Your optics live where the rest of your gear gets tested—wind, dust, rain, snow, fingerprints, and the occasional drop in the dirt. Whether it’s binoculars, a riflescope, or a rangefinder, knowing how to clean your Bushnell optics the right way matters. Do it wrong and you risk scratches or damaged coatings. Do it right and your glass stays clear, sharp, and ready for seasons to come.
The most important rule comes before you ever touch the lens: remove loose dirt first. Dust, sand, and grit are what cause scratches, not the cloth itself. Use a lens blower or gently brush away debris before wiping. If you’re in the field, even a few careful puffs of air can make the difference. If it looks dusty, don’t wipe it yet.
Once the surface is clear, use the right tools. A clean microfiber lens cloth and an optics-specific lens cleaning solution are all you need. Pre-moistened lens wipes work in a pinch. Skip paper towels, shirts, or bandanas—they may feel soft, but over time they can wear down lens coatings and leave micro-scratches that add up.
Apply a small amount of lens solution to the cloth, not directly to the lens. With light pressure, wipe in a circular motion starting at the center of the glass and moving outward. This lifts oils and fingerprints without dragging residue back across the lens. Less pressure is better—let the cloth and solution do the work.
Many Bushnell optics are treated with EXO Barrier®, a permanent lens coating designed to repel water, oil, dust, and fingerprints. Rain beads and rolls off. Smudges wipe away easier. Snow and mud don’t cling the way they do on untreated glass. The result is faster cleaning, less wiping, and reduced wear on your lenses over time—especially in bad weather.
After the glass is clean, take a moment to wipe down the rest of the optic. A dry or lightly damp cloth works well for the housing, eyecups, and focus wheel. If your optic was exposed to heavy rain, snow, or an accidental dunk, let everything air dry completely before storing it.
How you store your optics matters just as much as how you clean them. Use lens caps when they’re not in use, keep them in a dry place, and avoid leaving them in hot vehicles for extended periods. A little care between uses goes a long way toward preserving optical performance.
You don’t clean optics just to make them look good. You clean them so they’re ready when it counts—first light, last light, or that brief window when the weather breaks. Treated right, Bushnell optics are built to keep seeing clearly through all of it.