Your new and expensive pair of sunglasses may claim to be tough, durable and whatnot, but despite everything it says it is, you’ll need to care for it if you want to keep it around for long. You’ve probably bought the sunglasses or sunglasses with power for frequent use, and frequent use means one thing, wear and tear. Unless you want to get a replacement for those fancy expensive Aviators every few months or so, have a look at our guide on how to take care of your sunglasses!
Always Use A Case
So let’s start with the basics. Your sunglasses probably came with a case, and it’s for a reason. When not in use, the case keeps your sunglasses safe from the elements and surroundings, so it’s pretty obvious why you need it. If you like carrying around your sunglasses in a purse, bag or something similar, it’s prone to scratches and smudges from keys, books, cosmetics and pretty much everything you keep in the bag. The case keeps it safe from all these hazards, because after all, sunglasses, or at least the lenses, are pretty damn delicate.
Proper Handling
Yes, it looks cool when you pull off your sunglasses with one hand, and yes, it also causes harm to them in the long run. Always taking off or handling sunglasses with one hand will cause the joints on the frames to loosen. If you’re in the habit of twirling sunglasses or holding them by one arm, you’d be wise to avoid it. The best practice is to use both hands to put on and take off sunglasses, this way there’s no extra stress on one particular joint and you won’t have to deal with broken sunglasses.
No Breathing Out On The Lens and Rubbing!
One of the most common ways to ‘clean’ glasses is to breathe out on the lenses and wipe it off with any cloth or your shirt. This is completely wrong on so many levels. First of all, breathing out and using the condensation to clean the lenses only make it worse by spreading the dirt/oil/smudges around. Secondly, using just any cloth or napkin to wipe your sunglasses only causes tiny scratches. The right way to clean your glasses is to rinse them with warm water, gently rub all around using your forefinger or thumb with mild soap, rinse them again, then dry them with a clean, lint-free cloth. Napkins, polyester, cotton, wool and pretty much all common clothing fabrics will only damage the sunglasses over time, so avoid using them to clean.
Avoid Dry Wiping
Another common mistake is to wipe the sunglasses while completely dry. The lack of moisture and friction can cause the lens coating to degrade, or simply get scratched. Of course this is probably where the whole breathing out and cleaning lenses came from, but no matter how many people you see do it and how convenient it seems, just don’t do it!
Regular Checkups
It may seem a little odd, but your eyewear needs to be inspected from time to time as well. If you find loose hinges, screws or bent frames, make sure to visit your nearest optician or sunglass dealer to get it fixed. Not only will these little things make the glasses more uncomfortable to wear, but somewhere down the line could probably also develop into a far larger cost, like a complete frame replacement.
Proper Storage
We recommend always using a case, but if that’s not possible, be very careful about how and where you place down your sunglasses. Never place them with the lenses facing down, it will cause scratches, if that wasn’t already obvious. Another more important thing is, never keep sunglasses exposed to the sun in a closed car. A lot of sunglass use is seen in vehicles, and if you have a pair of sunglasses exclusively for traveling or driving, chances are, you might keep them on the dashboard after use. Do not do this! The intense heat that can build up in a closed car during the day can seriously damage the lens coating or in some cases, even melt the frame!
No chemicals!
This probably goes without saying, but if you seem to see a stubborn spot of dirt that just doesn’t seem to go away, don’t rush to the nearest hardware store for the strongest stain remover or something similar. Also, do NOT try to scratch off dirt with your fingernails, it goes without sayinh. Sunglass lenses are very sensitive to chemicals, and incorrect usage can result in complete lens damage. Since they’re often coated with UV protection material, damaging the coating would defeat the entire purpose of having sunglasses. So make sure you don’t use household chemicals or even harsh soaps. If you must clean, there are plenty of made for sunglasses cleaning solutions available out there.
As a fashion accessory, sunglasses are probably the most expensive of all, but more than that, they’re also useful. Despite all the rage about looking great, the UV protection is an absolute must have, so they’re more than just fashion accessories. Make sure to follow all our tips to keep your sunglasses in the best condition possible, and last for long. You really don’t want to end up with a broken pair of sunglasses just because you thought it would be cool to whip them off with one hand, do you?
Image Sources: shop.realdealcollection.com, eyecarewichita.com,