How to clean glasses or sunglasses

Cleaning glasses and sunglasses may sound like a simple enough task that doesn't need instructions, but there are right and wrong ways to clean them, and if you don’t know how to clean your glasses properly you could ruin them. Read on to find out how to clean sunglasses and how to clean glasses frames.

Let's first go over the common mistakes people make.

Don't:

Don't use your shirt tail to clean glasses. The tiny fibres in the fabric can permanently scratch your lenses.

Also, don't use saliva to wet your lenses. It's not hygienic, and it simply doesn't clean glasses very well.

Never use household glass cleaners to clean glasses. These products have ingredients that may damage the lenses and break down the coatings.

Avoid using paper towels, tissues or toilet paper to clean your lenses when you clean glasses. The wood pulp in paper towels and tissues can scratch your lenses or leave them full of lint.

Now that we're past the things you should avoid when you clean glasses, here are the best things you can use to keep your glasses clean and functional.

Do:

First of all, you should always take your glasses off with both hands. It’s better for the hinges and temples and it keeps your fingers from smudging the lenses.

We recommend that you wash your glasses every morning to keep them scratch-free and looking their best every day.

Before cleaning your glasses, make sure your hands are free from any dirt or oils that could smudge your lenses. Wash with a lotion-free soap and dry off with a clean, lint-free towel.

Rinse your glasses under a light stream of lukewarm tap water. This will remove the dust and help prevent you from scratching your lenses as you clean them. Do not use hot water to clean glasses, as it can damage some lens coatings.

Apply a small drop of neutral hand soap to each lens. Dishwashing liquid usually has acid ingredients, so it is better not to use this to clean your lenses. Gently rub both sides of the lenses. Make sure you wash the nose pads and the tips of the temples (arms) too, as that's where grease, hair products and makeup tend to rub off.

Rinse the frame thoroughly. Carefully dry the lenses and the frame with a clean, lint-free towel that hasn't been treated with fabric softener or dryer sheet, or use a microfibre cleaning cloth.

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How to clean glasses or sunglasses

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