Lens cleaning cloth

Well I looked through other posts and couldn't find an answer so I'll just ask my newbie question.

I found my lens cleaning cloth has been leaving streaks on my lens. It's the perfect size to pack with me when I'm out and I'm constantly getting snow on my lens so it gets used alot. I have another huge cloth I keep at home and so used it yesterday and magically my pics were much clearer. So can I clean my cleaning cloth and is there any do's or don't for what to use to clean it with? Or do I just huck the cloth and go buy new?

Is it the silky, dust free microfibre type? My understanding is that these can be washed normally, with the laundry. Just do not use fabric softener, either in the wash or dryer if you stick it in there.

Yes it's the silky kind. That's great news Thanx!

I broke down and ordered the Nikon cleaning kit that comes with a cloth and their special solution for lenses and I'm so glad I did. It's only like $8 for the kit and the solution works wonderfully. No streaks at all and it was able to clean off a rainbow-like oil buildup that I was unable to get off using dilute alcohol. I'm sold on the stuff and would no longer consider using anything else.

Any difference between that stuff and the spray eyeglass cleaner I get from the optomitrist? I've used that before with no issues.

If you have a lens crafter nearby,, consider the lens tissue box they sell, I buy the big box, and I buy their large bottle of lens cleaner, works great,

I keep a few of the tissues in baggy for my camera bag for those snowy or rainy days.

I like the Lens crafter cleaning tissues because they are bigger and seem to be tougher then the dedicated camera lens cloth, that I always find too flimsy and tear easy.

I have the Nikon cleaning cloth, and handy, just not as good as the tissues I use.

Yes I have proper lens cleaner and cloth but get a ALOT of nose and fingerprints on my lens! Trust me its very cringe worthy LOL

Lately its the snow I'm wiping off but I think my cloth is just too gunky after all the finger and nose prints so it's smearing instead of cleaning. I do have a smaller cloth but its tiny and hard to hang onto with cold fingers plus its black so hides in my black bag and the big cloth is huge so a pain to take along with me. My favorite is yellow so easy to find plus just the right size to hang onto so I'm glad I can wash it. It's not easy replacing a favourite

Have you looked at the LensPens? I have one and after a quick rub with a cleaning cloth, these pens work miracles

Never heard of it but did a google search. Looks like it'd be easy to carry along as well and very interesting. I might have to see where I can get one to try it

I store my cloths in those sealable glad bags that you get for sandwiches. One bag for fresh clean cloths straight out of the washing machine (Hygienic wash) and the used in another sealed bag. I find you can re-use them a bit but none ever go back in the fresh clean bag after use.

Great so glad I can wash. I was afraid of washing incase of any detergent residue bothering the lens but smearing can't be good either. When you find something that works its hard to replace so my favorite cloth and my big cloth will go into the washer on santitize setting this evening

Dont use much detergent but use heat, I find that the best.

Also do not mix them up, I wash all my camera clothes together and nothing else.

I prefer to use a piece of chamois over anything fibrous. it is super soft and does not leave a streak, even with just condensation from your breath.

I use the "fluffy" microfiber type clothes. they absorb easier than the small shiny type ones. I also use lens cleaner from my optometrist, as it's much cheaper than the stuff from camera shops, and works just as well if not better. I keep a LensPen in all my camera bags when out and about. And as mentioned by STM, a chamois is ideal for cleaning lenses.
Note 1: Chamois is pronounced "sha meee"
Note 2: Apply lens cleaning solutions to the cloth, NOT the lens! And use sparingly! You don't want that stuff creeping into your lens body!

Hmm I'm paranoid about using anything on my lenses so never considered a chamois but yes I imagine it would soak up the melted snow on my lens much better than my favourite silky one. I will look into getting a chamois or 2 as well. I was given the lens cleaner as a gift a few years ago but it lasts forever so still have lots but will definately look into eye glass cleaner when I run low as it'd be much easier to get ahold of locally. I like the idea of the lens pen as well it seems very handy