How to Properly Clean Your Sunglasses

The Right Way to Clean Your Sunglasses

A great pair of sunglasses does more than complete your look. It protects your eyes, improves visibility, and helps you enjoy the outdoors with less glare. But even the best sunglasses can lose clarity if the lenses are cleaned the wrong way.

At LAKE Sunglasses, we believe your sunglasses should be ready for lake days, road trips, patio hangs, boat rides, and everyday wear. That means keeping your lenses clean without damaging the lens surface, polarization, or protective coatings.

The good news: cleaning sunglasses correctly is simple. The bad news: the most common cleaning habits are usually the ones that cause scratches.

Optical care sources commonly recommend rinsing lenses first, using mild lotion-free soap when needed, and drying with a clean microfiber cloth instead of paper towels, tissues, or clothing.

Why You Should Never Wipe Sunglasses Dry

One of the biggest mistakes people make is grabbing the bottom of their shirt and wiping the lenses. It seems harmless, but dust, sand, dirt, and tiny particles can sit on the lens surface. When you rub a dry shirt, paper towel, napkin, or beach towel across the lens, those particles can act like sandpaper.

Even small scratches can affect how clear your sunglasses feel. Over time, improper cleaning can make lenses look cloudy, worn, or hazy.

This matters even more with polarized sunglasses. Polarized lenses are designed to reduce glare from water, roads, windows, and other reflective surfaces. To keep that crisp, clear view, you want to avoid anything abrasive.

What You Need to Clean Sunglasses Properly

You do not need anything fancy. The safest cleaning setup is simple:

• Clean hands
• Lukewarm water
• Mild lotion-free dish soap
• A clean microfiber lens cloth
• Optional lens-safe cleaning spray

Avoid hot water, harsh household cleaners, glass cleaner, alcohol-based cleaners unless specifically lens-safe, bleach, vinegar, paper towels, napkins, tissues, and clothing. Household cleaners and chemicals can damage lens coatings, and paper products can create fine scratches.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean Sunglass Lenses

1. Wash your hands first

Before touching your sunglasses, wash your hands with soap and water. Oils, sunscreen, dirt, and lotion from your fingers can transfer directly to the lenses. Dry your hands with a clean towel before handling your sunglasses.

2. Rinse the lenses with lukewarm water

Hold your sunglasses under a gentle stream of lukewarm water. This helps remove dust, sand, and loose debris before you wipe the lenses. This step is important because rubbing debris into the lens is one of the easiest ways to cause scratches.

Do not use hot water. Heat can be hard on some lens coatings and frame materials.

3. Add a small drop of mild soap

Use a tiny drop of mild, lotion-free dish soap on your fingertips. Gently rub both sides of each lens, the nose bridge, nose pads, and frame. You do not need heavy pressure. Light contact is enough to remove oils, sweat, sunscreen, and fingerprints.

Make sure the soap does not contain moisturizers, abrasives, or strong chemicals.

4. Rinse thoroughly

Rinse both lenses and the frame until all soap is gone. Leftover soap can leave streaks or residue, which makes lenses look cloudy even after cleaning.

5. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth

Use a clean microfiber lens cloth to dry the lenses. Do not use a towel from the kitchen, a T-shirt, a beach towel, or a paper product. A dirty microfiber cloth can also scratch lenses, so wash or replace your cloth regularly.

How to Clean Sunglasses at the Lake, Beach, or Pool

Lake days and beach days are rough on sunglasses. Water spots, sunscreen, sweat, sand, and fingerprints build up fast. If you are away from a sink, use a lens-safe spray and a clean microfiber cloth.

Before wiping, lightly blow away loose sand or dust. Better yet, rinse the sunglasses with clean water first if available. Never grind sand into the lens.

For LAKE Sunglasses, this is especially important because they are made for an active lake lifestyle. Whether you are boating, fishing, paddle boarding, or hanging on the dock, good lens care helps your sunglasses stay clearer longer.

Common Sunglass Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

Do not clean your lenses with your shirt.
Do not use paper towels, napkins, or tissues.
Do not use Windex, vinegar, bleach, or household cleaners.
Do not scrub the lenses with heavy pressure.
Do not leave sunglasses loose in a bag with keys, coins, or tools.
Do not clean lenses while they are covered in sand or dust without rinsing first.

These small habits make a big difference.

How to Store Sunglasses to Prevent Scratches

Cleaning is only part of lens care. Storage matters too. When you are not wearing your sunglasses, keep them in a protective case or microfiber pouch. Avoid placing sunglasses lens-down on tables, dashboards, boats, coolers, or countertops.

Heat can also be an issue. Try not to leave sunglasses sitting on a hot dashboard for long periods. Extreme heat can be tough on frames and lenses.

Final Lens Care Tip from LAKE Sunglasses

The best way to clean sunglasses is simple: rinse first, use mild soap when needed, and dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Never wipe dry lenses with your shirt, and never use harsh cleaners.

With the right care, your LAKE Sunglasses will stay clearer, cleaner, and ready for every sunny day ahead.