Mask de-fogger

[gr8ful divr]

I posted a thread about mask leakage yesterday and received some great feedback. I thought that I would see if I could get some help with this problem as well. I purchased some mask de-fogger made by 200ft Viz (I think that is the name). It seems like everytime I use it my mask actually fogs quite badly. In fact, on Saturday I forgot to put the de-fogger on my mask until I was already in the pool so I just used my spit. Even though I was having leakage problems the mask never fogged up.

I've tried putting the de-fogger solution on the mask while it is dry as well as while it is wet and it will usually work for a bit and then it just becomes a big problem. Am I doing something incorrectly or what? Should I just use my spit or do these de-foggers really work?

 

[The Kraken]

Well, if you don't like using spit, Johnson's Baby Shampoo works quite nicely!!!
And it can be used for a lot more things than can spit.

the K

 

[Walter]

Scrub the mask with soft scrub. Apply the shampoo to the mask when it is dry, if possible (a towel works well). Let the shampoo dry in the mask. Rinse it out just before getting in the water.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Nice suggestions, Kraken and Walter. Of the various defogging solutions, (if you want to spend the money on them), Sea Gold is by far, the best I've found, to date.

 

[kensuguro]

yeah, I've done extensive experimenting with the fogging issue, and here's the short version:
Scrub the mask with any sort of weak abrasive (softscrub, toothpaste) like 10 times.
Always apply defog when the mask is dry. Won't work when the surface is wet.
Rinse just before you get in the water. Rinse lightly, so you don't wash it out, but just enough so you don't see the defog.

If you're applying it right but get fog, go back to toothpaste. Usually that's the problem. Also, remember if you do mask clear too many times, that's going to wash away the defog too. I did toothpaste like 20 times, and now I can blow into my mask for several minutes without it fogging. That's fxxking amazing.

 

[Irene]

You've probably been told that new masks tend to fog up because of the lubricants left behind during the manufacturer process. Many people recommend using toothpaste on a new mask to get rid of it. However, what they don't always mention is that you need to scrub the ENTIRE mask with toothpaste. Yes, clean the lenses, but scrub the mask skirt and nose pockets really well too.

My new mask procedure:
1- Scrub ENTIRE mask with toothpaste
2- Let dry
3- Scrub ENTIRE mask with toothpaste again
4- Let dry
5- Apply defrogger.
6- Let dry
7- Apply defrogger again about an hour before dive
8- Let dry
9- A slight rinse before it goes on your face. Don't over rinse.

 

[The Chairman]

And DON'T use aromatic toothepates like mint or wintergreen! Just the ol' non-flavored Crest works best! Here is a picture of my auto-defogger at work:

 

[The Kraken]

Hey, Doc . . .
I love your lift bags !!! Or are those SMB's ??????

the K-lown

 

[AaronR103]

Spit has never let me down. I will say that I just bought a frameless mask and had to scrub the thing with toothpaste about 3 times more than my old frameless. The all-silicone design leaves a lot more lubricant on the lenses.

A

 

[Walter]

Pete, that's just gross.