Cleaning your sunglasses might seem like a straightforward enough task that doesn’t need any further elaboration. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to clean your shades. It’s important to know how to clean your sunglasses if you want to keep them in tip-top shape for many years to come. Read on to learn more about how to clean your sunglasses properly.
How To Clean Your Sunglasses
Cleaning your sunglasses properly is fairly simple. You’ll need hand soap, lotion-free dishwashing liquid, lint-free cloth and towel, and a sink.
1. Wash and dry your hands
First, wash and dry your hands. This is key to having pristine sunglasses as dirt and oil from your skin may transfer onto your frames during the cleaning process. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them off with a lint-free towel.
2. Wash your glasses with lukewarm water
Next, run your sunglasses under the faucet with lukewarm water. Warm water is best for dislodging any gunk and dust that might have gotten stuck to your frames and lenses. Make sure the water you use isn’t too hot to ensure that any specialized coatings on your sunglasses won’t be damaged.
3. Soap the lenses and frames
Take the lotion-free dishwashing liquid and place a drop of it on each lens. Rub the soap gently onto both lenses and frames of your sunglasses. Focus on the parts where your sunglasses are most in contact with your skin, such as the nose pads and the temples.
If you don’t have any suitable dishwashing liquid, then a glasses-cleaning solution will work well for this step. Just make sure that they are suitable for your sunglasses and the lens coatings that are on them. Be sure not to overspray.
4. Rinse your sunglasses
Hold your sunglasses under lukewarm water to wash the soap off the frames and lenses.
5. Dry your sunglasses
Use a clean lint-free towel or a microfiber cloth to dry your glasses. These types of cloth are best for this step because they won’t leave any bits of dust and lint behind. Gently rub your glasses until they are completely dry and free of any smudges or leftover debris.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are also common mistakes you should avoid when cleaning your sunglasses. Steering clear of these will keep your glasses in good shape for many more years to come.
- Don’t use your shirt to clean your sunglasses. The tiny fibers in the shirt’s fabric can permanently scratch your lenses. The same goes for paper towels, tissues, and other similar materials.
- Do not use saliva to moisten your glasses. Not only is it unhygienic, but it also doesn’t clean your shades very well.
- Apart from lotion-free dishwashing liquid, do not use any household glass cleaners to clean your sunglasses. These solutions have ingredients that may break down the coating on your glasses and permanently damage your lenses.
And that’s it! Keeping your sunglasses clean is as easy as washing your hands. To keep them protected and scratch-free, it is best to invest in an eyewear case where you can also keep your cleaning cloth for when you are on the go.
