Fixing Acetate Glasses: Remove the White and Make Them Look New Again

To remove that white part of your acetate glasses, we use a process. First we polish them, then we nourish them. This means that we gently sand the ugly layer they have, the one that looks bad. Then we put special products on them to make them shine like they used to, so we also protect the material. If we do these steps right, your glasses will look perfect again, and they will last longer.

Why does the acetate on your glasses turn white?

The cellulose acetate is a type of plastic. It comes from cotton or wood fibers. That's why it's used a lot for eyewear, because it's light, flexible and holds up well. You can also make a lot of colors and designs with it, that's good. But even though it is strong, acetate can be damaged on the outside. That's what we call 'white oxidation', although it's not real rust.

What we call 'oxidation' here is not like rust on metals. Rather, it's a change in the material of the glasses themselves. It happens because chemicals called plasticizers leave the inside of the acetate and rise to the surface. Plasticizers are important, they make the acetate flexible and shiny. When they leak out and evaporate, the surface becomes porous, it looks dull. It also turns white or gray, and loses its former color and gloss.

Why do your acetate glasses go bad and turn white? Well, there are several reasons. The strong sun for a long time hurts them, it's the ultraviolet light. Also sweat and acid on your skin, if they have a lot of contact. Using harsh chemicals like perfumes, hairspray or glass cleaners that are not for glasses, that's bad. Intense heat or very dry places also make those chemicals evaporate faster. It is normal that with time and use, the acetate turns white, especially if you do not take good care of them. When you see that they are like this, the material is asking for help, it needs to be nourished and repaired.

Things That Make Acetate Turn Ugly Faster

In addition to what we already said, there are other things that make your glasses turn white and go bad faster:

• Cosmetics and chemicals: If the glasses touch perfumes, sun creams, hairspray or solvents, even soaps that are not neutral, that can ruin the acetate.
• Extreme environments: Always being in places with high humidity, such as a bath or sauna, or with chlorine from a swimming pool, or the other way around, in very dry places, this changes the way the material is, it unbalances it.
• Excessive heat: Do not leave the glasses in the sun of the car, on the dashboard, or near something very hot, if you do that the acetate is deformed, also plasticizers go faster.
• Inadequate storage: If you store the glasses in cases that do not let air pass through or that have things that react with the acetate, this causes them to spoil.

How to tell if your glasses are rusting: look at these things.

It's important to see early if your glasses have that white oxidation, so you can fix them right. Look for this:

• Whitish or grayish spots: you'll see white or gray spots, this is what's most noticeable, especially where the skin touches the glasses, like on the temples or bridge.
• Dull or rough appearance: The acetate no longer shines as it used to, it looks lifeless and if you touch it, it is rough.
• Loss of transparency: If the frames are transparent, you will see that they are no longer as clear, they lose a lot of transparency.
• Discoloration: Colors can change or look "washed out", this doesn't happen as much as white.
• Sticky feeling: If it gets worse, the surface gets a little sticky, it is because the plasticizers move from place to place.

How to avoid problems: keep your acetate glasses looking like new at all times

It is very important to take precautions to make your acetate glasses last longer and shine. If you take good care of them, the white oxidation will take a long time to come off, your frames will always be perfect. You don't have to spend a lot of time or money, just do the easy things that get noticed. Taking care of your glasses not only makes them look good, but also makes them work well and you are comfortable seeing.

Clean your glasses every day and use the right products.

You need to clean your glasses well and often, this is key so that you don't get dirt and other things that cause the acetate to break down faster. If you want to clean the white acetate off your glasses and keep it from coming back, do this:

• Warm water and neutral soap: This is the best, safest way to clean your glasses. Wash the lenses and frames with warm water, put a drop of neutral soap, the one that does not have strong chemicals. Rub gently with your fingers, without using too much force.
• Avoid aggressive products: Never use glass cleaners containing alcohol, ammonia, acetone or solvents. These products damage the coatings of your lenses, they also dry out the acetate, damage it, and remove the plasticizers very quickly.
• Microfiber cloths: Always use a clean, soft microfiber cloth to dry your glasses. Do not use tissues, normal towels or your clothes, because this can scratch your lenses and also the frame.
• Acetate-specific cleaners: There are cleaners made just for acetate frames in stores. These products almost always have moisturizers in them, that help the material to stay nourished, flexible and shiny. Ask Bassol Optics, they will tell you the best options.

