In our daily lives, unintentionally placing glasses in a bag without a case, placing glasses face down on a surface, or even accidentally scratching a sharp object (such as a key) on the lenses can result in scratches on the lenses. When eyeglass lenses have scratches, it is often frustrating and confusing, obstructing the wearer’s vision, and it can also affect the appearance and function of the glasses. How to effectively repair these scratches is a concern for many.
In this article, we’ll go over some simple but effective ways to help you remove scratches on your glasses and restore their clarity and aesthetics.
7 Easy Ways to Remove Scratches Out Of Eyeglasses Plastic
In the following sections, we’ll present seven effective methods for repairing scratches on glasses that you can easily do yourself, without having to spend a lot of money on professional services.
Eyeglass Cloth and Cleaner
Firstly, if the scratches on the lenses are so light that they need to be seen when held up to the light, a simple use of an eyeglass cloth and cleaner will fix them, here are the steps:
- Prepare a clean glasses cloth and a special glasses cleaner.
- Spray an appropriate amount of cleaner onto the eyeglass cloth or spray the cleaner directly onto the glasses.
- Gently wipe the scratched areas on your glasses with the moistened eyeglass cloth. Use small circular motions and avoid applying too much pressure.
- After a few minutes of wiping, rinse the glasses with water and dry them with a clean cloth.
Only very minor scratches can be repaired with this method and the results are limited.
Baking Soda
You can try to use a mixture of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water to repair scratches on your glasses. Here are the exact steps:
- Prepare a small bowl of warm water and a small spoon of baking soda.
- Slowly add the baking soda to the warm water until a paste forms.
- Dip a soft cloth or cotton ball into the baking soda paste and then gently rub the scratched area on your glasses. Be careful to wipe gently to avoid causing more damage by applying too much pressure.
- After a few minutes of wiping, rinse your glasses with water and then dry them with a clean cloth.
Care needs to be taken when using baking soda to repair scratches on your glasses to avoid using too much baking soda or applying too much pressure to avoid causing further damage to your glasses. If the scratches are deep or the repair is not effective, you can repeat the process a few times before trying again.
Toothpaste
Using toothpaste to repair scratches on your glasses is a common DIY method and it’s very cost effective, here are the steps:
- Choose a regular toothpaste without particles. Avoid using toothpaste with strong stain removing power or toothpaste containing particles that may damage the surface of the lenses.
- Take an appropriate amount of toothpaste and apply it on a clean cloth or cotton ball.
- Gently wipe the scratched area on your glasses with the toothpaste-applied cloth. It is important to cover the scratches evenly and rub gently with small circular motions.
- After a few minutes of wiping, rinse your glasses with water and dry them with a clean cloth.
Be careful and meticulous when wiping scratches on the lenses, and if the glasses are scratchy, repeat the process several times.
Metal Polish
Using metal polish to repair scratches on your glasses requires great caution as metal polish often contains particles that can lead to further damage to the surface of the lenses, it is recommended that you polish your glasses with silver, brass or other types of metal polish. If you decide to attempt a repair, follow these steps:
- Add some metal polish to your lenses, just a small amount, not too much.
- Get a clean cloth or some paper towels and use it to wipe away the scratches on the lenses.
- Continue polishing. Don’t lose patience as this may take a while.
You need to be very careful when repairing scratches on your glasses, metal polish is designed for solid metals and may wear down glass or plastic lenses as well as frames.
Car Cleaing Wax
Car cleaning wax may be great for cleaning your car, but it can also work wonders at removing scratches from your glasses. It’s very safe and actually less abrasive than polish or toothpaste. If you decide to try to fix it, follow these steps:
- Choose a non-abrasive car cleaning wax, preferably one that doesn’t contain alcohol or other harsh ingredients.
- Pour an appropriate amount of car cleaning wax onto a clean cloth and gently rub the scratched area on your glasses. Use small circular motions and avoid applying too much pressure.
- After a few minutes of rubbing, rinse the glasses with water and then dry them with a clean cloth.
Glass Etching Cream
You can purchase some glass etching cream to remove scratches from your eyeglasses. Glass etching cream contains caustic hydrofluoric acid. However, there is a problem with this, it may dissolve the lens coating, so if there are only minor scratches on the coating, you can try this method to remove these scratches. Be careful not to leave the glass etching paste on the lenses for too long, as that can make the entire additive coating disappear.
Furniture Spray
Furniture spray works like a wax to remove scratches from your lenses, simply spray your lenses lightly with furniture spray (don’t spray too much) and then get a lint-free cloth and rub the spray in circular motions over the lenses. Repeat this until the spray and scratches are gone. Note that you can continue to do this every few days to make sure the scratches are gone.
How to Protect Your Glasses from Getting Scratched?
Rather than waiting until there are scratches on your lenses and then trying to remove them, it’s more effective to take good care of your glasses, and here are some ways to help you protect them.
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Choose Scratch Resistant Coating or Anti-Reflective Coating
When you choose your lenses, opt for anti-scratch lenses, which will protect your lenses from being easily and seriously damaged in case they are accidentally dropped. Generally anti-reflective lenses include an anti-scratch film layer, which not only protects against scratches, but also prevents sunlight reflection. Both types of lenses are available at Aogang Optics.
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Use Eyeglasses Case
When you take off your glasses, you can protect them by placing them in a glasses case, remembering to handle them with care. It’s important to choose a hard glasses case with a soft lining and to place a glasses cloth inside to protect them. Store the case in your bag or car.
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Clean Glasses with Microfiber Cloth Regularly
Regularly clean your glasses with a microfiber cloth specially designed for cleaning glasses. Avoid using random cloths, tissues, or clothes, as they can cause significant abrasion to the lenses. Additionally, you can spray an appropriate eyeglass cleaning solution or a mild, non-lotion dish soap onto the lenses before wiping them with a microfiber cloth to ensure a thorough clean.
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Treat Glasses with Care
The most important thing is to treat your glasses with care. Do not place your glasses anywhere near sharp objects.Take care of them so they can continue taking care of your sight.
Eyeglass lenses are fragile and can easily be scratched, affecting your vision. There are many methods to remove scratches from glasses, but attempting DIY repairs with toothpaste, baking soda, metal or furniture polish, and similar substances may do more harm than good. While they may effectively remove scratches, they can also further damage your lenses or remove any anti-glare, UV, or blue light coatings.
Once your eyeglass lenses are scratched, it’s best to replace the lenses or purchase a new pair with scratch-resistant coatings. Once you have new glasses, properly clean, handle them gently, and store them safely so they can help maintain your vision and appearance for a long time.
