they save me from constantly reapplying sunscreen to my hands.
If you want even more coverage, the Culebra UV Long Gloves are just as good with added length for your forearms and part of your upper arms.
Both styles give you top-notch protection from a brand that’s trusted by dermatologists and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. For me, they’ve become a non-negotiable part of my daily routine, and the skin on my hands and arms is showing visible improvement. At the time of this post's publication, both styles were available on Amazon for $39. That's a small price to pay for protection against skin cancer and other types of unsightly damage from the sun's harmful UV rays.
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Pork Tenderloin is a very lean and tender cut of meat; it's the filet mignon of pork. Fran picked up a 1.5 lb. already seasoned pork tenderloin last week.
There are several ways to make pork tenderloin, and our favorite is using our Ninja Air Fryer.
This method is easy to do, and the pork is so tender and juicy. Our pork tenderloin was already seasoned. You can find these in your grocery store already seasoned with various types of seasoning. If you don't find one already seasoned, here is how we like to season ours.
Seasoning for Pork Tenderloin:
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Mix all seasonings together in a small bowl, and rub the olive oil over the pork tenderloin. Rub the mixed seasoning on all sides of the tenderloin.
Set and preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees. Set the timer to 25 minutes. Check the pork tenderloin at 22 minutes with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. You want the internal temperature to be at least 145 degrees.
The tenderloin will be crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. Serve with your favorite vegetable or baked potato.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Have you ever taken a chance on a DIY idea only to discover... What took me so long to do it! This simple DIY has changed the scenario 100 percent for an office with hardwood floors.
Hardwood Floors
The great feature of hardwood floors is the ability to have office furniture with wheels. So handy, so useful, so worrisome if the wheels are not high quality and the hardwood floors are in jeopardy. The one sound you do not want to hear is a rolling piece of furniture scraaaatcccching the hardwood floor.
Wheels and More Wheels
What I have added Lifelong wheels to in the office with hardwood floors:
Rolling shelves
Rolling printer stand
Office Chair
Stool
Shredder
Through the years this old office chair became THAT chair. The chair which is so comfy and broken in and you do not want to let it go when age reigns on its' parts. One of the wheels was not working properly and was showing signs of scratching the floor as well as the floor protector. One of the bonus features of replacing the wheels was the ability to leave the plastic floor protector in the trash.
One word of caution! The wheels are fast! Like rollerblade wheels, so the chair which was barely rolling is now a lean mean rolling machine !
The one measurement needed is the stem size. The old wheels pop off and the new are easily put on, but the stem size is necessary for proper fit. Lifelong comes in different color combinations and brakes are an option. For the printer stand on wheels I chose the style with brakes.
Brands
As noted I have replaced a few wheels and have found the brands I used all were more than adequate. The installation took minutes! No tools needed.
My favorite brand was Lifelong and it was slightly more expensive than other brands. the one cavaet is the wheels are advertised to fit 98 percent, but NOT Ikea furniture.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
To Date, Here Are 5 of The Biggest Stars to Come Out of The Voice
You know, I've been a fan of The Voice for years—probably over a decade now. And thanks to the magic of TikTok, I've fallen down more than a few rabbit holes watching short clips from The Voice UK, The Voice Kids, and even auditions from countries I didn't expect—like Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa. There's something about those blind auditions and spinning chairs that just pulls me in every time.
After digging into the history of The Voice, I found a few fun factoids I thought you might like, too. The show actually started way back in 2010 in the Netherlands, created by John de Mol (yep, the same guy who helped create Big Brother).
Since then, it's exploded across the globe with over 60 international versions. You can now catch The Voice in countries like the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sweden, Argentina, and many more.
Now, while The Voice has given the world thousands of notable singers, not all of them have gone on to become household names. Who are some of the biggest stars to come out of The Voice? Who made a significant impact after the show was over?
"After conducting some research (and encountering a few surprises), I've found the following. By the way, this is my personal research; feel free to dispute any of these, or add people you think belong on this list! Leave your opinion in the comments."
