How to Defog a Diving Mask

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 11, 2022

Your mask is bound to fog from time to time. Fog is an annoyance and source of frustration for many divers. You can prevent fog from forming by preparing the mask before diving, using toothpaste, a defogger, or even just spit. Taking the time to clean your mask before your next dive will make it a more enjoyable experience overall.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Spitting in Your Mask

1
Take your mask off. This method is a good one to try if you're out diving and you don't have access to the other methods. If you notice your mask is fogging, take it off when you're at the surface to fix it.^{[1]
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2
Spit into the mask. Gather as much spit as you can, and deliver it to the inside of your mask. It may sound gross, but experienced divers swear by this trick. The spit acts as a surfactant, which means it's harder for water to form on the surface. Rub the spit around on the inside of the mask.^{[2]
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- This method works best on a dry mask, just like the others, so dry off the inside if you can. The best way to dry it off is to use a towel off the boat you're diving from.
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3
Rinse the mask. Just like with the other defogging methods, you still need to rinse your spit out. Simply dip it into the water nearby, and swish it around. Pour the water out, and put your mask back on.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Defogging Sprays or Drops

1
Add a bit of defogger to the mask. On your dry, clean mask, add a drop of the defogger. You only need a little bit of defogger. In place of commercial defogger, you can use baby shampoo.^{[4]
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- Defoggers can be found where you buy diving supplies. Some defoggers are sprays, while others are drops.
2
Spread the defogger around. Use clean fingers to spread the defogger around inside the lens. If your hands aren't clean, you could spread grease around. Make sure to get the defogger all over the inside of the lens.
3
Rinse the defogger out of the mask. Gently swish water around inside the lens and then pour it out. You can use clean, fresh water or saltwater. However, make sure not to touch the inside of the lens after you've applied the defogger.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Conditioning and Defogging a Mask with Toothpaste

1
Wash your hands. If your hands are dirty, you're only going to make things worse with your mask. Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water, making sure to scrub and rinse for at least 20 seconds.
2
Use toothpaste only on glass lenses. Don't try the toothpaste technique on plastic lenses. Toothpaste is abrasive, which can scratch plastic. Stick using in on glass lenses only, and pick one of the other methods for plastic lenses.
3
Rub the toothpaste into the dry mask. Using a non-gel toothpaste, rub a liberal amount into the inside of the mask on the lens. As you rub, the mask should start smoothing out, which is what you want. You should be able to feel the change in texture.
- If it's the first time you're cleaning the mask (conditioning it), you can rub the lens on the outside, too. Conditioning just means you're cleaning it for the first time after buying it, and it needs extra cleaning to get the manufacturer's oils off of it.
4
Rinse the toothpaste off. Use clean, fresh water to clean the toothpaste off the mask. It may take a bit of elbow grease to get it all off, but it should eventually come off. Once it's off, dry off the lens. Try breathing on the mask to see if it fogs. If it does, try doing the whole thing over again.
- If you're conditioning your mask for the first time after buying it, you'll want to let it dry, and then repeat the process about 5 times.

Community Q&A

Question

What will happen if I leave some toothpaste in the mask?

Community Answer

Do not leave toothpaste on the mask; it could hurt your eyes. You could go to your nearest swim shop and buy a goggle defogger or even plain spit will work.
Question

What if my mask is tempered?

Kitty4259

Community Answer

Hotter temps make fog appear.