Clearing a steamed up mask

[AfterDark]

Nope I mean the mask starts to "refog" the moment you stop trying to clear it rather than say once every few minutes.

That's not normal. I've got a cheap USDivers mask bought at Walmart years ago. Cost about $15.00 then, tempered glass, doesn't fog or leak and has worn well through hundreds of dives.

Might think about changing masks?

 

[fjpatrum]

My question would be what's the water temp? I have a lot more trouble with fogging in cold water. I only dive with one of my masks, though, so I don't know if it's the same for all of them. I'd suggest you may be breathing out ever so slightly from your nose. Just enough to fog but not enough to really break the seal. Might be a lower volume than your primary mask and just be more noticeable?

 

[Steve50]

keep the mask cool (in the shade), rinse with cool water, use defog/spit immediately before the dive.

 

[Merfman]

I would Suggest many more cleanings, with soft scrub or a similar aggressive Cleaner. Another question is do you use sun block on your face? Any oil or slight coating on the glass will give the water molecules something to stick to. Lastly there is the "bic lighter" method, which burns off any oils on the glass...... Good luck

I used this (the bic) method on my new mask after watching a DM in Coz do it to my last mask. Works like a champ!

 

[Searcaigh]

Johnsons Baby Shampoo, after seeing this work on a brand new Mares mask in the Philippines last year I tried it and have been using it since.

Works 100% of the time.

 

[Charlie99]

Johnsons Baby Shampoo, after seeing this work on a brand new Mares mask in the Philippines last year I tried it and have been using it since.

Works 100% of the time.

I've found that a 50/50 mixture of J&J Baby Shampoo and rubbing alcohol does an even better job of keeping the mask clear. I use silicone grease to help seal my moustache and sometimes a bit of the grease gets on the glass.

Another trick I've found is to smear some baby shampoo on the mask after the post dive cleanup. It dries overnight and seems to do a better job of defogging than applying defog right before the dive.

Particularly with a backup mask, the OP might find that leaving a film of dried defog on it in between uses might solve your problem.

 

[Cixelsyd]

Could it be something you are doing? Perhaps your backup mask is shaped differently than your primary?

The reason I ask is I was thinking that it might be possible that you are unintentionally blowing small amounts of air into the mask with your nose. Maybe your primary mask is shaped in such a way that it usually blocks you from unintentionally breathing out of your nose and your backup mask doesn't?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Just pee on it ... no wait ... that's for jellyfish stings ... never mind ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Paladin]

I have a Deep Blue Gear "Vue" mask that I bought from the Snorkel Mart last year. I like the visibility and comfort of the mask but, like the Op's mask, it had a bad tendency to fog, even after half a dozen toothpaste cleanings. I finally got the idea to use Comet cleanser on the mask. It hasn't fogged since. A little saliva before the dive and it stays clear.

 

[rye_a]

Just pee on it ... no wait ... that's for jellyfish stings ... never mind ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Yes, for a mask you need to have your buddy pee on it.