🌟 Top 5 Most Successful Contestants from The Voice – Worldwide
These are the ones who not only wowed us on the show but also went on to sell records, earn awards, and build actual careers. Let's break it down:
1. Morgan Wallen
(The Voice USA, Season 6 – 2014, Team Usher initially, then Team Adam)
Okay, so this one shocked even me. Morgan Wallen was actually eliminated early in the playoffs, but he's become the biggest success story ever from The Voice.
Why he's #1:
🎧 Record Sales & Streams:
Over 35 million equivalent album sales (EAS) globally
Dangerous: The Double Album broke all kinds of country music streaming records
One Thing at a Time dominated the charts for weeks
💵 Estimated Earnings:
Net worth estimated between $25–30 million and rising fast
🏆 Awards:
ACM Album of the Year
Billboard Music Awards
CMT Music Awards
Holds records for most weeks on Billboard Country Charts
Bottom line: He didn't win the show, but he definitely won real-life stardom.
2. Melanie Martinez
(The Voice USA, Season 3 – 2012, Top 6 Finalist)
Melanie had a style all her own from the start—quirky, artistic, emotional. And it turns out that unique identity is precisely what carried her beyond the show.
What she's accomplished:
🎧 Album Sales & Streams:
Cry Baby was certified Double Platinum in the U.S.
Albums like K-12 and Portals have cult followings
Billions of streams across platforms
💵 Estimated Earnings:
Net worth somewhere around $10–12 million
🏆 Impact:
While she's not mainstream radio famous, she's a huge streaming success, especially among younger listeners on TikTok and Spotify.
Strong merchandise sales and sold-out tours
Bottom line: She has built a loyal fan base and a full-blown brand on her own terms.
3. Jordan Smith
(The Voice USA, Season 9 – 2015, Winner – Team Adam)
Jordan Smith's voice is the kind that makes you stop what you're doing and just listen. He made history with his chart performance during the show and continued to do so afterward.
Highlights:
🎧 Sales & Chart Success:
Became the highest-selling Voice contestant on iTunes during his season
Albums charted on Billboard's Christian and Adult Contemporary charts
Billboard chart-topper in the Christian music space
Bottom line: Jordan found his lane in Christian and inspirational music, and is thriving.
Here's Jordan Smith's blind audition:
4. Cassadee Pope
(The Voice USA, Season 3 – 2012, Winner – Team Blake)
Cassadee brought her pop-punk background from the band Hey Monday into country music, making it work. She was the first female winner of The Voice USA and used the win to launch a solid country career.
Career Snapshot:
🎧 Sales:
Frame by Frame hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country Albums chart
Single "Wasting All These Tears" sold 125,000 copies in its first week
Duet "Think of You" with Chris Young went Platinum
💵 Estimated Earnings:
Estimated around $4–5 million
🏆 Awards:
Grammy nomination
CMT Music Award
ACM Award nomination
Bottom line: A fan favorite who turned her win into long-term respect in the country scene.
Cassadee Pope performed this song on The Voice, and ever since, it's held a special place in my heart. When my dad passed, I wept listening to it. Those tears were part of my healing. The original is by Miranda Lambert, and it still brings me back to that time.
5. Koryn Hawthorne
(The Voice USA, Season 8 – 2015, 4th Place – Team Pharrell)
She didn't win the show, but she's dominating the gospel and Christian charts today.
Why she made the list:
🎧 Chart Success:
Unstoppable topped Billboard's Top Gospel Albums
Single "Won't He Do It" stayed at No. 1 for 41 weeks (that's almost a whole year!)
💵 Estimated Earnings:
Net worth estimated at around $1–2 million
🏆 Awards & Nominations:
2 Grammy nominations
Billboard and Stellar Gospel Awards
Bottom line: She's a star in her genre, with one of the most consistent post-show careers.
Here's Koryn's blind audition:
🎬 Final Thoughts
So there you have it! While not every Voice contestant goes on to global superstardom, a few have carved out seriously successful careers. And what's fascinating is that most of them didn't even win, which shows that sometimes, winning the show isn't the only path to success.
Whether it's country chart domination, like Morgan Wallen, quirky theatrical pop, like Melanie Martinez, or inspirational gospel, like Koryn Hawthorne, these artists have found their unique lane.
