How to Clean Sunglasses

Hygiene is important for your personal care, but did you know it’s also crucial when it comes to your eyewear? You should always keep your glasses and sunglasses clean for the following reasons: .

• Smudges on your lenses can obstruct your vision.
• Makeup and sunscreen can rub off on the lenses and frames and make a mess.
• Bacteria and dirt can transfer directly from your frames to your face.
• Routine cleaning can help extend the life of your glasses.

If you’re wondering how to clean Oakley sunglasses or other designer frames, such as Costa, Maui Jim, or Ray Ban, it’s the same for all sunglasses brands. But since they were probably more expensive than other options, you may want to give them a little more TLC.

Both eyeglasses and sunglasses should receive the same level of attention. But in this article, we’ll focus on the upkeep of your sunglasses.

How to Clean Sunglasses in 5 Steps

Cleaning sunglasses is easy to do, whether you’re at home or on the go. Of course, you can be a bit more thorough when you clean them at home. Here’s how:

• Wash your hands to avoid spreading dirt or oil to the surface of your sunglasses.
• Gently rinse your sunglasses under lukewarm water to remove debris. Make sure the water isn’t too hot, as this can damage any lens coatings.
• Use a small drop of lotion-free, non-abrasive soap (like dish soap) on each lens and rub each side thoroughly but gently. Cleanse both the lenses and the frames. Note: Using a soap with lotion can leave unwanted residue on your sunglasses.
• Rinse off your sunglasses in lukewarm water and make sure to get all the soap off to avoid smudges as they dry.
• Dry your lenseswith a lint-free or microfiber cloth. Hand towels and paper towels can be too rough on the lenses and can leave behind scratches and cloth particles.

Tip: Use a cotton swab to get to hard-to-reach areas like the hinges of your glasses and where your lenses meet the frames.

After washing and drying your sunglasses, you can either put them back on or store them in a secure carrying case for safekeeping.

What If You Don’t Have Access to a Sink?

You can use a cleaning solution designed for eyeglasses or sunglasses to keep your eyewear clean while you’re out and about. Travel-size cleaning spray bottles and lens cleansing wipes are readily available in drugstores and grocery stores. Just remember to dry your sunglasses off with a lint-free cloth for best results.

How NOT to Clean Sunglasses

It may seem simple, but lukewarm water, lotion-free soap, and a lint-free cloth are the keys to success for sparkling sunglasses. That said, there are several things to avoid during frame care to prevent smudges, streaks, and other unwanted damage.

Here are some things to keep in mind when cleaning your shades:

• Do not clean your lenses with your breath or saliva. This is unhygienic and can leave more smearing than you had to begin with.
• Don’t dry your sunglasses using your shirt, a towel, a napkin, or any other material that can potentially leave lint or scratches on your lenses.
• Don’t use a dryer sheet or fabric softener to clean or dry your sunglasses.
• Avoid using chemicals that are not specifically designed for cleaning glasses. Products like vinegar, hand sanitizer, window cleaners, and other harsh detergents are not safe to use on your sunglasses. While they may seem harmless, they can be abrasive and leave behind scratches and other damage.

Always take note of any scratches you see as you clean your lenses. Don’t try to buff them out because you may cause even more harm. Consider taking your prescription sunglasses to an optician to have the scratches evaluated for repair.

In some cases, you may need to replace scratched sunglass lenses altogether. But if that happens (or if you’re ready for an upgrade), we have plenty of new sunglasses for you to choose from!