How to clean sunglasses without scratching them

Short answer: Always rinse dust and grit off with lukewarm water before you wipe. Use a drop of mild, lotion-free dish soap, rinse again, then dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Never use your shirt, paper towels, tissues, spit, hot water, or household glass cleaners with ammonia. Deep scratches usually cannot be polished out safely at home – prevention beats repair. The same routine works on ECO SHADES frames and UV400 lenses (ours are not polarised).

Why sunglasses get scratched when you "just wipe them"

Lenses pick up sand, salt, pollen and tiny grit. If you wipe that dry with a cloth – or worse, a shirt – those particles act like sandpaper. Coatings and plastic lens surfaces mark easily. Opticians and brands from American Optical to Maui Jim and Warby Parker all start with the same rule: get the grit off with water first, then clean.

A clean pair also lasts longer in daily use. If you are choosing a durable everyday frame, browse our recycled sunglasses or bestsellers – care habits matter as much as the frame you pick.

How to clean sunglasses in 5 steps

1. Wash your hands. Oils and grit on your fingers transfer straight to the lenses.
2. Rinse under lukewarm water. Hold the frames and rinse both sides of each lens. Warm is fine; hot water can stress coatings and some plastics. This step alone prevents most cleaning scratches.
3. Add a drop of mild dish soap. Use lotion-free, non-abrasive liquid soap (no moisturisers, citrus scrubs or "power" detergents). Rub gently with your fingertips over lenses, nose pads, hinges and temples.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Leave no soap film – residue looks like haze and invites more wiping.
5. Dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Pat or wipe lightly. Hold the lenses up to the light; repeat a gentle rinse if a smudge remains. Wash the cloth regularly in warm soapy water and skip fabric softener.

Away from a sink? Blow or brush loose dust off, then use a lens spray labelled safe for coated eyewear and a clean microfibre cloth – still never a dry shirt. For oversized everyday frames like Bloch Havana or a classic aviator such as LAI Grey, the method is identical.

What never to use on sunglass lenses

• Your shirt, jeans or scarf – fabric holds grit and rough fibres.
• Paper towels, tissues, napkins – they scratch even when they feel soft.
• Household glass cleaners (Windex-type), ammonia, bleach, vinegar, acetone or alcohol wipes – they can cloud or strip coatings.
• Spit – it spreads oils and bacteria; it does not clean.
• Hot water or dishwashers – heat and harsh detergents damage frames and lenses.
• Baking soda, toothpaste or DIY "scratch removers" – abrasive pastes make vision worse. Licensed opticians warn against them.

Can you remove scratches from sunglasses?

Usually no – not safely at home. Light surface haze may look better after a proper wash, but a real scratch is cut into the lens or coating. Polishing compounds remove material unevenly and blur the optics. For deep scratches, the practical options are replacement lenses (where available) or a new pair. When you next shop, check UV400 and CE marking; darkness alone is not protection – see what UV400 means and our note that ECO SHADES lenses are not polarised.

Build quality and fit also affect how frames survive daily wear. More on that in how to spot quality sunglasses and our guide to lens colours if you are replacing a tinted pair.

Storage habits that prevent scratches

• On your face or in the case. Not on your head as a headband, not hanging from a collar, not loose in a bag or pocket.
• Lenses up if you set them on a table briefly – never lens-down on a café surface.
• Hard case for travel; soft pouch only when the bag itself is clean and not crushed.
• Rinse after beach, sweat or sunscreen so salt and chemicals do not dry onto the lens.

Slim everyday frames such as Venturi Havana or square recycled options like Morello Grey still need the same case discipline as oversized styles. Browse all sunglasses when you want a spare pair so you are not forced to wipe a dirty lens mid-day.

Quick FAQ

How often should I clean my sunglasses?

A full soap-and-water clean whenever they look smudged or after sport, beach or dusty travel – often daily in summer. Spot-clean with microfibre only after grit is rinsed or blown off.

Is dish soap safe for sunglass lenses?

Yes, if it is mild and lotion-free. One drop per lens is enough. Avoid soaps with moisturisers, abrasives or strong fragrance additives that leave a film.

Can I use alcohol wipes on sunglasses?

Not on coated fashion or UV lenses unless the wipe is explicitly labelled safe for eyewear coatings. Alcohol and household disinfectants often damage coatings. Stick to water, mild soap and microfibre.

Do ECO SHADES sunglasses need special cleaner?

No. Lukewarm water, mild dish soap and a clean microfibre cloth are enough for our recycled-plastic and plant-based acetate frames with UV400 lenses. Certificates for materials and UV claims are available on request – just contact us. Every pair includes a 2-year warranty.