How to Get Scratches Out of Sunglasses: Practical Solutions That Actually Work

Quick summary

This article explains how to remove scratches from sunglasses safely. Surface scratches can often be minimized at home using gentle methods like baking soda paste, vinegar, or eyewear scratch-removal kits, while deeper scratches may require professional repair or lens replacement. Learn proper cleaning, techniques, and preventive tips to protect your lenses, and explore the full Lensotic guide for more insights.

You pull out your favorite sunglasses, and there’s a scratch right across the lens. Whether it happened when you tossed them in your bag without a case or cleaned them with the wrong cloth, scratched lenses are frustrating. They mess with your vision, catch light at weird angles, and look bad.

Many scratches can be minimized with DIY methods you can try at home. But not all scratches are fixable, and attempting these methods can make things worse.

Here’s everything you need to know about getting scratches out of sunglasses, what actually works, what doesn’t, and when it’s time to just replace those lenses.

Surface vs. deep scratches: Knowing what you’re dealing with

Surface scratches sit on top of your lens coating. They’re shallow and often look worse than they are. You might barely feel them with your fingernail. These usually come from cleaning with the wrong cloth or minor contact with rough surfaces.

Deep scratches go through the lens coating into the lens material itself. You can clearly feel these with your fingernail, and they show up as grooves or lines. These are much harder to fix and often need professional help or lens replacement.

The methods here are most effective for surface scratches. Deep scratches may improve slightly but rarely fully resolve without professional resurfacing.

Important reality check: What you need to know first

Most scratch removal methods work by buffing away the protective coating on your lenses. While you might make the scratch less visible, you’re also removing:

• UV protection coating
• Anti-reflective coating
• Polarization (on polarized lenses)
• Water-repellent coating
• Anti-scratch coating (yes, the irony)

Your lenses might look better, but they won’t work as well. These methods should be temporary fixes, especially for expensive sunglasses with multiple coatings or advanced lens technologies like photochromic lenses, which automatically adjust to sunlight and rely on specialized treatments to function properly.

Method 1: Baking soda paste (The most recommended DIY fix)

This is the most commonly recommended home remedy. It uses mild abrasion to polish out surface scratches without being too harsh.

What you’ll need:

• Baking soda
• Water
• Microfiber cloth
• Small bowl

How to do it:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with just enough water to create a thick paste—think toothpaste consistency
2. Clean your sunglasses first with a microfiber cloth to remove any dirt or debris
3. Apply a small amount of paste to the scratched area using a cotton ball or your finger
4. Gently rub the paste over the scratch in circular motions for 10-15 seconds
5. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water
6. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth
7. Inspect the results

If the scratch is less noticeable, you can repeat the process. If it looks the same or worse, stop immediately—this method isn’t working for your particular lens type.

• Pros: Gentle, cheap, uses common household items
• Cons: Time-consuming, only works on minor scratches, removes lens coatings gradually

Method 2: White vinegar solution (for very light scratches)

White vinegar is a mild acid that can help with superficial scratches and also cleans your lenses at the same time.

What you’ll need:

• White vinegar
• Water
• Microfiber cloth

How to do it:

1. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a small bowl
2. Dip your microfiber cloth into the solution
3. Wring it out so it’s damp, not dripping
4. Wipe your sunglasses in circular motions, focusing on the scratched areas
5. Rinse with clean water
6. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth

This method is gentler than baking soda and works well as a first attempt for very light scratches. It won’t damage your lenses as quickly, but it’s also less effective on anything beyond superficial marks.

Method 3: Non-gel toothpaste (Use with caution)

You’ll see this method all over the internet, and yes, it can work—but it comes with serious risks. Toothpaste contains abrasives designed to polish your teeth, and those same abrasives can polish plastic lenses. The problem? They can also make scratches worse or strip your lens coatings entirely.

If you decide to try this:

• Use only plain white, non-gel, non-whitening toothpaste
• Avoid any toothpaste with microbeads or baking soda already in it
• Apply a tiny amount to the scratch
• Rub very gently in circular motions for no more than 10 seconds
• Rinse immediately and thoroughly
• Stop if you notice any haziness or if the scratch looks worse

Why this is risky: Toothpaste is more abrasive than baking soda. It works faster, but it also strips coatings faster. Most eyewear professionals don’t recommend this method because the risk of making things worse outweighs the potential benefit.

Method 4: Commercial scratch removal kits

Commercial scratch removal kits designed specifically for eyewear are safer than DIY methods. These kits are available at optical stores and online, usually including:

• A specialized polishing compound
• Applicator pads or cloths
• Detailed instructions

These products are formulated to be less harsh on lens coatings while still effectively removing scratches. Brands like Polywatch and glasses-specific scratch repair kits have been tested for eyewear, so they’re less likely to cause unexpected damage.

Methods you should avoid (Seriously, don’t try these)

The internet is full of scratch-removal “hacks” that sound clever but can permanently damage your sunglasses. 

