Jeffrey Moore

I've cleaned lenses after hikes in red dust and they can come back looking new. damn The trick is to do nothing abrasive before the surface is safe to touch. Knock off the loose stuff first using gravity and a gentle stream of clean air without contact. Then tackle prints with a proper optical cleaner on a fresh lint free wipe. Start in the center and work outward with barely any pressure and slow circles and then let it flash off and check under a bright sidelight so streaks are obvious. If you still see oil, repeat with a new wipe rather than scrubbing. Keep the front element protected when you are not shooting and keep your cleaning materials sealed so they stay free of grit. It feels slow but the coatings will thank you and the glass will stay pristine. Works great.

Have you tried asking the scale nicely? Maybe threaten it with a sledgehammer. Or just stare at it until it gets scared.