Your sunglasses can last a long time if you take proper care of them.
“If you take good care of your sunglasses, they can last for 10 years or more,” says Floyd Randle Tibbs, an optometrist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
How can you take care of your sunglasses so they will last? Use these eight tips to extend the life of your favorite shades:
1. Protect your sunglasses from scratches
Glass lenses are more resistant to scratching than polycarbonate lenses, but whether your lenses are plastic or glass, it’s important to store your sunglasses in a case. Don’t just drop sunglasses in a purse, laptop or messenger bag, or shove them in your pocket. Your sunglasses are likely to get scratched by keys, pens or rough denim fabric.
A hard case is ideal.
2. Get smudges off your sunglasses
Sunglasses are prone to smudges and grime — they pick up oils from our skin and fingers, specks of dirt and grime from the great outdoors, the residue of makeup, and a film of salt or chlorine from the ocean or pool.
To smooth away smudges, you should clean your shades every week or two, Dr. Tibbs says, and in the summer, “you may need to clean them almost every day.”
Start with clean, dry hands. Rinse your glasses under warm water, and soap up your fingers with a few drops of mild dishwashing soap, without harsh detergents or moisturizers.
“Rub the soapy water gently on the lenses, and rinse off. Then dry them with a microfiber cloth,” Dr. Tibbs says. You can also rub the nose pad and frames.
Be sure to avoid any type of paper product. “All paper contains wood fibers,” Dr. Tibbs says, “and they can scratch the lenses. Kleenex and other tissues often contain moisturizers that leave a film.”
Also avoid using your shirt to try and clean your glasses — we’ve all been tempted!
Once a year, you can take your sunglasses (and your glasses, too, if you wish) to the optician for an ultrasonic cleaning. “That can really freshen up the frame,” Dr. Tibbs says.
READ MORE: DIY Eyeglass Cleaner
3. Avoid harmful cleaners
You should not use rubbing alcohol, vinegar or any other household cleaner on your glasses.
Don’t breathe on your sunglasses and then wipe them, either.
“Use an approved lens cleaner,” Dr. Tibbs says. Only use a microfiber cloth especially made to clean glasses. If the cloth gets dirty, you can either launder it or buy a new one.
4. Don't leave your sunglasses in the car
Never place your sunglasses on the dashboard, where heat is particularly intense, and take them with you when leaving the car parked on hot days.
While driving, if you’re not wearing your sunglasses, keep them in a hard eyeglass case. A hard case will also protect them from getting stepped on if they fall to the floor of the vehicle.
5. Properly place your sunglasses on your face
Try not to grab your glasses by the arms.
If your sunglasses are seated slightly crooked on your face, a simple adjustment can be done at any sunglass store or optician.
6. Prepare a home sunglasses kit
Taking care of your sunglasses starts at home and with a sunglasses care kit.
Your home sunglasses kit should have several clean microfiber cloths, a professional lens cleaning solution, a hard case, a soft microfiber pouch and a small bottle of simple dishwashing soap.
7. Special care for some polarized or mirrored lenses
Care for polarized sunglasses and mirrored sunglasses is the same as any pair of glasses.
8. Stop losing your sunglasses
The key to not losing your sunglasses is to keep specific habits. Always put them in the same place when storing them.
If you are prone to losing (or misplacing) your sunglasses, you may also want multiple pairs.
Other ways to keep your sunglasses from going missing? Be careful about placing glasses on a table at a restaurant, where you may forget them. Buy a neck cord if you’re going to be traveling.
And finally, turn to technology. There are now eyewear trackers which clip onto the arm of any pair of glasses, and connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Voila! Lost sunglasses will never be lost for long.
SHOP FOR SHADES (OR A BACKUP PAIR): Check out your sunglasses options at an optical store, doctor's office or vision center near you, or at an online eyewear retailer.
READ MORE: Sunglasses Diagram
