Baby Shampoo vs Mask Defog

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Does the former work as well as the latter? Or is it just an urban legend / myth?

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

Yes. My dive buddy tried my baby shampoo mask defog this past week. He was surprised by how good it worked.

I’ve been on a couple dive boats that use baby shampoo as their mask defog. You can tell by the smell of it (once you’ve used the stuff).

Oh, and if you’re mixing it so strong that it burns your eyes, you’re doing something wrong. All it takes is a few drops of the stuff added to a few ounces of water.

 

[tridacna]

Search function could reveal a lot here. This could just possibly be a new contender for most discussed topic after Covid in 2020.

 

[sabbe]

It works very well, just make sure you don't use it full strength or it's annoying thick. And don't accidentally substitute dish soap. Make that mistakes once and foamed entire dive.

 

[lamarpaulski]

I have been comparing products for decades and concluded dilute baby shampoo is as good or better at anti-fog than products specifically made for it.


My 2ct

 

[Altamira]

Unlike @sabbe, I use the Johnson's Baby Shampoo full strength, but not so thick it might distort vision. Time permitting, I put it on early enough to dry a bit on the mask lens and then a quick rinse before splashing. It works great, and IMO works better than any commercial product I have tried. What is ironic is that I was using J's baby shampoo in my dive mask from 1965-1975, then we I came back to diving in 2010, I was given a bottle of commercial defog with a new mask purchase. After trying numerous brands over several years, all of which were disappointing I finally went back to the tried and true, inexpensive baby shampoo.

 

[bubblemonkey2]

They seem pretty much the same. If you buy sea drops, it seems like basically "baby shampoo" without the mild scents and dyes. Maybe bubbles a bit less. I suspect polyethylene glycols or something like that

 

[Altamira]

They seem pretty much the same. If you buy sea drops, it seems like basically "baby shampoo" without the mild scents and dyes. Maybe bubbles a bit less. I suspect polyethylene glycols or something like that

Uh well, except for maybe the cost! Johnson's Baby Shampoo 27.1 oz for about the same cost as a 1.25 oz bottle of McNett Sea Drops. Seems like a no brainer to me, but I guess that is why there is a product for every preference.

 

[Bert van den Berg]

Baby soap works for me. Also noticed that you need to occasionally clean/scrub the mask as if it was new to remove residue build-up that can cause fogging despite using defog.

 

[Jafo19D]

I’ve only been diving in Colombia and Roatan and I’ve never seen anyone use anti fog, it’s always baby shampoo and zero issues.