Ocusoft wipes (spendy) or my husband uses baby shampoo with a rough wash cloth. Yes it is OK to heat up both eyes. It is a treat for both. It loosens up the oils in your eyelids and gets them fluid after having been backed up by the junk in your eyelids. Scrub first then use the eye mask. I like the USB mask because it stays the perfect temperature longer than a microwave one. Found mine on Amazon.