How to store your glasses and what not to do

The way and the place where you leave your glasses change a lot if they are well preserved.

• Protective case: Always keep your glasses in a hard case when you are not wearing them. This way you protect them from shocks, dust and sudden temperature changes.
• Avoid direct sun: Never leave your glasses in the sun, for example, in the car, on the dashboard, or on the beach with nothing to cover them. Very strong heat and UV rays are the acetate's worst enemy.
• Dry or humid environments: Try not to leave them in very humid or very dry places for a long time.
• Handling: Always hold your glasses by the temples or by the bridge, so you don't touch the parts where they oxidize more due to the contact with your skin.
• Sunglasses: If you have acetate sunglasses, the care is the same, only that you use them under the sun, that's normal. Make sure you clean and store them well every time you wear them.

Guide to fix your acetate sunglasses: Step by step!

Can you fix acetate glasses? Yes, of course you can! With a little patience and the right stuff, you can make your acetate frames that have that oxidation white shine back, come back to life. This job takes time, but it is very good, it lets you enjoy your Ray Ban Sunglasses for much longer. Follow this detailed guide to make them look like a professional's, from home.

What materials do you need to fix them

To fix your acetate glasses, you will need these things. What products can you use to polish acetate glasses? Here is the list:

• Water-based sandpaper (various grits): Get fine-grit sandpaper. Start with 600 or 800, and go up to 2000, 3000 or 5000. If you use more grit in between, the finish will be better, it is important.
• Microfiber rags: Have several clean rags. Make sure they are soft, to clean and then polish.
• Polishing paste (plastic or acetate): Look for special paste for this. You can find it in hardware stores, car stores or in some opticians.
• Mineral oil, petroleum jelly or beeswax: This is for the acetate. It nourishes and protects it, at the end of the job.
• Warm water and neutral soap: To clean at the beginning, also between steps.
• Painter's tape or lens protector: This is to protect the lenses. Use it if you can't remove them from the glasses.
• Optional: Dremel polisher with accessories: If you already know how to use it. It helps you to get a faster and smoother finish. Go slowly, with low speeds.

Prepare and clean the frame well

Before polishing, you have to prepare the mount. This is very important:

• Remove the lenses (if you can): If your glasses allow you to remove the lenses, do it. This way you will not damage or scratch them while working.
• Protect the lenses: If you can't remove them, cover the entire lenses. Use painter's tape or an adhesive protector. Make sure the edges are well glued, with no gaps.
• First cleaning: Wash the frame with warm water and neutral soap. Remove all dirt, grease or anything else on it. Then, dry it well with a microfiber cloth.

Let's polish: Remove any rust.

This is the most important step. You have to be patient, sand little by little. This is the key.

• First sanding (coarse grit - 600/800): Wet the sandpaper and where you are going to work. Start sanding slowly, in circles, on the parts with white oxidation. This way you remove the damage from the top. Do not press too much, eh. Wash the remains with water and a rag. You will see the surface smoother, but still not shiny.
• Medium sanding (medium grit - 1000/1500/2000): Continue with finer sandpaper, little by little. Each time that you change sandpaper, look well that there are no marks of the previous one. Always wet and clean. The surface will feel smoother now. You will see a little shine.
• Final sanding (very fine grit - 3000/5000): Use the finest sandpaper to finish. Here, the mount should feel very smooth. It will have a satin-like shine. It is now ready for final polishing.
• Paste polishing: Put a little bit of plastic polishing paste. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Rub the frame, making circles, hard but without stopping. The paste brings back the shine. It also removes any small scratches that remain. If you have a Dremel, use it slowly, with the right accessory. Move it without stopping, so you don't burn the acetate.

