General Maintenance

• 1). Buy or make a hood to protect the telescope when not in use.
  
  
• 2). Keep the lens cap on when not in use. Make a lens cap for your eyepiece out of the top of a plastic film canister.
  
  
• 3). Store your telescope facing down to keep dust from collecting on the lenses.
  
  
• 4). Store extra eyepieces and lenses in sealed plastic bags or food containers.
  
  
• 5). Avoid touching the lens or mirrors with your fingers at all times. The dirt and oils from your skin can damage them.
  
  
• 6). Clean the touched surface as soon as possible if you did touch it.
  
  
• 7). Know that, unless done with extreme care and gentleness, cleaning lenses or mirrors often causes tiny scratches called sleeks.