And if you're like me and still find yourself watching audition clips at 1 AM from The Voice UK or The Voice Kids Philippines, it's kind of nice to know that the show really can change lives—and sometimes, lead to something bigger than anyone expected.
Do you have a personal favorite from The Voice over the years?
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
A horseracing mystery by Dick Francis and Felix Francis
After a successful eleven-year career as a jockey in England (during which hebecame one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and a champion steeplechaser, riding as jockey to the Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth), Dick Francis wrote his first book, an autobiography (The Sports of Queens), which led to a job on a London newspaper as a racing correspondent. In 1982, he published his first mystery book that dealt with crime in the horse-racing world. Through a publishing career of nearly 40 books, Francis’ wife, Mary, was his researcher, proofreader and biggest fan.
Mary died in 2000 and Dick, heartbroken, virtually gave up writing. Six years later, their son Felix talked his dad into writing again and they collaborated on Dead Heat. Herein, is my review of this book.
The main character in Dead Heat is Max Moreton. Max is locally known as a celebrity chef, enjoying success in his horse-racing themed restaurant in Newmarket called The Hay Net. Max also frequently caters special meals at nearby racetracks. His troubles begin when he caters a dinner at Newmarket races where dozens of guests end up with food poisoning. Max cannot figure out what went wrong.
But, that incident was just the beginning of Max’s problems. The very next day, he caters a VIP lunch in one of the special boxes at Newmarket races, and he is nearly killed in an explosion. It suddenly becomes time for Max to start trying to figure out what is going on and why it seems as though someone is trying to kill him.
Summary
The clever plot of Dead Heat has some interesting and some quirky characters (there is the laughing lawyer for one) and a romantic interest between Max and a beautiful viola player from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London who originally starts out to sue him! In addition, the reader gets to enjoy the ambience of the world of haute cuisine.
I enjoyed this first collaboration of Dick Francis with his son Felix. The team went on to publish 3 more books together. Since Dick’s death at age 89 in 2010, Felix Francis has continued on in the same vein, writing horse-racing mysteries.
*Book Review of ‘Dead Heat by Dick & Felix Francis was written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
If you are looking for a suspenseful movie that will make you laugh, I
highly recommend Heads of State starring Idris Elba, John Cena, Jack Quaid
and a very feisty Priyanka Chopra Jonas. This cast of actors is
absolutely fabulous together!
My husband and I frequently watch movies together, but one of us is usually
watching because the other one wanted to see the show. Of course, that
is fine, but we rarely rave over the same movie. However, we both
loved "Heads of State" and we both hated to see it end.
There were times in the movie where we were struck silent and other
times when we were both laughing out loud. At the end of the movie, we
were in a good mood and wishing for "Heads of State: Part II".
As a result of watching this movie, I also have a new appreciation for the United States President's vehicles: Air Force One airplane and The Beast, the US President's limousine. Their reproductions for the movie are pretty awesome. I hope the real vehicles are just as well-built and powerful as their portrayal.
When Airforce One comes under attack, US President, Will Derringer (John Cena) & UK Prime Minister, Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) are forced to work together to survive.
Sam views Will as a movie star instead of a credible leader. He actually thinks his presidency and his physical ability are ludicrous, both a product of his on-screen image instead of fact. To some degree, he is not wrong. However, Will does have a huge fan base, therefore influence, as well as physical strength.
Will doesn't like Sam because he publicly supported his opponent in the presidential race.
As they seek to find safety on the ground in a foreign country, they learn to rely on each other and find they make a pretty great team. They do get a lot of help from friends! Marty Comer (Jack Quaid), who admires President Will Derringer and Noelle Basset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) who adores Prime Minister Sam Clarke, are well trained "real action heroes" that arrive at the most opportune times to save the day.
______________
Heads of State is a awesome suspense thriller to begin with, but with the added humor and interactions between characters, it offers real entertainment for everyone.
