Everyone loves to swim in the pool, river or sea. To get more pleasure while in the water and avoid unpleasant situations, for example, the ingress of harmful substances and chlorine into the eyes, special goggles are often used. This is a simple but indispensable piece of equipment for every diver or swimmer.
In fact, in the world there are many kinds of this accessory. You can spend hours listing the shape of glasses, colors and a variety of lenses, prices, starting from the budget and above. But, unfortunately, after some time in the water, glasses begin to fog up for swimming. What to do?
First, remember why this is happening. And then we'll talk about what to do when swimming goggles sweat.
Why are swimming goggles sweating?
To better navigate under the surface of the water, the human eye needs protection. It is imperative that there is an air gap in this protection. Thanks to physics, everyone knows that air warms up faster than water. Thermal conductivity is higher. Therefore, over time, the difference between the air temperature in the glasses and the water behind them appears. The air inside the eyepiece is heated by the heat of the human body. The difference in temperature gives condensation, which becomes the cause of fogging glasses.
Physics shows that this problem is nowhere to be found. But in practice it is solvable. Consider how to process glasses for swimming, so as not to sweat. The main causes of this problem are already known to us.
How to fix the situation?
What to do when swimming goggles fog up? Of course, those manufacturers that have long been on the goggles market use lenses that, even during manufacture, are coated with a special anti-fog agent from the inside. This they indicate on the packaging of the accessory. Antifog lasts up to several months. However, neither caring for your favorite glasses, nor professional coverage guarantee that over time, the anti-fogging agent will not be washed off and the glasses will not sweat again.
It is important to understand how to handle swimming goggles so as not to sweat. The main reasons for doing so are not simply that it deprives comfort in depth. When a person satisfactorily sees under water, several goals are achieved at once:
- This helps the swimmer to better navigate, for example, to see the path in the pool.
- Not so scary for beginners to dive to the depths.
- Does not take up time that can be used productively for training.
- Does not harm the swimmer's health.
Let's consider ways to process swimming goggles in order not to sweat, starting with simple folk methods and up to special solutions.
Folk remedies
If the glasses are fogged up, do not try to wipe the lenses with your fingers from the inside. When you need to do this, simply place the lenses under cold water and rinse.
The next way that professionals use it is to use saliva. Saliva is applied to the lenses inside, then rubbed on the surface and finally rinsed with water.
So, you have fogging glasses for swimming. What to do in this case? Shampoo for children or shaving cream will help. Some use toothpaste or detergent. A drop of the selected drug is applied to the inside of the glasses, and then rubbed with a towel.
You can add a little Coca-Cola to enhance the effect. Then the drop is easier to grind with a soft toothbrush. After the procedure, the glasses are washed with water and wiped dry with a paper towel. This is a good way to deal with fogged lenses.
And here is another answer to the question of what to do when swimming glasses are fogged up. Before diving, you can wipe the lenses from the inside with a piece of raw potato, lemon or apple. Then rinse with water.
In these listed folk methods, there is one, but a significant minus. Such protection is enough only for one training session or for about an hour of swimming.
Burning
And here is another, quite controversial method that allows you to get an answer to the question of what to do when glasses for swimming are fogged up. The specified method is suitable only for those glasses where the lenses are made of glass. A lighter will be needed here.
Glasses are already red-hot, which means that the lenses can withstand heat treatment. The silicone the glasses are made of also withstands 300 degrees. The lighter does not give such a temperature and there is no reason for concern. The glass will not crack during processing and the silicone will not melt.
The essence of the method is that a burning lighter is driven along the contour of the glass from the inside of the glasses, covering the lens with a layer of soot. Periodically, the glasses are turned over so that carbon dioxide, which appears as a result of burning, comes out and fresh air enters.
Smoked lenses are treated with a detergent (non-abrasive) or Pepsi-Cola. Toothpaste is also used, which is applied to the soot in a small amount. Add a little water and clean everything with a soft toothbrush.
Important! After cleaning the soot from the lenses, rinse the glasses thoroughly with water. Uncleaned toothpaste residue will result in a burning eye effect underwater.
At the end of the procedure, wipe the lens with paper towels. With proper washing, the wipes will not slip on the glass.
Antifog
Swimming glasses fog up? What to do? How to fix the situation? It is best to use antifog. This is a special tool - liquid, spray or gel, used to eliminate fogging glasses. Antifog is sold in small containers. But this amount is enough to use for a long time. If the product is available in a bottle, then at the end is an applicator or dropper that helps to apply the composition to the lenses.
The composition includes substances that:
- Promote uniform distribution of the composition and create a protective film.
- Reduce the force of attraction between water molecules.
Each tool is accompanied by an individual instruction. This is due to the different chemical components in the composition.
What is inside the antifog?
The anti-fogging agent has a complex chemical composition. These include:
- Water. Thanks to water molecules, the interaction of the remaining components of the agent occurs.
- Polyurethane. It gives ductility and viscosity, so the glue does not become too brittle.
- Polyvinylpyrrolidone. This component acts both as a solvent and as a stabilizer. It does not harm health, is not allergenic and does not threaten the mucous membrane of the eye.
- Triethylamine. Role of the component: hardener, forming a moisture resistant coating.
- Decyl polyglucose. Acts as a foam educator. Also reduces the surface tension of water.
- Methylpyrrolidone. Role - cleansing properties and as a solvent. Like polyvinylpyrrolidone, there is no toxic effect on the body and does not irritate the mucous membranes. Moisture resistant.
Obviously, it is impossible to create such a mixture yourself.
Properties and use of antifog
Given the fact that the applied antifog is located in proximity to the mucous membrane, the composition is safe for the human body. Do not confuse it with means for applying to car windows. Since automobiles contain chemicals that can cause harm to humans. Do you have fog glasses for swimming? What to do in this case? You can use one of the methods described above. But what exactly should not be done is to apply non-specialized products to the lenses.
Consider the main similarities to the use of antifog:
- The lenses should be thoroughly washed and degreased so as not to leave grains of sand or other abrasives. Aggressive solvents or alcohol are not suitable for degreasing. Better to take a detergent.
- Remove drops of water by shaking, then wipe with a lint-free paper towel.
- In accordance with the instructions, the selected product is applied to the inside of the lens. If a bottle with a dropper, then it is necessary, without touching the lenses, to apply 2-3 drops. If with an applicator - gently pressing the tube to distribute the substance on the surface of the lenses. The spray is applied with two to three presses from a distance of 10 cm. Gel - stripes, 1-2 mm wide.
- After applying the product, cover the glasses with, for example, a napkin and leave to dry at room temperature.
After drying, rinse glasses with cold water.
Which way is better?
When choosing the appropriate method, several factors need to be considered. Among them are the composition, quality of the solution, processing method and time of use of glasses. It is important to remember that one treatment can perform its function within a few hours, and another - a couple of days. Everyone decides for himself what to do when glasses for swimming are fogged up, but the solution to this problem is a guarantee of a comfortable pastime.