How to Clean Sunglasses

Medically reviewed by Shaune Wallace, OD

Last Updated: March 4, 2021 References

When you get a new pair of sunglasses, they're so clean and the vision is so crisp. However, sooner or later, they're going to get dirty or smudged. It's nearly impossible to keep your fingerprints and other marks off of them! Here's how you can get your glasses back to their original clean state.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Eyeglass Cleaner Solution and a Microfiber Cloth

1
Look to see just how dirty the lenses are. Also inspect if any other pieces of the glasses need cleaning. Pieces to look out for are the nose and earpieces. These come into contact with hair and natural oils on your skin, which can quickly accumulate to make them dirty quicker. If they do need a quick clean, then wipe them with the microfiber cloth.^{[1]
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2
Use a clean microfiber cloth. Don’t be counterproductive and clean with a dirty cloth! Not only is using a clean cloth avoids transferring dirt and other residue, but it highly reduces the risks of scratching lenses when wiping off an eyeglass cleaning solution.

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3
Spray both sides of each lens with the eyeglass cleaner. It’s best to use a spray that came with the glasses when you purchased them. Sprays that are specific to your sunglasses will protect any extra coatings the lenses have on them. Try to spray from a distance that evenly coats the lenses, so when you wipe there isn’t any buildup of solution to accumulate to form smudges.
4
Hold each lens with a microfiber cloth (specifically made for eyewear). Gently apply a bit of pressure. Wipe with a circular motion, back and forth to reduce lines and smudges.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Lenses with Soap and Water

1
Run lenses underneath warm water. Make sure the water is at a warm enough temperature to touch — tepid or room-temperature water is ideal. Running glasses under water that is too hot could damage any coatings the lenses may have.
2
Put a small drop of dish soap on each side of the lenses. Take your forefinger and thumb, and gently smear the soap in a circular motion. Rub so that the soap evenly coats each lens.
3
Rinse the lenses again to remove the soap. Just let the running water remove the soap – do not rub it off with your fingers. Doing so will leave smudges on the lenses and you risk scratching the lenses if there is dust or debris on the lens still.
4
Hold the glasses up. Look at a light source (preferably natural lighting) through the lenses and inspect if there is any potential residue from the soap or the grime that you were originally set out to clean. You should see nothing but water droplets on the lenses.^{[3]
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5
Allow the lenses to air-dry or gently shake the water off. Avoid wiping the water off with any paper towels or kitchen cloths. Opt for a clean microfiber cloth.If using paper towels, do not rub the lenses. Instead, lightly dab the residue water droplets, allowing the paper to absorb them. Do this to avoid water marks.
- If you don't have a microfiber cloth, use a clean cotton cloth. It's vital that the alternative to a microfiber cloth is a clean cotton cloth. Any other material could hold risks of severely scratching the lenses! ^{[4]
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- any cloth treated with fabric softener is not a good idea because it often leaves smudges.^{[5]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Your Own Lens Cleaning Solution

1
Combine some rubbing alcohol and water. Using rubbing alcohol is a safe way to clean glasses without removing finishes, such as non-glare coatings.^{[6]
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- Put three parts alcohol for every one part of water you mix together.
- Make as much as desired, and keep in a small spray bottle for future uses.
- Spray and wipe with a clean cotton cloth in a circular motion.
2
Add one or two drops of dish soap to any mixture for extra clarity once the lenses are wiped. This works the same as cleaning lenses under running water with dish soap. Add a little bit of soap to a ready-made bottle of diluted alcohol to get that finishing clarity.^{[8]
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3
Use the solution on other parts of the glasses. Since pre-made lens cleaners are specified towards lenses only, the benefit of a diluted rubbing alcohol solution is that it can be safely applied to pieces such as earpieces and nosepieces. Give the entire frame a wipe down to get them back to their original, clean state.
4
Avoid adding other household cleaning products, such as window cleaner. These chemicals are far too hard on lenses, running risks of damages with expensive repair costs (i.e. coating replacements). Though they may seem convenient, do not add them to any cleaning solutions you plan to make.^{[9]
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Warnings

Never use ammonia, bleach, vinegar or window cleaner because these products break down coatings on lenses of both prescription and non-prescription glasses.

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Do not exhale on your lenses, then use your shirt to wipe them as this can scratch the lenses.

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Never wipe with your shirt.

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Never wipe dry lenses. Wiping debris this way can cause scratches.

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Don’t use spit to clean lenses. It may seem convenient, but spit can contain oils that can worsen the problem.

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Don’t leave glasses in a hot car. This can cause the anti-glare coating on your lenses craze and crack.

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