Cleaning EP's and ever popular lens cleaning pen

Once upon a time in a not so distant time I was trying to learn how to clean my EP's. I searched the net high and low but never found the answer I needed. All I could find was "use canned air and a camel hair brush". Right. That finger print that I inadvertently put smack in the middle of that one there just isn't yealding to canned air. Recently I found the EXCELLENT description of the right way to do it on Al Nagler's televue site. Thanks thousands Al...

Now here is my question: Remember back at "once upon a time in a not so distant..." I landed on the "Lens Cleaning Pen" of manufacturer I cannot recall, sometime before they started showing up in every astro rag's advertisement pages, with a gleaming astro-specific name. Are these things really recommended? Have I ruined my two Teleview Plossls. I don't see any sleeks but will this device leave microscopic ones that eventually ruin the eyepiece? They seem to work okay but I'm still relatively new to this astronmy thing and I'm always looking to fine tune my observing. That being so, I'm wondering if my use of this pen is self defeating in that respect?

Comments? (please don't filet me too badly)

Randy

The lens pen is a very good way to clean eyepieces and camera lenses. I have used them for years with no negative results. You must replace them after a period as the cleaning surface can become contaminated with embedded material that could cause problems. Always examine the cleaning surface before use. Once I started to use one and the cleaning surface had come off the backing which is a rubber type material.

Walt

I use Lens Pens alot. As already noted, one should be
careful to keep the cleaning pad itself clean and
free from grit, etc. For this reason, I only use them
as last cleaning step (after compressed gas, brush,
etc.). Even then, I try to use each one only a
couple times before discarding it. They are best way
I've found for removing last traces of grease from
lenses.

WalMart used to carry them for $5 or $6 but not any more.
Anyone know other places to get them cheap?