The Dos & Don'ts of Cleaning Your Sports Glasses

January 03, 2022

Nearly 75 percent of Americans wear glasses of some kind. And if they're wearing everyday frames and participating in athletic activity, they have additional frames to take care of life on and off the field. Sometimes, people choose contacts as an alternative to wearing frames. But always having frames handy for situational demands is wise.

Since there are so many sports glasses and goggles out there, it's essential to know how to take care of them properly. Proper storage is vital to ensuring your child doesn't misplace their glasses. Furthermore, ensuring the glasses remain clean will help them see clearly. After investing in their everyday vision, proper care and maintenance will support a healthy lifespan for their sports frames. Here are the dos and don’ts of cleaning your sports glasses. Communicate these to your kid so that they know how to maintain their glasses. These pointers also double as helpful tips for everyday eyewear maintenance.

Do Listen to the Optometrist

Your child’s optometrist will lay out all care instructions for any set of frames they prescribe. They're in the business of clear vision and healthy eyes. So they want to ensure the prescription they provide is functional. And this usually can't happen if you neglect their care instructions or fail to pay attention.

Regardless of your kid’s prescription needs, eyewear is an investment. So listening to the optometrist is vital. Specifically, your young athlete’s level of understanding regarding proper care and maintenance is critical to avoid frame breaks and lens damages.

Don't Use an Old Rag

Avoid the use of an old rag or even a new rag. Because of a rag's generally abrasive nature, it can scratch the lenses and frames. Continuous scratching and abrasion will wear down the lenses and frames much faster than if you choose to use a microfiber cleaning cloth. If the eyewear doesn't come with a microfiber cleaning rag, ask the optometrist if they can supply one.

Do Wash Hands

Thoroughly washing hands before handling eyewear will keep any excess dirt and oil from transferring. Our hands carry the remnants of everything we touch, and eventually, a buildup can occur. To help cut back on fingerprinting and smudging, have your kid wash their hands with gentle soap and warm water and avoid touching anything else before cleaning their glasses.

Don't Use Everyday Materials

In addition to telling them to avoid a rag, have your child stay away from everyday materials that are usually handy. It feels more convenient to grab the nearest item or even a part of a shirt, but most materials are typically more abrasive and too harsh for the delicate surfaces of glasses. Specific things to stay away from include:

Articles of clothing
Facial tissues
Napkins
Hand or body towels

Do Utilize Proper Cleaning Agents

There is an eyewear-specific cleaner that you can ask the prescribing doctor for at the time of your child’s appointment. But you may run out and want to use something at home. A few common items can clean the lenses without damaging them. They are:

Rubbing alcohol
Gentle dishwashing liquids

Additionally, you’ll want to avoid specific cleaning agents, as they are too harsh for glasses and can eat away at the materials. Harsh cleaning agents to stay away from include:

Bleaching agents
Ammonia
Multi-surface cleaners for windows, bathrooms, and counters

If you find your kid’s sports glasses need a good cleaning session, you should have them use lukewarm water and a microfiber towel to dry them. Avoid hot water, though, as this can also harm the glasses. Make sure they adjust the faucet to a lukewarm temperature and run the glasses under the stream for the best results. Remind them to use gentle motions while drying their glasses with a microfiber cloth.

Dry Cleaning

To remove fingerprints and subtle staining, gently breathe on the lenses and wipe them with a microfiber cloth for a surface cleaning. It's critical not to apply extreme pressure since the mirrored coating can become scratched very easily.

Wet Cleaning

Because most sports glasses contain unique films for protection from the elements, following the chemicals’ guidelines will ensure you don't chip away at the lifespan of these films. Sticking to an as-needed cleaning schedule for the lenses will help maintain the clarity and integrity of the films. Common sports glasses films used include UV protection and colored lens films.

Don't Buff Scratches

We can't protect our faces or glasses from encountering debris. This is especially true for a kid who’s playing sports. So chances are, they’ll find a scratch or two on their lenses at some point. It's okay if this happens, but it's essential to remember not to buff them out.

Often, an attempt at buffing will multiply the number of scratches. It can even cause a blurred, cloudy spot in the place of the attempt. It's best to visit the prescribing optometrist to get help. Damaging the lens from buffing could lead to a need for a costly replacement.

Do Properly Store Sports Glasses

Chances are, your kid’s sports glasses are their second or third set of frames. In this case, keeping them secure when not in use is critical. Properly storing them will also help contribute to their overall cleanliness and alleviate any extra need for cleaning.

Given that sports eyewear sees an increase in handling and debris, your child must carry a to-go pack with the correct cleaning supplies so that they can clean them wherever they are. When creating a to-go pack, you should consider items like:

A case for the frames
A microfiber cloth
An optometrist-recommended lens cleaner

Following through on these actionable steps might feel like a chore young children wish to avoid. But helping them through some of these dos and don'ts of cleaning their sports glasses can benefit them in many ways.

The decision to invest in eyewear for young athletes continues the work of their everyday frames and protects their eyes from potential inbound collisions and debris. But because the frames stand between your child's face and risky situations, they must follow the steps needed to keep them clean. This way, they can continue to see clearly. Let Optics Outfitters help you get the best youth prescription sports glasses for soccer to help your little athlete focus on the ball and protect their eyes.