Here are the ones to skip:

• Car wax or furniture polish: While these may temporarily fill in scratches, they create a film on your lenses that’s hard to remove and makes everything look blurry. You’ll be constantly reapplying them, and they smell terrible.
• Brass or metal polish: Too abrasive. Will strip coatings immediately and potentially damage the lens material itself.
• Glass etching cream: This will remove ALL coatings from your lenses, not just the scratched area. You’ll end up with uncoated lenses that offer no UV protection or other benefits.
• Sandpaper (yes, people actually suggest this): Just no. This is how you turn one small scratch into a completely destroyed lens.
• Sunscreen on mirrored lenses: Some sources claim sunscreen can remove scratches from mirrored coatings. What actually happens is that it dissolves the entire mirror coating, leaving you with partially mirrored lenses that look terrible and no longer work as intended.

When plastic vs. glass matters

The material your lenses are made from affects which methods will work:

Plastic/polycarbonate lenses (most sunglasses):

• More susceptible to scratches
• Easier to polish with gentle abrasives
• Coatings are more delicate
• Baking soda method works better here

Glass lenses (high-end sunglasses, some prescription sunglasses):

• More scratch-resistant naturally
• Harder to polish at home
• Usually need professional resurfacing
• DIY methods less effective

CR-39 lenses (common in prescription sunglasses):

• Similar to plastic in terms of scratch repair
• Often have multiple coatings that are easily damaged
• Better candidates for professional repair

Professional solutions: When to call an expert

Take sunglasses to a professional when:

• The scratch affects your vision
• You have prescription sunglasses (don’t mess with prescription lenses), especially advanced designs like lenses with coatings, which rely on precise lens zones for clear vision at multiple distances.
• Your sunglasses cost $200+ (professional resurfacing costs $30-50)
• Multiple coatings are involved (polarized, photochromic, multi-coated)

What professionals can do:

• Proper lens resurfacing to maintain optical clarity
• Exact lens replacement matching your frames
• Coating reapplication if possible
• Assessment of repair vs. replacement cost-effectiveness

Preventing future scratches: The real solution

Here’s the truth; prevention is way easier than repair. 

Here’s how to keep your sunglasses scratch-free:

• Always use a case: Not just when you travel—every single time you’re not wearing them. Hard cases are better than soft pouches.
• Clean them properly: Use only microfiber cloths and lens cleaner designed for eyewear. Your shirt is scratching your lenses even if you can’t see it happening.
• Never set them lens-down: Always put sunglasses down with the lenses facing up.
• Keep them away from keys, phones, and other hard objects: One second in a bag or pocket with your keys can create permanent scratches.
• Invest in scratch-resistant coatings: When buying new sunglasses, pay for the scratch-resistant coating upgrade. It’s worth it.
• Get a backup pair: Having a cheap backup pair means you’re less likely to be careless with your good sunglasses.

The cost-benefit analysis: Repair vs. replace

Sometimes the most practical solution is just buying new lenses or new sunglasses. Here’s how to decide:

Repair makes sense when:

• Your frames are expensive or hard to replace
• The scratch is minor and cosmetic
• Your sunglasses are prescription or custom-made
• Professional lens replacement costs less than new sunglasses

Replace makes sense when:

• Your sunglasses were inexpensive to begin with
• The scratches are deep and affecting vision
• Multiple lenses are scratched
• The frames are also damaged
• DIY attempts have made things worse

Professional lens replacement typically costs $50-150, depending on lens type and coatings.

Final thoughts: Managing your expectations

Deep scratches usually can’t be fully removed at home. These methods can minimize surface scratches and make sunglasses usable again, but they’re not a magic fix.

If you decide to try any DIY method, go in with these expectations:

• Best case: the scratch becomes much less noticeable
• Likely case: the scratch improves slightly
• Worst case: you make it worse or remove beneficial coatings

Start with the gentlest method (baking soda or vinegar) and only move to more aggressive techniques if you’re comfortable with the risk of potentially damaging the lenses. Once you start buffing away coatings, there’s no going back.

For expensive sunglasses, professional help is almost always the better choice. For cheap sunglasses where you’ve got nothing to lose, experiment with DIY methods.

Looking for scratch-resistant sunglasses? At Lensotic, our prescription and non-prescription sunglasses come with quality scratch-resistant coatings. Upload your prescription, use our virtual try-on tool, and enjoy free shipping on orders over $65.

Frequently asked questions

Can scratches on sunglasses be removed completely?

Surface scratches can often be minimized significantly with proper methods, but deep scratches that penetrate the lens material usually can’t be completely removed without professional resurfacing or lens replacement.

Does toothpaste really work on scratched sunglasses?

It can work on very minor scratches, but it’s risky. Toothpaste is abrasive enough to strip lens coatings quickly, potentially making the problem worse. If you try it, use only plain white, non-gel toothpaste and proceed very gently.

Will removing scratches affect my UV protection?

Yes. Most scratch removal methods work by buffing away the top layer of your lens, which includes protective coatings like UV protection, anti-reflective coating, and polarization. Your lenses may look better but offer less protection afterward.

How much does professional lens replacement cost?

Professional lens replacement typically costs $50-150 for standard lenses, and can go higher for specialty lenses with multiple coatings or prescription lenses. It’s often more cost-effective than buying entirely new sunglasses if your frames are in good condition.

What’s the safest DIY method for removing scratches?

The baking soda paste method is generally considered the safest home remedy. It’s gentle enough not to cause immediate damage while still being mildly abrasive enough to polish out surface scratches. Always test on a small area first.