Exterior camers- glass cleaning

[shockwave199 0]

If my house windows can get filthy, I figure my camera lenses are in the same boat. They've already been through some heavy rain. Any recommendations on how? Not a deep question, but I figure I would just use micro fiber cloth and wipe gently, being careful not to cause scatches. But is a cleaner in order, or just dampen the cloth? What say you? Thanks.

 

Btw- I'm talking bullet cams, not dome housings.

 

Dan

Edited August 18, 2011 by Guest

[Birdman Adam 0]

Sure, that seems fine.

 

BTW for any camera that gets drops of rain on the outside that obscure the view - apply rain-x to the surface (dome, etc) - it helps a lot!

[Soundy 1]

I assume you're talking about the front glass of the housing, not the lens itself. I'll usually just wipe them down with a microfiber cloth (same with environmental housing for box cams, and pretty much all dome designs). If there's a particularly stubborn smudge, a Windex wipe (or other sort of pre-packaged glass-cleaning wipe) does the trick.

 

For outdoor and in-carwash cameras, I also have a pack of Rain-X wipes

 

[shockwave199 0]

Thanks guys, and yes, I mean the galss not the lense. The rain-x, I love it for my windshield wiper fluid. No greasy film with the wipes?

 

Dan

[dustmop 0]

For my exterior domes/enclosures I use ammonia free glass cleaner, usually the aerosol kind, but ammonia-free Windex works great.

 

For a few cameras that are in the path of the sideways rain, or are in really hard to get to spots, I like to hit them with the rain-x wipes after they are nice and clean. Keeps them cleaner for longer.

 

I have probably 50 exterior cameras around the property.

[rory 0]

its cheap bullets so its just glass, use windex vinegar and a cloth.

if im in a rush to clean my own cameras .. heck spit and i whip off my shirt

 

if its a dome with a poly carbonate cover thats different.

I use a microfiber auto cleaning cloth (buy them cheap in packs of 3) and then either windex vinegar or rubbing alcohol. If I need to clean the actual lens, I use an eye glass cleaning cloth and rubbing alcohol, or you know those alcohol rubs from a pharmacy they come in squares already dipped in rubbing alcohol. Radio shack also sell the eye glass cloths in a pouch for cleaning digital camera LCD screens.

 

If its a dome in a kitchen and its cover is full of grease, Windex wont do anything for it and neither will Joy, so use rubbing alcohol (mix it with a very little bit of water) - works every time.

[shockwave199 0]

Thanks for the tips. I use windex with vinegar brand on countertops inside. The vinegar doesn't particularly clean better, but ants and such are supposed to be repelled by it. Not sure about that- an exterminater wipes out those problems. But thanks for pointing out my cheap bullets have glass. I'll consdier all options mentioned.

 

Dan

[sawilliamson9913 0]

using anything alcohol based on polycarbonate lenses is not recommended. Better off using a good cloth and water. over time alcohol will cause lenses to develop tiny cracks.