It is just as important for you to take care of your glasses as it is for you to take care of your clothes, shoes or jewellery. Your glasses will last longer, as will the quality of your vision.
This seems logical, and yet many people still forget to clean their glasses at regular times. It doesn’t even take that much effort.
Many people occasionally clean the lenses in their glasses, but usually never the whole thing. However, this is absolutely necessary because the acidity of your skin, the use of make-up, lotions or sunscreens, and most especially the salt you secrete in your perspiration every day, can really take a toll on your glasses. If you don’t regularly clean your glasses, these can become discoloured, or the colours or coatings can start to deteriorate.
What you definitely should not do
Maybe you’ll go ahead and plead guilty right now, but you’re definitely not the only one: people often clean their glasses with a piece of tissue, the hem of their t-shirt, or even worse, a paper towel. At first glance, it looks like the lenses of your glasses really are clean, but that’s not the case: you can seriously damage your lenses because these materials don’t necessarily always have enough softness, or don’t sufficiently absorb water or grease, and most importantly, they can contain fibres or grains of sand that can scratch your lenses. The same goes for wet wipes: when dirt or sand is between your lenses and the wipe, it will scratch your lenses. A wet wipe can be used to clean the frames of your glasses, though. If you can’t rinse off your glasses, then a damp cloth especially for glasses is better than nothing, but use it at your own risk. Never hold your glasses under hot water and do not use harsh washing-up liquids or similar products. Also watch out at the hairdresser’s because certain chemical products are too caustic and can break down the non-reflective layer and hardener.
What you should do
Rinse your glasses under cold, or preferably lukewarm, running water and use a gentle washing-up liquid like Dreft. Then dry your glasses off using a clean, dust-free, soft cloth or, preferably, a new microfiber cloth. You can then shine your glasses up using a special spray. You can do this several times a day. But the best way to clean your glasses is to use an ultrasonic cleaner. Put your glasses and a small amount of washing-up liquid like Dreft in the cleaner. This way, all the dirt in the spaces between your lenses and your frame that you can’t normally reach will be perfectly “vibrated” away. These ultrasonic cleaners are available for personal use and don’t need to be expensive. They can also be used to fully clean jewellery and other items. This could be the perfect gift for someone you know. Lastly, you can always come to us to have your glasses cleaned ultrasonically and/or adjusted at no extra charge. Even if you didn’t purchase your (sun)glasses from us.
A few last, important tips
- Always store your glasses in a hard case or at least lay them down with the lenses facing upwards.
- Avoid extreme temperature variations (high and low, such as in the sauna or on the dashboard of your car) as these can warp your glasses.
- Take off your glasses when you use hairsprays and other hair products. These can contain harsh substances that can damage your glasses.
- Use both hands to put your glasses on and take them off. This way, your glasses don’t get bent, causing them to fall off.