I have only one personal criticism. They use our Lord's name in vain way to liberally. The irreverence is unnecessary and detracts from this great movie. Hopefully, this flaw will be corrected in Heads of State: Part II.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I am a big fan of James Patterson novels. I have enjoyed his books for years and follow several of his series of books, always looking forward to the newest book. While looking through his newer books from the library, I came across one that came out earlier this year. It was co-written with J.D. Barker and in reading the description on the cover I was very curious about the book. The cover has the claim "You'll Never Forget the Ending". I decided I needed to read that book and I was not disappointed. The book keeps you guessing on who the killer is the entire book. I thought I had it figured out several times, but boy was I wrong. In the final chapters of the book there is a real twist that I would have never guessed. Wow! What an ending!
Book Summary
The book starts with Declan Shaw, a NYPD detective standing in a subway train station contemplating throwing himself overboard, when he suddenly gets a call sending him to the scene of a murder.
The scene is in the home of a award winning novelist and her doctor husband. The husband has been stabbed, and the wife is standing over him in bloody clothes with the murder weapon. At first glance it is an open and shut case, but then nothing is what it seems in the rest of the book.
We are introduced to Declan's partner, his lieutenant, the wife's attorney and many more possible suspects. There is also another case of a woman in a nearby alley that plays into the picture. In addition, there are some doubts about a prior case that Declan and his partner worked and the suspect was found guilty and is in jail.
There are so many twists and turns that I hate to give anymore away. I will tell you this is a very compelling book and once you get into it, it is hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fascinating murder thriller.
Book on Amazon
The book is available on Amazon in hardcover, kindle and audio books. Here is a link The Writer
Reviews on James Patterson Books
Writers for Review this have written several reviews on various James Patterson books. Here are a few.
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Who in their lifetime has not heard of a Bride that goes completely off the rails during all the preparations for the upcoming nuptials? Bridezilla is the moniker that comes to mind!
Well you might think that A Bridesmaids Guide to Murder should be on the list of books to be read beforehand, by all the bridesmaids, so that you could have all the scenarios covered but you would be wrong!
Emilia Walsh is that aforementioned Bridesmaid. She is a professional Bridesmaid who steps in to take care of all the "little" things that can and do go wrong at weddings. She is skilled at fixing dresses, makeup and hair, so that whatever disaster could happen will have a happier ending when she puts her hands to the problem.
I don't think there is a wedding that has taken place that hasn't had it's share of "drama" sometime before the actual wedding happens. But that is what Emilia is there to handle. She is the Maid of Honor and nothing escapes her steady observations of all the people involved in this affair.
She singlehandedly handles overbearing mothers and friends with firmness and gentleness at the same time. Nothing, but nothing will rattle this Bridesmaid.
We are down to the wire with everything in place for tomorrow's wedding, when the unthinkable happens. One of the groom's men is murdered! Now this is something the Emilia didn't sign up for and has never happened before. What is going to happen now?
Well, let me tell you, there is a lot of things going on that you just never imagined. The detective assigned to the case and Emilia get together to figure out what happened and why. Her notes will be the starting point to figure out WHODUNIT! After all a Professional Bridesmaid has to take lots of notes with all the details recorded.
I'm not going to give away the story line, you will have to read it for yourself! Just let me say that this was a great way to spend a few summer evenings and you will never guess the culprit and the reasons behind all the chaos that was created.
Abigail Scott has done a great job engaging the reader in this cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good story with a lot of twists and turns right to the very end.
Enjoy all your Summer Reading!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
If you wear eyeglasses for reading or driving or long distance or wear
sunglasses we need to clean them effectively and easily. I really dislike when
my glasses are smudged or do not feel clean and it certainly makes it harder
to read or drive or watch Tv when they are not crystal clean!
So it is important to clean eyeglasses often and carefully. Eyeglasses and
sunglasses can be often incredibly expensive and so need to be treated
well.
If we use the wrong type of cleaning cloth it can damage your lenses
including damaging the coatings, scratching the lenses and just cause irritating streaking and
smudging.
Always Avoid Cleaning Eyeglasses With These Items
Any dirty cloth , even a microfibre one. Dirt particles can scratch the coating of the lens and cause damage.
Pieces of your clothing like a T shirt or fleece. Most of us have probably
done this from time to time when we don't have a cloth handy and our glasses
are dirty, but its not a great idea. You can transfer oils, sweat and dirt
onto your glasses and any dust particles can scratch the surface. Also
depending on the fabric it is often not very effective and can make things
worse.
