Be Cool: Shine Your Shades

Do you see the world through rose-colored glasses? Or just dirt-colored ones? There's no point in having fine sunglasses if they're going to look all finger-printy, so of course you want to keep them clean. There's a right way and plenty of wrong ways, and we're here to help you see the light.   The Right Tools Before you even start wiping, pick a microfiber lens cloth made for sunglasses. Even the best designer sunglasses can be scratched. Specially made micro-fiber lens wipes caress your glass or plastic with a soft touch to give you a cool, reflective shine. At the least, use a very soft cotton cloth. Anything else risks dulling the finish you paid so much for. No scraping crud with fingernails, not even fingertips - they're rougher than you realize. Don't trust facial tissues; some are made with surprisingly abrasive synthetic fibers. Great for your nose, not so great for your eyes. Window cleaner seems like it would be helpful - it's meant for glass, right? The bad surprise: most glass cleaners contain ammonia. That's great for outdoor windows, but use it on your sunglasses and everyone will ask you why you're crying. There are sprays meant for eyeglasses only, or you can use any lens cleaner. Camera shops carry it cheap. They carry great lens tissues too, in convenient little packets. Perfect!

The Right Moves
Now that you have the tools, you need the technique. The best way to hold sunglasses is by the nose bridge. It's the strongest part, and it is least crucial to your alignment. Holding the outside frame puts pressure on the hinges, which are fragile and can bend easily. For the same reason, when putting sunglasses on or taking them off, hold both sides of the frame. (Yes, it looks cool to whip them on and off with one hand, but it doesn't look so cool if they sit crooked on your face.) And of course you don't want to hold the lens itself, especially if you just finished eating a peanut-butter sandwich.

Once your lenses look clean, keep buffing a little longer. Removing that last tiny bit of moisture gives your lenses a brilliant shine. When your glasses gleam, so do you.

Sunglasses are best stored in their original sunglass case. If the wrong cloth can scratch your lenses, imagine what your car keys or fountain pen will do. The sunglass case also protects them from being sat on, which is the number one killer of sunglasses. If it's inconvenient to use your case, consider a lanyard cord or sunglass strap around your neck. It keeps them safe and handy, and although it's not always the most fashionable accessory, neither is a scratched up pair of shades.

Don't put them on top of your head. Thanks to your big brain, your head is larger up there, and will stretch out your frames. Besides, it's hard to see through all that styling gel.

It's simple to keep an eye on your sunglasses. Learn to hold them properly, get a good polish cloth, and watch where you sit. Do that, and your future is bright.