Have you heard about the toothpaste repair? It is one of the more common ways individuals try to get rid of lens scratches. You may have even discussed it with your own customers. As a supplier of designer wholesale sunglasses, we field questions about the toothpaste repair from time to time.
Below are three things you need to know about this repair, just in case you are asked. We want to make it clear that we do not endorse trying to remove scratches from sunglasses using toothpaste. Still, we understand that people are willing to try this method before replacing scratched glasses. From their viewpoint, they have nothing to lose.
1. The Repair Requires Nonabrasive Toothpaste
The toothpaste repair is something recommended not only for sunglasses, but also for scratched CDs and DVDs. What we find most interesting is that there are plenty of online how-to guides that recommend using an abrasive toothpaste. This may be a good idea for CDs and DVDs (we're just guessing here) but it is not good for the lenses in most designer sunglasses.
Abrasive toothpaste will do more harm than good by putting new scratches in the lenses. Instead, a nonabrasive toothpaste should be used. If possible, a high-quality children's toothpaste is preferred. Consumers should avoid gels, as these really won't do any good.
2. How the Repair Works
If you are going to recommend the toothpaste repaired to your customers then you really should know how it works. Toothpaste marketed as non-abrasive still contains a small amount of an abrasive component, in order to be effective for cleaning the teeth. This abrasive component gently removes a thin layer of plastic from the lens, thus leveling out the surface and removing scratches.
It should be noted that the toothpaste repair will not work on deep scratches. It may make those scratches less prominent, but a scratch that's deep enough is not going away without actually damaging the lens.
The Repair Process
Before moving on to the third and final thing to know about the toothpaste repair, it might be helpful to know how the repair should be applied. It's quite simple. First, the toothpaste should be applied directly to the scratched lens using a finger or a soft, cotton cloth. Never use a toothbrush.
Next, the toothpaste should be worked in using a circular motion while moving around the lens from the center out. Never go straight across the lens in either a vertical or horizontal motion. Finally, the lens should be rinsed with cold water and dried with a soft, cotton cloth.
3. Repeated Repairs Will Ruin Sunglasses
Finally, you need to know that repeated toothpaste repairs will eventually ruin a pair of designer sunglasses. The protective lenses in sunglasses are embedded with UV protection and tinted to block visible sunlight. Applying the toothpaste repair multiple times will gradually reduce the effectiveness of both kinds of protection. Numerous repairs will also ruin the physical appearance of the lenses, leaving dull patches that look like scuff marks.
Attempting the toothpaste repair on a pair of designer sunglasses is rarely an ideal situation. Nonetheless, we know that people do it. If your customers ask about it, make sure you know how to advise them. The last thing you need is an unhappy customer whose repair fails.
