A scratched lens is one of the biggest fears of projector users as it can significantly impact the optic quality and, with that, the overall viewing experience.
With this in mind, if you have been wondering how to remove scratches from projector lens and whether that is possible, this article is for you. To get rid of lens scratches in a matter of a few minutes, follow the instructions provided below.
How to Remove Scratches From Projector Lens
The process of cleaning a projector lens is different from the one of cleaning a camera lens and is more challenging. In order to remove scratches, you will need to remove and blow off the dust on the surface, prepare an adequate liquid solution and then buff away scratches and wipe off any left stains. Although you can still use the projector when the lens is scratched, depending on the damage, the quality of the images projected may be poor.
Removing Scratches From a Projector Lens
It is very important to be mindful that the glass used for the projector lens is very sensitive, so you must carefully remove scratches with utmost attention to avoid damage. This means that the lens shouldn’t be wiped with harsh chemicals or with any abrasive liquid. Let’s get into details about what you can try doing instead.
Remove dust from the projector lens
Before you eliminate scratches, the first thing to do is remove any dust particles from the lens. You can do that by using a dry lens cloth and a non-abrasive lens cleaner solution.
Hence, you need to spray only a tiny bit of the solution onto the cloth and wipe the lens by making gentle circular motions. Another way is by using a can of compressed air and holding it at least seven inches from your projector. Remove dust by blowing short sprays, and after keep the projector in a dry and cold area.
However, it is necessary to be very careful when doing this, as compressed air is flammable and can crack the projector’s screen if it is too close to the projector. A safer alternative to this option is using a rubber air blower.
Prepare the alcohol and water solution
After removing dust particles from the projector, the next step is to remove scratches from the lens. Hence, what you can do is make a mixture of one part of alcohol and 20 parts of water and mix them until you get a solution. Then, use a lint-free cloth and dip it into the solution.
Try buffing the scratches with gentle circular motions and avoid pressing too much to prevent cracking the lens. After you remove the scratches, I recommend wiping the lens again with another lint-free microfiber cloth. If the lens is severely damaged, this method might not work.
Read more: How to Clean Projector Screen
How to Clean Your Projector Lens
After talking about how to remove scratches from projector lens, let’s discuss how to clean it thoroughly. As accumulated dust in the projector can lead to a loss of image quality, it is necessary to clean the projector on a regular basis to avoid projector damage.
However, I suggest doing only the amount of cleaning that is necessary depending on how dirty or dusty the lens of the projector is. Follow the instructions below to clean the lens of your projector in a couple of steps:
- Shut down the projector and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Wait for the projector to cool down for about 20 minutes.
- Tilt the projector on the side, so the dust underneath falls from the lens.
- Using a manual lens blower, remove all dust from the projector’s lens.
- Clean the rest of the dust left using a lens brush.
- During cleaning, make only gentle circular motions.
- After this, wipe the lens using paper made for cleaning the lens.
- When cleaning, start from the center and move outward.
- Afterward, get a lens cleaner and spray on a lint-free microfiber cloth.
- Wipe the lens in the same way and motion as before.
- If there is a dust residue, you can use lens cleaning wipes to repeat the process.
- Repeat the same steps until the lens is completely clean.
What Not to Do When Removing Scratches and Cleaning Projector Lens
As the lens of a projector is very delicate, it can easily be scratched or damaged. Hence, it is recommended to avoid cleaning it with a shirt as it can scratch the glass. Another thing to avoid is touching the lens with your fingers or using your breath to wipe the lens.
As I have tried several methods of cleaning the lens, it is not a good idea to use a glass cleaner or other products that are not specifically labeled to be used for cleaning and removing scratches from the projector lens.
If you are purchasing cleaning supplies from a store, it is also necessary to check whether they contain any harsh chemicals that can damage the lens of the projector. Moreover, avoid using a toothbrush to clean the projector lens.
Also read: How Long Do Projector Bulbs Last
Additional information
A very important thing to note is that the coating of the lens surface can be scratched very easily and when the lens is scratched, the only thing you can do is replace it with a new one. For this reason, it’s required to remove scratches and clean the lenses with utmost care.
The same goes if the scratch is all the way down to the glass. In such a case, you will need to replace the glass or polish it using special equipment.
When it comes to the internal parts of the projector, if you are planning to attempt to clean the lens from the inside, I suggest consulting the manufacturer or seeking professional help, as they can be easily damaged if they are not properly cleaned.
Conclusion
If you were wondering how to remove scratches from projector lens, then following the instructions provided in this article is what you’ll need. The lens of the projector is very important when it comes to image quality. That said, the lens is also very delicate, which is why you only need to use gentle circular motions along with suitable cleaning products to remove dust and scratches safely and without damaging it.