"Fixing acetate is not just a job. It's like an art, you bring back to life glasses you thought were no longer useful." - Says the team at Bassol Optics.

How to care for and protect your acetate glasses at the end

After polishing, your glasses need to be nourished so that they don't break, and so that their shine lasts longer.

• Final cleaning: Wash the frame again, using warm water and regular soap. This removes any remaining polishing paste. Dry it very well.
• Put something to moisturize: Put a little mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or beeswax on a clean microfiber cloth. Slowly rub the entire lens, letting the acetate soak up the product, so it moisturizes well. This restores its shine and gives it a protective coating.
• Polishing at the end: Take another clean, dry microfiber cloth and polish the frame until it is shiny. Wipe off any excess product.

Now your acetate glasses look almost as good as new, they have the shine and color of before.

Need a professional to help you?

If you restore your glasses at home, it works fine for light oxidation or oxidation that is not so bad, but sometimes it is necessary to have a professional help you. There's damage you can't fix yourself.

Comparing: Fix at home or with a professional.

Let's see the differences, if you do it yourself at home or if you go to a professional from Óptica Bassol. If the damage to your glasses is not so serious, just on the outside, you can fix it yourself, you need water sandpaper, polishing paste, cloths, and mineral oil. It will take many hours and you need patience. But be careful, you can damage the glasses if you don't follow the steps well, the risk is medium. The result can be good or very good, it depends on you. You spend little, you only buy the materials. Now, if the oxidation is very deep or there is something broken in the structure, you need a professional. They have special machines, they use strong chemicals, they have tools to repair. They do it faster and they know more. The risk of damage is very low because they are experts. The final finish is excellent, it always looks good and they give you a guarantee. The cost is variable, because it is a service.

• Very strong oxidation: If the white stain has already gone deep into the material, sanding at home will not work. Or, even worse, you can damage the frame. We don't want that to happen.
• Serious damage: If the acetate is cracked, broken or warped, you need people with special tools. This is not something you can fix at home, it is more complicated.
• If you don't feel confident or don't have the time: It's OK if you don't feel capable of doing it. Or if you just don't have the desire or patience, it's OK too. It's better to have an expert do it, it will look good and it won't be messy, they know how to do it.
• Expensive glasses: If you have brand name glasses, like Chanel or Balenciaga, it is better to take them to a professional. That way you don't make a mistake and ruin them, nor do they lose value. They are beautiful and they are worth it.

Here at Optica Bassol, we have the know-how and the perfect tools. We can fix even the most difficult acetate cases, we really can. So your glasses shine again and do not spoil, they are as good as new.

Óptica Bassol: We take care and fix your glasses very well.

In Óptica Bassol, we know that your glasses are not only for seeing. They are part of how you are, of your style. That's why we have a complete service to take care of them and repair them. We also fix the acetate, of course. Our staff is very good, they know how to take a good look at your frames and fix them so they shine and work again. We like you to leave happy.

We don't just fix. In our stores you will also find many things to take care of your glasses every day. We advise you well to choose the frames that fit you best. Trust Óptica Bassol to make sure your glasses are always perfect, from before they break down to when they need a good repair. Stop by or call us if you have any questions. We are waiting for you.

To finish: Glasses fixed, looks perfect

If the white spot appears on your acetate glasses, it doesn't mean they're done. We already saw it, if you take care of them a little before and fix them with the steps we gave you, they can shine again and look like new. Cleaning every day, polishing and giving them their "food" all help your saddles last longer. Remember: if they are badly damaged or you prefer to have an expert look at them, at Óptica Bassol we are here. This way you make sure that your glasses not only look great, but also that you can see perfectly with them. Give your glasses another chance, use them a lot.