The Secret to Crystal-Clear Vision: Simple Goggles Maintenance Tips That Really Work

A foggy, scratched up pair of goggles can ruin your day. Whether we are attempting to ride the next wave, a lap in the pool, or trying to keep the sawdust out of our eyes in the shop, it does not matter. Once the visibility goes, we lose our concentration, and our security too. We’ve been there. We have attempted to clean a wet lens with the end of a t-shirt only to come out with a blurry mess. That irritation on noticing that we have ruined the anti-fog coating? It’s the worst. Keeping any eyewear in top shape doesn’t have to be complicated. It only takes some easy and mindful habits. In this blog we will discuss the best goggle maintenance tips that really work.

1. The Post-Use Rinse: Your First and Most Important Step

Wonder what our goggles go through. In the case of a pair of swimming goggles, it is chlorine, salt water, chemicals in the swimming pools. Moreover, natural oils from your skin and face. When it comes to safety goggles, it is dust, chemicals, sweat and grime. All these are corrosive, and they ruin the sensitive finishes and materials in the long run.

The Active Approach (What to Do)

• Rinse Now: As soon as you are through with them, thoroughly rinse your goggles with clean fresh cool water.
• Don’t scrub: Do not rub or wipe your lenses when wet! By doing so, all the little dirt and chemical particles behave like sandpaper. As a result, scratch the surface of the lenses. This is particularly susceptible to its internal anti-fog coating. Simply leave the water to stream over it.
• Shake Gently: Shake them to dislodge the surplus water. That’s it for now.

This is a mere rinse which neutralizes and flows away the chemicals and grit before they can dry and lead to damage. It does not allow the sticky chalky deposit to build up on the silicone and plastic. It is the main cause of the frames becoming stiff and breaking.

2.Hands Off the Lens: Stopping That Golden Coating

The most common way people ruin their goggles is by touching the inside of the lenses. Why? Since it is the place where the anti-fog coating resides. It is a coating of chemistry of super-thin and not a sheet of glass. It’s fragile.

The Inner Lens Rule

• Frame or Strap: You should put our goggles on or take them off with the plastic frame or strap in your hand.
• Do Not Wipe Fog: When our lenses begin to fog during our wearing, do not wipe it with your finger, towel or the end of your shirt. We shall take off the coating at once.
• The Gentle Dip: When we simply have to clear off the mist, put off the goggles and pour rapidly the lenses into the water in which we are. That will usually do the trick of smacking our eyes back into action by reactivating the anti-fog effect.

The lens exterior can take a little bit more, nevertheless, severe wiping should be avoided. The lens surface is something which has to be treated with respect.

3. Drying Smarter: Patience is a Goggle’s Best Friend

Now that we have rinsed them we will have to dry them properly. This is time consuming, but it is essential.

How to Air Dry Perfectly

• Seek a Shady Place: Lay your goggles on a clean towel, or hang them over a cool well-ventilated place.
• Avoid Direct Heat and Sun: Do not keep them out in the sun, such as on a car dashboard or on a windowsill. The high temperature is capable of bending the plastic frames, fracturing the silicone seals, and deteriorating the lens materials.
• Let Them Be: Have it simply dry. Do not hurry them and dry them off with a hairdryer or pat them. Before proceeding to the next step they must be bone-dry.

4. The Right Place to Rest: Smart Storage is Non-Negotiable

The location of our goggles when we are not using them is as important as the way of cleaning them. Our lenses are a death trap to the pocket of a gym bag, or a loose corner of a backpack.

Give Them a Home

• Wear a Hard Case: Buy a Hard-shell goggle case or a protective pouch. This is a minimal cost to pay towards the security it provides. Our goggles are not scratched by keys, phones, zippers or other rough objects floating around in our bag, thanks to the case.
• Stay out of Minimal Extremes: Keep them in a place that does not experience extremes of temperatures. Both the plastic and silicone are adversaries of high heat as well as freezing cold. An icy cool cupboard or a special section of our gear locker would be ideal.

You need to keep in mind that a well-known brand as Swans invests a lot of engineering in their lenses. Do not waste that trait by thoughtless storage.

5. Cleaning Deep (But Gently): When You Need More Than Water

Rinsing is not always sufficient. We may be sun-tanned, or sticky oil, or have heavy residue. This is the time when we need a little help. However, we cannot afford to spend too much money on the cleaning agent.

The Safe Cleaning Kit

• Apply Mild Soap: When we have to wash a dirty frame or strap, just a drop of a little dish soap or baby shampoo and water.
• Apply with Fingers: Carefully rub (do not wipe off) the solution onto the frame and strap with clean fingertips–not cloth.

• Avoid the Lens (With Coating): It is best to avoid putting the soap on the inside of an anti-fog coated lens. In case we simply need to keep cleaning the inside, we should use the weakest possible solution and run it under water.
• Rinse, Rinse, Rinse: Rinse thoroughly to remove all the traces of the soap or cleaning solution. Any residual will bring about additional dirt and streaking.

Another Huge Don’t: Our goggles should never be treated with glass cleaners, Windex, alcohol-based wipes or any hard chemical cleaner. These products will disband and peel the protective coatings of the lenses. Therefore, clear lens will become a hazy catastrophe within a few seconds.

6. Straps, Seals, and Hardware: Don’t Forget the Details

All the attention is paid to the lenses, but the rest of the goggle should be taken care of as well!

• Check the straps: The straps absorb a lot of sweat, chlorine and salt. When the rinse the glasses, make sure that you rinse the straps as well.
• Inspect the seal:  The silicon and foam seal keeps the water out of the lens. Look for cracks, tears or signs of warping. If the seal becomes stiff, cracked or sticky, it is time to replace the pair.
• Adjust for comfort: Don’t crank the strap so tight that the goggles dig into your eye sockets. A proper fit will use a gentle suction to create the seal.

Conclusion

There comes a time when you have to purchase a new pair of goggles. However, following these simple goggle maintenance tips isn’t about being obsessive. It is out being sensible. A little bit of conscious can go a long way making your vision clearer and your experience more enjoyable.

FAQS

What should I do if my goggle lenses fog up mid-swim?

Do not wipe them! Gently take the goggles off and dip the lenses into the water. The water helps reactivate the anti-fog coating. You can also buy a dedicated anti-fog spray or solution to apply before you start.

Can I clean the lenses with my t-shirt or a paper towel?

Absolutely not. Your shirt fibers are abrasive, and paper towels are made of wood pulp, which is too rough. Both can scratch and ruin the delicate lens coatings. Only use a soft, non-abrasive microfiber cloth on a dry lens.

How do I store my goggles to prevent scratches?

Always store them in a protective case, whether it’s the original case they came in or a separate hard-shell case. This prevents them from rubbing against keys, zippers, or other hard items inside your bag.

Is it okay to leave my goggles in the car after a sunny day?

No. Direct sunlight and high heat (like in a car) will cause the plastic frame to warp and the silicone seals to become brittle. Always take your goggles indoors and store them in a cool, dark place.