How to Clean and Care for Metal Sunglasses

Everyday cleaning, step by step

1. Wash your hands first, so you're not adding oil to the lenses.
2. Rinse the sunglasses under lukewarm running water to wash off dust and grit. Wiping a dry, gritty lens can scratch it.
3. Put a small drop of mild hand soap without moisturisers on your fingertips, and gently rub both sides of the lenses, the bridge and the arms.
4. Rinse well under lukewarm water.
5. Shake off the excess water and pat dry with a clean microfibre cloth, such as the Houser microfibre pouch.

For a quick clean during the day, a clean microfibre cloth on its own is fine for light smudges, once any grit is off the lens.

What to avoid

• Tissues, paper towels and your shirt. They can grind dirt into the lens and damage lens coatings.
• Window cleaner and household chemicals such as ammonia, bleach and vinegar. These can strip lens coatings, and window cleaner can also wear away the finish on frames.
• Alcohol-based screen wipes. Which?, the UK consumer group, says the alcohol is too harsh for glasses over time. An alcohol-free lens cleaner is gentler.
• Hot water. Lukewarm water is kinder to lenses and coatings than hot water.

After the beach or a day on the water

Salt water dries into a white residue and can wear down lens coatings if it's left on. After a swim or a day on the water, rinse your sunglasses in fresh, lukewarm water as soon as you can, then dry them with microfibre. Treat sand the same way: rinse it off rather than wiping it away.

Mirror lenses need a little more care

A mirror finish is a thin coating on the front of the lens, and mirror coatings can scratch. Rinsing before wiping and using only microfibre matter even more on mirror lenses than on plain ones. Five of the six Houser lens colours have a mirror finish; Smoke doesn't. Our mirror lens colours guide explains how mirror coatings work.

Caring for a metal frame

Houser Metal Sunglasses have a lightweight metal alloy frame with a satin gunmetal finish, an X-shaped bridge fixed with two screws, and S-wave arms that end in rubber grips with metal tips. A few habits help keep a frame like this in shape:

• Clean the frame when you clean the lenses. The same rinse and drop of mild soap works on the metal and the rubber grips. Dry the frame as well as the lenses.
• Don't push them up onto your head. Which? notes that the arms can widen over time, which loosens the fit.

Storing them

• Use the hard case. A rigid case helps prevent scratches and accidental bending when you're not wearing them. Houser comes with a zip-up hard case with a clip.
• Lenses up. If you put your sunglasses down, rest them with the lenses facing up, not lens-side down.
• Keep them out of the heat. Don't leave them on the dashboard or in a hot car. High heat can warp frames and damage lenses and their coatings.

Loose screws at the bridge or hinges

Small screws can work loose over time. Houser's X-shaped bridge, for example, is fixed with two screws. If a screw feels loose:

• Use a small precision screwdriver that fits the screw head properly.
• Lay the sunglasses on a soft cloth and turn the screw gently. Stop once it's snug, and don't force it.
• Keep the screwdriver away from the lens surface, especially on mirror lenses.

Repair kits are best for a temporary fix. If a screw is missing or won't tighten, an optician can help. If your Houser pair arrives faulty, send us a message with your order number and a photo of the issue.

You can see the full range of colours in metal sunglasses.

FAQ

Can I use a lens cleaning spray?

Yes. An alcohol-free lens cleaner is gentle on lens coatings. Avoid alcohol-based screen wipes and household glass cleaner.

Will cleaning remove the polarisation?

In polarised lenses, the polarising filter is a layer inside the lens rather than a coating on its surface. The surface coatings, such as a mirror finish, are what need gentle handling. Our guide to polarised vs non-polarised sunglasses explains how the filter works.

Is it OK to leave sunglasses in the car?

Not on the dashboard or in a hot car in direct sun. High heat can warp frames and damage lenses and their coatings, so take them with you.

What comes with Houser for cleaning and storage?

Each pair comes with a zip-up hard case with a clip and a microfibre pouch.