How to Clean Sunglasses

Our ozone layer is being depleted. Proper sun care is more important now than ever. That means sunscreen, sunglasses, and covering up your skin in prolonged sun exposure.

You should be wearing sunglasses no matter the season; even in snowy climates, the sun has the potential to gradually damage your eyes.

This being said, if your sunglasses are seeing a lot of wear, you’ll want to keep them clean.

Keep reading for our advice on how to clean sunglasses.

1. Use Dish Soap

This is a COVID-specific tip for clean sunglasses. Many people who wear glasses know how annoying it can be to have them fog up when they have a mask on.

You can occasionally clean your glasses with dish soap. This is a safe way to remove grease build-up with the added benefit of preventing fog.

When it comes to the amount and technique, a little goes a long way.

Apply a couple of drops of soap to a soft cloth; ideally, this would be a soft microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the lenses.

Wet the cloth and gently wash the glasses. You should wash the frames, lenses, earpieces, and nose pads. These are all locations where grease can build up through contact with your skin.

Then, simply rinse the glasses with cold water and let them dry.

After they have dried, you can use a dry microfiber cloth to give them a buff. Make sure your lenses are clear of any streaks, and you are good to go.

2. Use Eyeglass Cleaner

Sometimes, more expensive brands like ray ban sunglasses will come with their own recommended cleaning kit.

For example, Ray-Ban produces their own “Zero Fog Spray.”

This will usually come as a kit along with Ray-Ban’s own microfiber cloths.

For best results, spray just once for each lens on both sides. Try to maintain a distance when you spray so you get a nice even coating. Too much spray will result in smudges and smears.

Gently buff with the microfiber cloths until dry.

Since Ray-Ban proclaims their spray will both clean and prevent fogging, you can use it as an alternative to the dish soap method. If your glasses were pricey or they have a special coating, it’s advised you use a spray that the manufacturer considers safe.

3. Custom Lens-Cleaning Solution

This solution is economical but not recommended for pricier sunglasses.

If you know your lenses have special coatings (anti-glare, blue-light-blocking), then you should avoid rubbing them with any harsh solutions.

For a custom lens-cleaning solution, you can mix three-part isopropyl alcohol with one cup of water in a spray bottle. For best results, use distilled water.

Then, spray the mixture on your glasses and buff the solution onto your lenses. You’ll still want to dry it with a microfiber cloth to prevent scratches or damage to any coatings.

How to Clean Sunglasses

Semi-regular sunglasses cleaning will keep your shades in good form for a long time.

As for how to clean sunglasses, just remember to always use a microfiber cloth when handling them.

For more great tips, visit our health section.