Prepare a new mask

[tanika24]

Hi everyone,
A few weeks ago I wrote on here for the first time asking questions about squeaky ears and equalizing as a new diver. I completed my open water and my ears are slowly getting used to the underwater world. It still takes me some time to descend and equalize, but I feel better knowing that it’s absolutely normal and okay.

Sooooo I wanted to come on here and ask about a new mask I just bought. I’m hearing a lot of different things to do to prepare the mask for diving. Toothpaste, burning etc… which is best? just want to do the right thing and burning it sounds scary. It has glass lenses. What would you suggest?
Thank you!!!

Tanika

 

[gstrek]

I've been using Dawn Platinum dish soap on old and new masks along with hot water. It is much gentler and less prone to scratching the lens compared to newer toothpastes (or so I've read). Wash it several times, inside, outside of lens and silicon skirt. Final dry with a lint free microfiber towel. I thought I had read something a year ago on ScubaBoard but was unable to find the specific posting.

I found this on Youtube and is what I've been doing. https://youtu.be/52aT8N21Yog?si=xMEyE2-gYJ1cAZZW

 

[tanika24]

I've been using Dawn Platinum dish soap on old and new masks along with hot water. It is much gentler and less prone to scratching the lens compared to newer toothpastes (or so I've read). Wash it several times, inside, outside of lens and silicon skirt. Final dry with a lint free microfiber towel. I thought I had read something a year ago on ScubaBoard but was unable to find the specific posting.

I found this on Youtube and is what I've been doing. https://youtu.be/52aT8N21Yog?si=xMEyE2-gYJ1cAZZW

Thank you! I will give this a watch

 

[34109411]

toothpaste rub and leave it overnight so it 3-4 time at the beginning.

cheers

 

[tanika24]

toothpaste rub and leave it overnight so it 3-4 time at the beginning.

cheers

Thank you. Each time I do it at the beginning must I leave it over night or just that first time? will this 100% remove the protective layer? do I rinse the toothpaste off with just water?

 

[Badger7]

I don't even go that far, but I'm sure it would work fine. I just use a paste-based (not gel) toothpaste as a very gentle abrasive to remove any factory film, just on the inside of the mask, just the first time after I buy a new one. I don't go overnight either, just put a small squirt of paste on the inside, gently rub circles using two fingertips, getting all the way to the edges. When the toothpaste gets so dry it doesn't want to make circles anymore I'll add a drop of water. Once the entire interior lens has a few passes over it, I'll just rinse it off very well getting any remaining paste out of the edges and corners.

Then before a dive, whatever defog solution you care for (baby shampoo and a quick rinse, rub in and leave defog drops, spray in, wipe and rinse commercial defog, basically they all work just fine). Never needed to horse around with toothpaste again, that was just to make sure there wasn't any film left on the glass from production.

This has worked fine for me for my last 6 masks all different brands. You would ONLY do the above on any masks that are clear glass. Like, DON'T use any abrasive, toothpaste included, on the inside or outside of the glass if the mask has a UV coating.

 

[34109411]

Thank you. Each time I do it at the beginning must I leave it over night or just that first time? will this 100% remove the protective layer? do I rinse the toothpaste off with just water?

leave overnight. yes rinse with water after. Yes it will remove the film.

Be safe.

 

[DANDM]

I'm trying to understand how leaving toothpaste overnight would help remove the film. Isn't the whole point of toothpaste that it's a physically gentle abrasive? That's why gel toothpastes don't work, but the white paste ones that have like calcium carbonate do work. For a physical abrasive to work it needs movement, so rubbing the toothpaste on the lens. How would leaving it overnight do anything?

 

[Wants2divemore]

I scrub the inside of my mask with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Worked great on the past 5 masks I've used it on.

 

[tridacna]

Search function is the OP's friend here.