Cleaning Optics - Baader Fluid vs Soap & Water!

We all occasionally need to clean our optics - is it any better using specialist fluids or is good old dish soap and water equal to the task?

Here's a little side-by-side informal test on a mirror that I needed to clean anyway!

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00:00 intro and advice
02:25 visual inspection
02:50 dust-bulb first pass
03:25 visual inspection part 2
04:35 soap and water method
10:45 Baader fluid method
14:10 comparison
14:50 final total mirror clean with Baader fluid

[lukomatico]

Whew, I opened a can of worms with this one! 😅
Definitely a good opportunity to get people taking and sharing their own techniques though!

[potrzebiehuck]

1. Rinse the mirror under the the tap.
2. Rinse with distilled water.
3. Add a drop of dishwasher fluid.
4. Use your clean moistured fingertips to gently clean the mirror.
5. Rinse with distilled water.
6. Blow it dry.

Toilet paper is the worst paper you can use, low quality recycled fibre and designed to dissolve very easy.

[ekalbkr]

Thanks! Good procedure. Though I would never use bogroll, your technique minimizes the chance of damage.

[realmcerono]

I did use wonderfluid but it does leave streakes as anything else does. so last step for me is always to breath on the surface (distilled water) and do another pass with kleenex or even better Kimtech wipes. But in general I find optical surfaces much more robust than I ever feared.

[petesastrophotography]

Excellent demonstration Luke, cleaning optics can be scary but isn't difficult if you take your time and don't go mad. Watching this brought back a memory from many moons ago. To cut a long story short, a friend of mine bought himself a second hand Newtonian after having a look through mine. It was in need of a bit of a clean so I said I would pop round and show him how to do it only to find he had proudly managed to do it himself using a duster. Needless to say a valuable lesson was learnt that day!

[TevisC]

I clean the kitchen sink, then fill with room to warm water with a bit of Dawn dish soap. Run water across mirror to bet bigger stuff off. then under water using a microfiber cloth gently swipe across mirror. Rinse with distilled water, dab dry and it comes out shiny spotless.

I think the key to the most safe way to clean is to do it completely submerged under water.

[azrayastrophotography]

Great video Luke. I've always just used the soap and water method. I'll have to try the Badder cleaner. Clear skies

[CDigata]

I have to use surgical gloves coz no matter what i do i end up with my dabs on - n cleaning pads, when ma bits are clean ill get to the scope glass n optics ect

[scottrk]

To totally add frustration to a mirror cleaning, LOL, try blowing warm breath (no spit) through a straw over the mirror surface . This will show up areas that may need another good rinse . Good luck !

[MatthewHolevinski]

If you're feeling froggy and you come to Kansas, I got a CDK24 with dead moths stuck to the primary that you can't reach, spider webs, and fungus growing on the lenses. 😏

[JVRost]

Mister "Muscle" and lint-free wipes - that's the whole set, pre-soaking, then rinsing with warm running water, then applying a glass cleaner, gently removing it with wipes for cleaning optics, rinsing again under running water, rinsing in distilled water, removing drops with lint-free napkins, blotting the remaining drops - we enjoy the impeccably clean surface of the mirror, not scratched by our intervention.

[AstroPixUK]

Really useful video mate, I’m due to flock and clean my newt. Interesting that you didn’t use distilled water at the end.

[Mel-]

I do agree with delicate touching on the mirror. I was given an old mirror of a high powered laser. The person about to hand it to me said he will clean it first. A few quick wipes with a micro cloth done the trick !!!???!!! NOT. I chucked it in the skip as I passed. It was like frosted glass. Paaah. Well done Luke. Clear sky's to you.

[dumpydalekobservatory]

Ah bugger that reminds me I've got to clean my Newt hasn't been done for about 10 years lol, Talking of which I see you have a ring for your Newtonian which I guess is to cover the clips, did you 3D print that? Or do you know where I could get one for my 250P?

[georgedicker]

Nice video Luke, thanks.
I always have to wear washing uo gloves because the heat if my hands mist the mirror up haha

[peterraymond]

Thanks Luke, interesting as always. Ive been using the Baader fluid for years and have found it to be the best. Dish soap with cotton wool works well too, but you need to use de mineralised water for best results.

[SteveHookEm]

Where can I get the Baader fluid in the USA?

[desbarry]

I use Baader fluid for my SCT corrector plate, on the inside as sometimes a slight mistiness forms after repeated dew formation. Apparently it also contains an anti mould ingredient which coats the surface of the glass which is worth applying for peace of mind. No need to touch the primary mirror with the Baader as its mostly protected by the corrector plate. A bit pricey but you shouldn't need to use more than a few puffs at any one time. I use Baaders own micro fibre cloth with a clean spare to wipe up the gunk, tissue paper leaves tiny flakes which need to be blown off.

[extropy]

But the info from Baader says "Note: Baader Optical Wonder is primarily a lens cleaner, it is not suitable for cleaning Newtonian mirrors.". I wonder why?

[HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy]

Final pass looks super clean. Tedious though, but slow and steady usually works the best.