How Do I Protect My Binoculars?
Binoculars can be expensive pieces of equipment and if you don’t take good care of them you can easily see them go to ruin and your money down the drain.
Regardless of if you’re a seasoned bird watcher or just using your binoculars to get a better view at sports events, you should take the right precautions to ensure your binoculars don’t get affected by wear and tear.
We’ll be taking you through everything you should be doing to protect your binoculars so they can stay in the best condition possible so you can have smooth focus viewings all the time.
Proper Cleaning
Even if you rarely use your binoculars outside, you’ll be surprised at how quickly they can get dirty without you even realizing it. Anything from dust, debris, smudges, bugs, and even dirt can get onto the lenses and distort your view. (phentermine375.net)
The more often you use your binoculars , the more frequently you should try to clean them to prevent any grime build-up and to make sure they’re nice and sanitized.
If you’re using your binoculars for long periods out on camping trips, then try to clean them when you get home ready for the next time that you’ll use them, however, you should be cautious with how frequently you’re cleaning the lenses as you don’t want to damage them.
Dust
The best way to remove dust or debris from your binoculars is by using an air blower to suck up everything or a lens cleaning brush to gently wipe away any excess.
Try not to use too much force or you could risk damaging the lenses by scratching the optics. You could always just blow gently to remove any dust or debris from the binoculars.
Smudges
If you’ve managed to get fingerprints, smudges, or grease on your binoculars lenses then you should never wipe them away using any paper products as these will contain fibers of wood that could scratch the optics coating and make them beyond repair.
Try not to use clothing, handkerchiefs, or tissues as these may leave a residue on your lenses and ruin the image. Don’t be lazy by using your saliva as a cleaning solution and don’t even attempt to use household cleaning products as they contain chemicals that are too harsh and will destroy the coatings on the lenses.
Try to find ethyl or isopropyl alcohol to clean the lenses as they’ll dissolve any grease on the surface but the alcohol content will evaporate so won’t leave a residue. Book your Madison cleaning services at http://touchofeuropecleaning.com site. You should also use the soft cloth that came with your binoculars or other lens cleaning cloths from camera stores to clean your lenses.
Never spray the alcohol cleaning solution directly onto the lenses, instead, spray the solution onto the cloth and then wipe the lens gently to remove smudges.
Cleaning The Rubber Coating
When you’re out in the woods exploring, you haven’t got time to make sure your hands are super clean before using your binoculars to check out some birds so you will end up having some level of dirt or grime build up on the rubber coating.
Use a damp cloth with some mild dish soap to wipe away the dirt on the rubber parts of your binoculars and then dry them straight after with a microfiber cloth to make sure there is no excess moisture left that could lead to mold growth.
Make sure to use a protective silicone spray on a cloth to wipe the rubber coating to help maintain the material, this is especially important if you get a lot of use out of your binoculars as the handling of them can wear down the rubber coating.
Protective Storage
When your binoculars are not in use, you should always replace the lens caps on them and place them back into the protective bag or case to ensure they won’t get damaged or dusty
Fungi protection
Not only do you need a protective casing for your binoculars when they’re not being used but you also need to ensure they’re stored in the right conditions. If your binoculars are not stored properly then they could be at risk from fungi growth.
Fungus filaments on the lens can etch and damage the coatings but can be rescued by cleaning them. However, if the fungus begins to grow inside the optics then this could make it more difficult to rescue your binoculars.
They should be stored in a room that has humidity levels of lower than 60% and somewhere that is properly ventilated so avoid bathrooms, linen closets, and areas near washer dryers.
If you’re using your binoculars outside in cold weather, when you return inside to the warm, you’ll want to leave your binoculars to adjust to the temperature change before cleaning them and then storing them in a dry bag until the next time you use them.
Don’t leave your binoculars on the car seat when you’re driving as a quick slam on the breaks will send them flying into the dash and possibly smashing. It’s also recommended to not leave them lying exposed in the sun in your car as this could cause the lens coatings to soften.
Wearing Your Binoculars
You should never dangle your binoculars by the strap with your hands when walking about and using them as this will make them more prone to getting dirty and you may also swing them into something and damage them.
Invest in a binocular harness to keep them safely in place whilst you’re walking about, you can get ones that hang loosely around your neck or ones that secure the binoculars more in place to your chest.
If you ever find yourself running with your binoculars or crawling on the floor to get up closer to some wildlife, then try to tuck your binoculars securely inside your clothing so they don’t end up hitting something when you’re in motion.
Some binoculars are waterproof, however, even the most resistant ones will not hold up against extreme water conditions so make sure to keep them covered out of the rain as much as possible when you’re using them.
