Glasses are expensive, and paying to have a professional buff out the scratches just digs even further into your bank account. Scratched lenses aren’t uncommon. Whether your glasses fell off your face while you were showing off your mad dance skills or while you were tripping up the stairs at work or school, you don’t have to live with the damage forever.
Check out a few ways you can try to remove those scratches from your glasses for good. Note: If you have antiglare coating or tinting on your lenses, these may not work as well.
1. Baking soda and water
After cleaning your glasses with a microfiber cloth, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl to form a paste. Cover the entire lens with the baking soda paste, using gentle pressure, and rinse, according to Livestrong.
After cleaning your glasses with a microfiber cloth, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl to form a paste. Cover the entire lens with the baking soda paste, using gentle pressure, and rinse, according to Livestrong.
2. Baby wash
Use a dab of baby shampoo with a microfiber cloth to gently buff out the scratches. The chemical-free soap helps protect nasty buildup on the lenses.
Use a dab of baby shampoo with a microfiber cloth to gently buff out the scratches. The chemical-free soap helps protect nasty buildup on the lenses.
3. White vinegar
This household wonder is great for everything, including cleaning your eyeglasses. Try using some white vinegar with a bit of baking soda (wait for it to stop foaming) to gently buff out small scratches.
This household wonder is great for everything, including cleaning your eyeglasses. Try using some white vinegar with a bit of baking soda (wait for it to stop foaming) to gently buff out small scratches.
4. Dish soap and glass cleaner
Combine a few drops of dish soap with lemon household cleaner to help remove stains and stuck-on dirt from your lenses.
Combine a few drops of dish soap with lemon household cleaner to help remove stains and stuck-on dirt from your lenses.
5. Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol combined with a gentle abrasive, like baking soda or a microfiber rag, will clean your lenses while buffing out small scratches.
Rubbing alcohol combined with a gentle abrasive, like baking soda or a microfiber rag, will clean your lenses while buffing out small scratches.
6. Buff the scratch out with toothpaste
You’ll need regular toothpaste (no gel, no whitening, no extra mintiness) and a cotton ball for this trick. Apply a dab of the toothpaste on the cotton and massage the scratched lens for about 10 seconds. Rinse and repeat as needed.
You’ll need regular toothpaste (no gel, no whitening, no extra mintiness) and a cotton ball for this trick. Apply a dab of the toothpaste on the cotton and massage the scratched lens for about 10 seconds. Rinse and repeat as needed.
7. Soap and water
When all else fails, a simple solution of soap and water with a microfiber cloth might be enough to do the trick. Try adding baking soda for a bit of texture that won’t further damage your lens.
When all else fails, a simple solution of soap and water with a microfiber cloth might be enough to do the trick. Try adding baking soda for a bit of texture that won’t further damage your lens.
8. Brass polish
Brass polish may help remove shallow scratches and stuck-on debris. Just make sure that any product you use on your lenses does not contain acetone, according to Glasses Crafter.
Brass polish may help remove shallow scratches and stuck-on debris. Just make sure that any product you use on your lenses does not contain acetone, according to Glasses Crafter.
9. Car wax
Rub a little car wax on your lenses and gently scrub with a soft cloth to remove shallow scratches. You might need to wash with water afterward, Glasses Crafter recommends.
Rub a little car wax on your lenses and gently scrub with a soft cloth to remove shallow scratches. You might need to wash with water afterward, Glasses Crafter recommends.
10. Buy a scratch kit
If none of these solutions work, you can purchase a scratch repair kit from your eye doctor. The kit temporarily fills the scratch on your lens. You might need to redo the treatment several times before you get your next pair of glasses.
If none of these solutions work, you can purchase a scratch repair kit from your eye doctor. The kit temporarily fills the scratch on your lens. You might need to redo the treatment several times before you get your next pair of glasses.
Want to see these techniques in action? Be sure to watch the video below: