Summer is the hardest season on a pair of sunglasses. Between sunscreen fingerprints, salt water, sand, and sweat, your frames are working overtime, and most of the damage we see isn't from wear, it's from how they're cleaned in between.
Do This
Rinse lenses under lukewarm running water first to loosen sand or grit before you touch them with anything. This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that prevents scratches. Follow with a small drop of mild, lotion-free soap on your fingertips, gently working it over both sides of the lens, then rinse clean. Dry with a proper microfiber cloth, using light pressure.
Don't Do This
Skip your shirt hem, a paper towel, or a napkin — all three can carry tiny particles that scratch the lens coating even when they feel soft. Skip glass cleaner or anything with ammonia or alcohol, which can break down lens coatings and tint over time. And resist the urge to wipe a dry lens clean; always rinse first.
Where You Store Them Matters Too
A hot car dashboard is one of the worst places for sunglasses in summer. High heat can warp frames and degrade lens coatings faster than almost anything else. Keep a case (all F&N eyewear includes a travel case) in your bag or glovebox instead of leaving glasses loose, and always store them lens-side up if they're not in a case, so the lenses aren't resting on a surface.
A Quick Weekly Habit
If you're wearing the same pair daily this summer, a 30-second rinse-and-dry once or twice a week keeps sunscreen and salt from building up in the hinges, where it's hardest to clean out later.
Shop a Pair Worth Taking Care Of
Whether you're maintaining a favorite or replacing one that didn't make it through last summer, shop our best-selling sunglasses for a pair built to handle the season.