General household cleaners and sprays designed for kitchen or bathroom use.
These are generally too abrasive or contain chemicals that can damage our
glasses coatings.
Using the wrong cleaning method can at best leave annoying and irritating
streaks and smudges and at worse scratch your lenses and damage
coatings which may need to be repaired or replaced.
How Should We Clean Our Eyeglasses?
There are several options for cleaning cloths to clean our eyeglasses,
sunglasses or spectacles. I have listed three below but there are other
options that you may find useful and effective.
Microfibre Cleaning Cloths
These are by far my best option. The ones I use now are Go Optical
Microfibre Glasses Cleaner but I have had many different makes over the
years and all have been very good.
Microfibre is a densely woven cloth that is very soft and non abrasive. It
has excellent cleaning properties and takes off dust and oils easily and
quickly.
They can be washed and used many times so they do work out cost effective
and good for the planet. To keep it clean wash every couple of weeks or
sooner if your glasses get more dirty. It is usually only necessary to use a
mild soap and warm water. I usually handwash as its quicker and easier but
they can be generally machine washed as well. Do not use fabric conditioner
though as it reduces the absorbency and effectiveness of the cloth.
Microfibre cloths can be used anywhere when at home or out and about and
travelling. They have the added advantage of being able to use them on many
other household items such as camera lenses, laptop and tablet screens,
TV's, mirrors, gaming toys, phone screens and glasses.
I just love how so quickly and easily they turn my smudged and
annoying glasses into a lovely clear vision! Its a small thing but one
that makes life a little bit easier and better.
These often come in boxes with many wipes in individually wrapped packaging
or in a larger single tub. The individual wipes can be very useful
especially when at work, school, gym or travelling.
They are usually once only use and being individually wrapped can be useful
as they do not dry out easily while the packet is intact, but also can be
wasteful. They are generally not reuseable.
So if you are not travelling and using at home the tub option dispenser
type may be better.
Once opened they must be used quickly as once exposed to air they can dry
out. It is good to look for ones that are free from parabens, alcohol,
dyes and too many chemicals and made from sustainable plant based
fibres.
These are a combination of a microfibre cloth plus a cleaning solution. It
is good for a really proper clean. Most are best I feel to use at home as
otherwise its quite a lot to carry around just for cleaning glasses, but a
good option especially if you often get oils or dust or other dirt on
eyeglasses or sunglasses.
However the one featured below is listed as compact and easier to
travel with as it is all contained in a convenient tube, so may be a
good on the go option to consider.
The most effective way to clean glasses or spectacles
If glasses are really dirty then rinse them with clear water under the
tap/faucet first, just so that any dirt particles are washed away so as not
to cause any abrasion or marks. If they are not really dirty you can skip
this step.
If very smudged or dirty or have oils on them, its a good idea now and
again to use a specific lens cleaning solution tot he lenses.
Then simply wipe over with clean, dry microfibre cloth. Clean gently
and cover the whole lens area with a slow circular motion. If they are not
really dirty you can just clean with a microfibre cloth.
My overall preference for cleaning my eyeglasses is a microfibre cleaning
cloth. It is safe, effective and easily available. I find mine cleans
without streaks and gets rid of smudges and gives a lovely clear view.
I can wash it and use it for a long time without having to replace. However
I do have several so I always have one in the car, the house, my handbag
etc. I hate having dirty glasses so this way I always have one to hand when
I need it.
It is a good practice to keep the microfibre cloth in a small pouch or
carry bag to protect it and keep it clean too. I do keep some single use
cleaning cloths in the house and my handbag in case of emergencies as well.
Every now and again I will give them a thorough clean with a lens solution
and microfibre cloth combination. However my go to item for cleaning daily
is a microfibre cleaning cloth.
Anyone who wears eyeglasses or sunglasses will know how important they
are to clear and good sight and how expensive they can be to buy. We do
not want to compromise clear vision with dirty, smudged glasses or to
compromise the effectiveness with scratched damaged lenses. So it is a
small but valuable consideration to have a safe, effective cleaning
cloth.
Reviewing Cleaning Cloths for Spectacles Or Glasses by Raintree Annie
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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