Taking care of hunting gear will ensure that it will provide reliable service for years, if not decades. Optics are mostly maintenance free, with the exception of keeping the glass surfaces clean; however, improper cleaning can actually cause damage. But with a few tools, and some patience, your optics will provide outstanding service for many years.

Tip 1: An Ounce of Prevention.
If the glass surfaces of your optics never get dirty, you will never have to clean them, but keeping them sealed indoors is not the solution. Protecting them as much as possible can prevent a lot of problems. Buy and USE lens caps, cases, or other devices to keep the glass covered when not in use. Keep optics away from smoke, which is actually sticky and difficult to remove.

Tip 2: Why You Must Take Care.
During manufacturing, incredibly thin layers of unusual chemicals are deposited on the surface of the lenses to improve the optical performance – this is the ‘multicoating’ you see mentioned in their ads. These coatings can be damaged by improper cleaning, so you need to be careful to avoid damaging the coatings.

Tip 3: What Not To Do.
Do not use your shirttail, cuff, or goober-filled handkerchief to wipe the smutz off your optics. Do not blow hard on the lens, or ever put any amount of liquid directly on the lens. Gentle is the word to remember, and start with the most gentile cleaning and work your way to the more aggressive methods only when needed.

Tip 4: Start Gently.
Dust is always a problem, and if you can use air to blow dust from the lens without touching it, so much the better. If you use canned compressed air start by blowing next to the lens and then move the stream of air across the surface. There is a liquid in the can of air and sometimes it sprays out and will leave a terrible residue on the lens. Start at a distance and gradually move the nozzle closer to remove stubborn particles. A bulb blower is better (check at camera stores). Do not use your mouth to blow on the lens – you will find a coating of spit on the lens when you are done, and then you will have to remove that.

Tip 5:
The Brush Off.
After blowing, use a soft, clean lens brush, in a circular motion. Use compressed air on the brush first, to remove any dust hidden in the brush. LensPen makes a good brush, but I am still using a high-quality makeup brush a cosmetologist friend gave me 30 years ago (make sure it is brand-new and never been used for makeup).

Tip 6: Microfiber is the Key.
If you still have a dirty lens, use a quality microfiber lens cloth. Employ a clean spot on the cloth and gently clean the lens in a circular motion. After one revolution use a different clean spot on the cloth and repeat, if needed. You don't want to grind the dirt into the lens and damage the coating, so start with almost no pressure and gradually increase, if necessary. Do not push. I will occasionally gently breathe on the lens to deposit a thin layer of condensation to provide lubrication that can help remove fingerprints or other goobers.

Tip 7: Heavy Duty.
You should never put liquid directly on the lens, but if you have mud or other stubborn problems, Otis makes a nifty Lens Swab – sort of a Q-Tip with liquid in the shaft. Just bend the shaft where indicated and the liquid makes the tip damp, and then you can very gently use the swab to remove the problem.

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