Wondering how your sunglasses have scratches on them, chipped on the sides, or lost their color? Well, if you didn’t know, your sunglasses have an expiration date. The efficacy of the UV protection filter on your sunglasses decreases over the years. Your sunglasses might last you around three to four years, with some TLC. But if you too, like many of us consider your sunglasses as ‘your precious’, here are a few tips that you can follow to extend the life of your sunglasses.

1 Use Both Hands To Take Off Your Glares

We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again—you’re not an action hero; removing your sunnies with one hand only works in movies and music videos. AVOID THIS in real life! When you remove your glares with one hand repeatedly, you end up loosening or misaligning the temples. This leads to poor fitting in the long run.

2 Clean Your Glasses, But With Safe Cleaners

What are safe cleaners, you may ask? Water or gel-based lens cleaning solutions that come without ammonia or alcohol are your best bet. Try the Aqualens Spectacle Lens Cleaner Bottle. Diluted dish soap is a good option as well, finish the cleansing process using a clean microfiber cloth. Steer clear of ordinary tissues, paper towels, or other wood-based materials, which can cause scratches. If you don’t have access to dishwashing liquids, a bottle of clean water can be used to rinse the dirt and grime off your sunglasses!

3 Avoid Storing Sunglasses In High-Temperature Places

Don’t leave your glasses on your car panel, above your refrigerator, or anywhere near your television unit as these places are typically hot and/or receive direct sunlight. Keeping them in hot areas can cause the mirroring and anti-reflective coatings on the lenses to degrade.

4 Your Sunglasses Are Meant For Your Eyes, Not Head!

We have seen a lot of people wearing sunglasses on their heads as a hair accessory or simply to draw attention. It may seem a natural thing to do for most of us, but when you keep swooshing your glares on top of your head, the earpiece tends to stretch out and slip off. Moreover, your hair has natural oils which can affect your lenses.

5 Keep A Sunglasses TLC Kit Handy

If you love your sunglasses as much as we do, then it is advisable to prepare a handy TLC kit for them—which you can carry anywhere you go. An ideal kit should include a clean microfiber cloth, a good lens cleaning solution, a hard case, a microfiber pouch, and a tiny bottle of dish-washing soap.

These tips serve to prolong the life of your glares as much as possible, but eventually, you will need to change them. Alternatively, you can always buy a new pair of good quality sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection from Lenskart