Cleaner Day (Kurīnā no Hi)

What is Cleaner Day?

September 7th is "Cleaner Day" (Kurīnā no Hi) in Japan. It was established by Pearl Co., Ltd. of Koto City, Tokyo, a maker of eyeglass cleaners and cleaning cloths, based on a wordplay in which 9 (ku) and 7 (nana, echoing "-nā") combine into "kurīnā," the Japanese pronunciation of "cleaner." Its English name is "LENS CLEANING DAY." The company hopes people will keep their glasses clean and enjoy comfortable, clear vision. The day is registered with the Japan Anniversary Association.

A Pioneer in Eyeglass Care

Pearl, which established the day, is known as a pioneer in eyeglass care products.

• Founded in 1959: The company was founded in 1959.
• Japan's first anti-fog product: It is said to be the first company in Japan to develop, manufacture, and sell an anti-fog treatment for glasses.
• Keeping dirt away: Some of its lens cleaners contain an antistatic agent that makes it harder for dust to stick.

Tips for Caring for Your Glasses

How you care for glasses you wear every day affects both how clearly you see and how long they last.

• Don't start with a dry wipe: Wiping a lens with dust or grit on it can cause fine scratches. The basic rule is to rinse lightly with water first, then wipe.
• Use a proper cloth or cleaner: Tissues or the hem of your shirt can damage lenses with fibers and dirt.
• Watch out for heat: Many lens coatings are sensitive to heat, so avoid leaving glasses in a hot car in summer or in the bathroom.

Fun Facts About Cleaners

• How surfactants work: Surfactants in cleaners help water and oil mix, lifting oily dirt such as skin oil so it can be wiped away.
• Microfiber: Cloths made of fibers far thinner than a human hair trap skin oil in the gaps between fibers, cleaning lenses without scratching them easily.
• How anti-fog works: Many anti-fog products form a water-friendly film on the lens surface, turning tiny droplets into a thin, clear layer of water.
• Not just glasses: Smartphone cameras, computer screens, and camera lenses are all lenses that benefit from regular cleaning.

Tips for Spending Cleaner Day

• Rinse your glasses or sunglasses with water, then wipe them carefully with a proper cloth.
• Wipe fingerprints off your smartphone camera lens and computer screen.
• Wash your dirty lens cloth, or replace an old one.
• Get some anti-fog treatment ready for the colder months ahead.

Start by Polishing One Lens

Cleaner Day on September 7th is a day to notice the dirt on the glasses and lenses we use without thinking. Just wiping away fingerprints and fog can change the view more than you might expect. Why not start by carefully wiping the glasses or smartphone in your hand?