What to Do to Prevent Swimming Goggles from Fogging Up?

Fogging of swimming goggles and masks is one of the most common inconveniences of swimming in a pool. Many casual swimmers accept this issue, frequently removing and rinsing their goggles. However, by following the example of professionals, you can either purchase anti-fog swimming goggles or protect the ones you already own from unwanted fogging.

Anti-Fog Swimming Goggles

Goggles labeled as anti-fog have an internal protective Antifog coating that ensures excellent visibility even after multiple uses. However, this coating gradually wears off, especially when it comes into contact with fingers. To extend the life of this coating, avoid touching the lenses with your fingers or wiping the inside with a towel. After use, rinse the goggles with fresh water and allow them to air dry. It’s recommended to store them in a case or pouch, usually provided with purchased goggles. Some models even come with such cases, which can also be bought separately.

Unfortunately, ensuring proper protection is not always possible, especially for younger users. For them, the anti-fog layer typically wears off after just a few uses.

No matter how carefully goggles are used and stored, they will eventually start fogging up again. When this happens, several methods can help restore the anti-fog effect, either temporarily or for a longer duration.

How to Prevent Swimming Goggles from Fogging?

There are several proven methods to prevent fogging, ranging from short-term fixes to longer-lasting solutions:

• Saliva While this method might seem aesthetically unappealing, it’s effective in the short term. Unfortunately, it requires frequent reapplication—literally after every few moments.

• Using Household Detergents Note! Not all detergents are suitable for this purpose. The detergent must be gentle—dishwashing liquid or liquid soap works well. Some people also recommend shaving foam or toothpaste. Wet the goggles with water, rinse them, then wash with the detergent, wait a moment, and rinse again without touching the inside of the lenses. If using a paste, gently rub it in and polish the goggles. This method lasts longer than the saliva technique but still requires reapplication before each pool visit.

• Anti-Fog Wipes These wipes are soaked with an Antifog substance. A quick wipe of the lenses can protect goggles from fogging for up to several swimming sessions. When using wipes, ensure that the opened package is sealed tightly, as they tend to dry out quickly.

• Antifog Liquid The market offers a wide range of sprays and similar products designed to be applied directly to the lenses. Apply the liquid to dry goggles using a spray bottle, leave it for a few minutes, then rinse with water and allow to dry. The effectiveness of this method is comparable to anti-fog wipes. Such products are highly efficient—usually, a single spray is enough to protect swimming goggles for a longer period.

Why Should You Swim with Goggles?

Since using swimming goggles eventually requires dealing with fogging lenses, one might wonder whether it's worth using them at all. After all, you could simply close your eyes when needed… Unfortunately, it’s not just about visual comfort. Pool water can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and chlorine compounds used for disinfection. These can cause various infections, irritations, and redness. Goggles are designed primarily to protect your eyes from the potentially harmful effects of pool water and only secondarily to improve the swimmer’s visual comfort and clarity.