Table of Contents
An Oculus Quest will set you back several hundred dollars. There is little doubt it’s money well spent, there are few virtual reality systems that can compete. But, when you’re spending that amount of money, you need to make sure you take good care of it.
Learning to clean it properly will make a big difference to your comfort and the lifespan of the Quest. There are several important parts to look after, the most important is arguably the screen, but it’s also important for comfort to maintain the foam which connects to your face
Fortunately, it’s easy to keep your Oculus Quest in tip-top condition, you simply need to follow these instructions.
Start With The Foam
It’s surprising how much you sweat when you’re playing on the Quest. This sweat gets absorbed by the foam that surrounds the mask.
Unfortunately, this leads to two problems:
Bacteria
Bacteria feed on sweat and are happy to live in the foam surround of your mask. They can then infect you when you’re wearing the mask, a problem that can be worse if you share the mask with others.
Hardness
Sweat dries into the foam, over time this makes it hard, reducing its lifespan and making it uncomfortable to wear.
The solution is to spray the foam with an anti-bacterial spray after every use. You should then leave the Quest to air dry, as this will help the foam to stay softer.
Of course, a better option is to use VR Cover. You can purchase foam replacements. To use these you simply remove the existing foam and replace it with this custom-designed foam. The match should be perfect and it will improve the comfort levels of your Quest.
But, the real secret is to use VR cotton covers. These simply fit over the foam on your Quest. They are soft and retain the comfort levels. But, at the same time, they are removable and washable.
That means after every session you can remove the cotton cover and wash it. Alternatively, you can use antibacterial spray on the cotton cover and use it several times before washing it.
Don’t forget, whether you’re cleaning the cotton cover or the original foam, you need a clean cloth and anti-bacterial spray, or antibacterial wipes. But, the trick is to be gentle, this will allow the anti-bacterial wipes or spray to do their job without damaging the foam on your Quest.
You should never use alcohol or abrasive cleaning products, they will damage your Quest.
It’s also important to clean the straps and the outside of your quest, again a clean cloth and anti-bacterial spray, or anti-bacterial wipes are the best options.
The Lenses
The last thing you want is scratches on your lenses, they’ll ruin your gameplay. That’s why you need to use the right tools and take your time when cleaning the lenses.
The lens needs to be cleaned thoroughly, you’ll need a dry optical lens cloth, preferably micro-fiber as this attracts and holds onto dust. To clean the lenses, start at the center of the lens and polish gently with circular motions. Your circulars will slowly get bigger until you’ve covered the entire lens.
Any lens micro-fiber cloth will do but its best to keep the cloth fairly small, this makes it easier to complete the task properly.
To preserve the integrity of your lenses you should never use a liquid lens cleaner, the liquid can damage the coating on the lenses and ruin your game experience.
The Controller
Your hands will get sweaty when game playing and holding onto the Quest controllers. This means you need to clean the controllers properly to stop bacteria from developing.
Again, anti-bacteria wipes are your best friend with this process. However, if you don’t have any, or simply prefer to use something else, then you can use a clean, dry cloth. Ideally, it should be lint-free. It is possible to use an anti-bacterial spray but, as with the other parts of your Quest, you should avoid using abrasive cleaning solutions or any that are alcohol-based.
The Case
Your Oculus Quest can also be damaged or become dirty when in its case. You should take a few moments to ensure the case is clean and dry. Periodically it’s a good idea to wipe the case with some anti-bacterial wipes. This will help to prevent bacteria build-up which could contaminate your Quest.
Of course, as with any of the cleaning stages, always make sure the parts are dry before you start to use them again or you store them. This will help to reduce the build-up of bacteria and potential issues with mold.
The Deep Clean
The above cleaning steps will work well if you do them regularly. However, if you’ve already had your Oculus Quest for a while and have never cleaned it, you may need to start with a deep clean. Equally, if you clean it regularly, it’s still worth doing a deeper clean periodically.
It’s time to take your Quest carefully apart. Remove the face cover, the foam actually clicks out, it’s very easy to do. You’ll have to decide if the foam can be washed and saved or if it is better to simply replace it. In most instances, replacement is a sensible option.
Once you have the face cover off you’ll be able to blow compressed air into the lens space and all around the area where your face cover clips on. Compressed air is very effective at blowing dust and small pieces of debris away from your lenses. This means you’re less likely to accidentally scratch the lens.
You can now put some water and antibacterial cleaner in a bowl. With the pieces removed, you’ll be able to use this cleaning mixture to carefully wash all the outside components of your Quest. However, as with everything when cleaning a Quest, the cloth should only be damp.
Liquid of any sort can penetrate the inner workings of the Quest and stop it performing properly. That’s definitely not the solution you want.
You’ll find that compressed air is also useful when deep cleaning the controllers.
Drying
The problem with cleaning is often the drying. If you dry the Quest with too much heat you’ll cook the foam and make it hard, which definitely won’t be comfortable.
The best approach is to let it air dry. In the summer this means simply leaving it in a warm room but not in direct sunlight. This can be more difficult in winter months but hanging it above a radiator is generally effective.
It can be frustrating waiting for it to dry when you want to play. But, looking after your Oculus Quest properly will help it to last for a long time.
Cleaning Equipment
Now you know how to clean your Oculus Quest properly, you need a quick reminder of the best cleaning products available:
Microfiber Cloths
These cloths attract dust and hang onto it, ensuring the debris is removed from your lenses without vigorous scrubbing. That reduces the chances of damaging your Quest.
The fact they work best when they are dry means you’ll have to wait less time to start using it again.
Compressed Air
You don’t need an air compressor to clean your Quest with compressed air! In fact, many compressors will be too powerful and are more likely to damage your Quest. Instead, use a can of Dust-off and you can safely blast debris, dust, and lint away from your Quest.
It’s also guaranteed to be moisture-free, which means there’s no risk of damaging your Quest in the process.
Anti-bacterial Wipes
These are essential for wiping the faceplate, straps, and outer surfaces off your Oculus Quest. It’s best to choose wipes that are designed for use with babies, this will ensure they don’t have alcohol and they aren’t abrasive.
Check the ingredients carefully before you buy them.
Final Words
It can be frustrating having to allow time to clean your Oculus Quest, especially when you have so many other demands on your time. But, cleaning them after every use will extend their life and reduce the risk of you catching a bacterial infection.
It doesn’t matter that the bacteria come from you in the first place, they can multiply significantly on an unclean surface and still make you ill, it’s definitely better to spend a few moments cleaning than it is to spend a week in bed!