How to Clean a Contact That Fell on the Floor in 8 Quick Steps

Dropping your contact lenses on the floor is frustrating and worrisome. You might not be sure if there’s hair, dust, or other debris left on the lens before you put it back in your eye. I’ve worn contacts for well over a decade, so I’ve dealt with plenty of dropped lenses. I have a simple formula to clean them in less than one minute.

To clean a contact that fell on the floor, locate the lens with a flashlight, remove hair and other large debris, spray it with a cleaning solution, and inspect the contact lens. Use a disinfectant solution to clean them if they’re too dirty. Shine a light through the lens before replacing it.

Throughout this post, you’ll learn my eight-step process to clean a contact lens that fell on the floor. You don’t need to get new lenses or open another pack. Save your time and energy by following this helpful guide!

Locate the Contact Lens

The first step is to find the contact lens. It’s much easier to find it if you dropped it on the counter, but floors are tricky. Fortunately, you’re in the right place to figure out how to locate the lens as quickly as possible. Follow this process:

1. Don’t move! Right when the lens drops, stand still. The last thing you want is to kick it around and get it dirtier than it already is. Unless it dropped into a pile of dog hair or toothpaste, it won’t be too hard to clean once you find it (unless you step on it).
2. Grab a flashlight or turn your phone’s light on as high as it goes. Shine it around your feet until you locate the lens. Contacts are transparent, but they’re very shiny when there’s enough light. I always have my phone in my pocket, so if I drop a contact lens on the floor, I can spot it quickly.
3. Pick up the contact lens with your index and middle fingers. Grab it by the edges so it doesn’t overlap. If there’s debris on the inside, you’ll squish it together and move it around. Once you have the lens secured, proceed to the next step.

Remove Large Debris from the Surface

Using your fingers or tweezers, remove hair and other bits from the surface. If it takes too many tries, it’s too small. You don’t want to pierce or scratch the contact lens by trying it repeatedly.

The main reason I suggest removing large debris is that it makes it much easier for your contact solution to spray off everything small. If there’s a bunch of hair in the way, it’ll get clumped and gross. We’re trying to achieve quick cleaning, so let’s not make the problem worse than it already is!

Use Your Contact Cleaning Solution

Find your contact lens cleaning or storage solution. Some people own two separate liquids; One for deep cleaning and another for nightly storage. I have a cleaning liquid that’s used for the case, whereas the other solution is for regular storage purposes.

While we’re at it, I recommend Opti-Free Pure Moist Contact Solution. You’ve probably seen or used this solution, but for those of you who haven’t, it disinfects your contact lenses and keeps them hydrated throughout the day. My eyes get dry quickly, so it’s essential that I have a high-quality solution like this one.

Place your lens in your contact case and gently spray one side. Remove the lens, pour out the solution from the case to get rid of the gunk, then replace the lens. Spray the other side of the lens, dump out the old solution, and head to the next part of the process.

According to the FDA, you should never leave old contact solution in the case since it can cause numerous eye problems.

Inspect the Lens

Using your phone’s light or a nearby flashlight, look through the lens. It helps if you have a mirror nearby so you can see every angle. You might be able to find small bits of dust or debris, at which point you should spray it off. Never use your fingers to remove tiny dust particles since you’ll more than likely squeeze the lens.

Note: Although I recommended tweezers for large debris, they’re horrible for small debris. You’ll shred the contact, making it worse than off than when it fell on the floor.

Try a Deep Cleaning Liquid

If you don’t use deep cleaning solutions, you should! They’re an essential component of owning and cleaning contacts. As explained by the CDC, you can’t use water for cleaning purposes. It carries too many germs, ruining your contacts and making them dangerous to wear.

Instead, use something like Clear Care Triple-Action Contact Solution. It has 3% hydrogen peroxide to zap away bacteria. These types of cleaners are fun to watch. You place one lens on either side of the bottle, add the solution, seal the lid, and watch it fizz and bubble the germs away.

Regular deep cleaning prevents all sorts of eye issues, including discomfort and dryness. If you’re worried about debris and germs on the floor, this step is irreplaceable.

Feel the Contact Lens for Leftover Debris

Assuming you washed your hands before starting this process, use your thumb and index finger to feel the contact lens. Gently move your fingers in circular motions to feel if there’s anything leftover. If there’s nothing, read on. If you feel something, repeat the solution spray and light inspect steps until it’s good to go.

Toothpaste is a serious problem when it comes to contact lenses dropped on the floor. Anything minty will cause severe redness and irritation. Feeling the lens will show you if there’s anything on it. Don’t skip this step even if it seems too simple!

Shine a Light Through It

Before you’re finished with the process, use your flashlight one last time. Look from edge to edge from both sides. There’s no need to rush the inspection, although it’s very quick to do.

Once your lenses look like they’re fresh and cleaned, you can put them back in. If they look cloudy or dull, you should try a deep clean. Some particles gather together and are too hard to see. They’ll cause irritation and it’s not worth the frustration.

If you’re worried about reusing the case that’s dropped on the ground, you could use a spare one. Follow the same steps to clean and disinfect your contact lens case.

Your case should be replaced once every three months, as should open contact lens solution. Anything outside of that range renders them less effective and susceptible to germs.

Insert One Contact at a Time

When you’re done with the process, put in one contact and see how it feels. If it burns, take it out and toss it. There’s no need to cause further problems. if it’s clear and hydrated, you’re all set.

Note: The American Optometric Association (AOA) suggests throwing away any contact lens products dropped on the floor. We all know bathrooms aren’t the cleanest places. While this process has worked for me for a long time, you’re best off using a brand-new lens or wearing glasses until you get another set.

Wrapping It Up

Now that you know how to clean your contact lens that fell on the floor, you don’t have to worry about opening another pack. I’ve followed this procedure numerous times in the many years that I’ve worn contact lenses. It’s worked every time, even with the worst debris.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the article:

• Use deep cleaning solution with hydrogen peroxide to fight bacteria.
• Never put a minty contact in your eye (trust me).
• Remove large debris from the lens before using a cleaning solution.
• Thoroughly inspect the lens with a flashlight before wearing it.