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CareGuides
How to Clean and Care for Your Sunglasses
Most scratches come from cleaning sunglasses the wrong way. Here's how to clean them properly, what never to use, and simple habits that make a good pair last.Mon Nov 02 2026·1 min read
A good pair of sunglasses can last for years, but most damage happens in small ways: a quick wipe on a T-shirt, a day on the dashboard, sand in the case. Here's how to keep your pair in great shape.
How to clean your sunglasses properly
- Rinse first. Hold them under lukewarm running water to wash off dust, sand and salt. Wiping before rinsing drags grit across the lens and causes scratches.
- Wash gently. Put a small drop of mild dishwashing liquid on your fingertips and rub both sides of the lenses and the frame.
- Rinse again to remove all the soap.
- Dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Pat the lenses dry, then polish lightly.
On the go, a lens spray made for coated lenses and a clean microfibre cloth will do the job.
What not to use
- Your shirt, tissues, serviettes or paper towels. They feel soft, but the fibres and trapped dust scratch lens coatings.
- Window cleaner, ammonia, bleach, vinegar or nail polish remover. Harsh chemicals can strip mirror coatings and damage the polarised layer.
- Hot water. Very hot water can damage lens coatings over time.
- Breath and a quick wipe. It smears the dirt around instead of lifting it off.
Everyday habits that help
- Keep them off the dashboard. A car parked in the South African sun gets extremely hot inside, which can warp frames and damage coatings.
- Use a case. Loose in a bag or pocket is how most scratches happen.
- Put them down lenses up, never lens-side down on a table.
- Use two hands to take them off. Pulling them off with one hand slowly bends the frame and loosens the hinges.
- Don't park them on your head all day. It stretches the arms and they start slipping down your nose.
- Rinse after the beach or pool. Salt water and chlorine dry onto the lenses and hinges.
When it's time to replace them
Even with good care, lenses wear out. Deep scratches, peeling coatings and loose frames are all signs it's time for a new pair. Here are 5 signs to look for.
Ready for a fresh pair? Shop Ombrox polarised sunglasses.
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