The sun is shining, the snow is perfect, and the lift lines are short, it’s the perfect day on the mountain. Then it starts, and when it does, it can ruin your whole day. I am talking about your goggles fogging and when it happens (and it will), you will want to know how to defog and clean them without ruining them all together.
Before I jump into the details I’ll give you this; the best way to clean your goggles in a hurry is to use your manufacturers recommended cleaning cloth or bag to blot, not wipe, the lens very gently. Annoyingly, the inside lens on ski and snowboard goggles have a sensitive anti-fog coating which makes it difficult to clean.
Despite how easy it appears to clean your goggles, there many ways that you can get it wrong. To avoid a $200 mistake, take a look at our recommended goggle cleaning and maintenance steps below.
Featured Topics
The Best Way to Clean your Goggle Lens
Ski goggle lenses are flexible and because of this, they are much more delicate to clean than sunglasses. A common misconception is you are able to use the same techniques and products to clean your goggles as you do your sunglasses, but this is untrue.
The interior lens typically has an anti-fog coating that is essential to the effectiveness of your goggles ability to fight fog. Without it, your goggles would quickly become fogged rendering them useless. Compromising this coating with improper cleaning will likely leave you in search of a good anti-fog spray or a new pair of goggles altogether. There are no big secrets or tricks to cleaning goggles correctly, just a little common sense and forethought. Below are the only steps I take to clean my ski goggles, or any of my eyewear for that matter.
Dry Wet Lenses by Blotting, Not Wiping: If you start with a wet lens, begin to dry by blotting them, not wiping, with the provided cleaning cloth or another quality microfiber cleaning cloth. Blotting is the best technique to use to ensure you don’t rub dirt and debris into the lens or accidentally remove the anti-fog coating on the interior portion (much more on that later). It seems like a really simple step, but using the best cleaning techniques won’t be enough to save your lens from scratches if you don’t follow it closely.
Use The Provided Cleaning Bag/Cloth or a Microfiber Cloth Only: I only ever recommend using the manufacturer provided cleaning cloth/soft case or a high-quality microfiber eyewear cleaning cloth to clean the lens. Items like regular hand towels or your t-shirt are poor choices as they can leave lint all over your lens at best or scratch your lens at worst. Paper towels remain an even worse choice as they typically act like a mild abrasive and will likely strip your lens of its anti-fog coating. Paper towels could also leave you with some serious scratches, especially if you have mirrored lenses.
Clean Your Lens With Warm Water & A Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Warm water paired with your microfiber cloth or bag should be all you need to clean your lens properly. Even using mild eyewear cleaners could result in anti-fog and anti-reflective coatings being damaged or destroyed.
If you must use a lens cleaner, be sure it is approved by your manufacturer and use it sparingly on the exterior of the lens only. As mentioned above, the interior of the lens is very delicate and the anti-fog coating can be easily destroyed. If the interior facing portion of the lens needs cleaning, start with a small amount of warm water only. Very gently blot, don’t wipe, the lens with the manufacturers cleaning cloth/case or that good microfiber cloth as discussed above.
The Best Way to Defog Your Ski & Snowboard Goggles
Defog Your Goggles By Making Sure the Vents Aren’t Blocked: Whether you know it or not, all those vents around your goggles are designed to promote airflow which significantly helps to defog your goggles. Good airflow will keep the air warmed by your face circulating out so condensation (fog) can’t form on your lens.
If your vents are blocked by your hat or helmet, your goggles will never vent correctly and will continue to fog. This is why it’s a good reason to make sure you test fit your goggles with your helmet before removing any tags or stickers. Doing so could really save you if you need to return the goggles and try another option.
Warm Weather Can Cause Frequent Fogging Issues: If you ski or snowboard a lot, you will find that not all fogging is avoidable, especially on warmer days or if you are someone who sweats a lot. In that case, you may just need to take a 5-minute break to help your lens defog and clear up.
The best way to do this is to remove your goggles completely from your face to allow air to fully circulate around the lens. You can aid the process by waving your goggles around to speed up air flow. The point of this is to avoid needing to wipe the lens, which could lead to potentially removing the anti-fog coating on the inside.
Blot, Don’t Wipe Your Lens to Defog: Just like the steps for cleaning your goggles described above, you want to be sure to never wipe either side of your lens when defogging. Using a glove or dirty cleaning cloth could scratch the exterior lens, and wiping the interior can remove delicate anti-fog coatings.
Try to Avoid Wiping The Interior of The Lens Altogether: If you are headed into the lodge for a break, you can use a hand dryer or blow dryer to speed up the lens drying or defogging process. This would help you avoid accidentally wiping the interior lens altogether, negating the risk of destroying your anti-fog coating. Of course, you will want to be sure the dryer isn’t too hot for the lens or frame to prevent physical damage. Excess heat to either could cause frame damage or lens distortion. Most hand dryers don’t get this hot, and hair dryers typically have a cool setting, which you should use, that blows mildly warm air only. If you find your lenses are dirty after drying or defogging, follow the steps on how to clean goggles the right way outlined above.
Anti-Fog Sprays Can Be Used as a Last Resort: If you have reached the point of needing an anti-fog spray for your goggles then you may be well on your way to a new pair. There are so many brands and formulas to choose from, so it’s plausible you may find a spray that works well for you. I recommend starting with the manufacturer of your goggles first to see if they make a spray suitable for your lens. If not, ask them what they would recommend in helping you fight your fogging issues.
Additional Snow Goggle Cleaning & Care Tips
Cleaning the Moisture Wicking Frame Foam: Despite the fact that the foam on nearly all goggle frames is moisture wicking, it can still end up soaked. Sometimes this is caused by sweat but most often it’s caused by forgetting to properly dry your goggles after use. When this happens, the foam usually develops a pretty nasty odor that can put a big damper on your outing.
There are a few options available to clean this, but you will need to be very careful. The foam and adhesive used to attach it to the frame can be quite delicate, so a gentle touch will be needed. I would start by combining a few drops of dish soap with warm water and working it into a nice lather in/on the foam. Once you have thoroughly worked the soapy water in, rinse it out with warm water and blot dry with a towel. Be sure not to touch the interior lens when drying or simply remove it altogether, if possible. Again, this is a good measure to take to preserve the anti-fog coating.
If your goggles still have an odor after this, a more drastic measure can be taken. Although I don’t recommend this, some people have gotten desperate and used their washing machine to rid their goggle frames of undesirable smells. If I were to do this, I would first make sure I had removable lenses and second, had a laundry bag of some sort to put the goggle frames into. Light detergent and warm water, at most, is all that would be needed. Last, I would blot dry with a towel and air dry by a fan or a low heat vent.
Always Have Multiple & Oversized Cleaning Cloths on Hand: Microfiber cleaning cloths are typically cheap and work incredibly well for cleaning lenses. I have repeatedly found that if I have them around, my eyewear is taken care of much better. Place one in your car, bag, purse, coat pockets, etc. and you will likely find your goggles and glasses stay nicer, longer.
Invest In a Decent Hard Case: Getting an excellent hard case is highly recommended to completely protect expensive goggles and lenses when they are not in use. Hard cases should be considered a travel necessity for all goggles as they provide fantastic protection against potential damage when bags are handled roughly.
Best of all, they provide a safe home for those expensive secondary lenses ensuring they are always kept scratch free and ready for you to use should you need them. Hard cases are also convenient to have if you are impatient and don’t want to take the time to clean or dry your lens while skiing/riding. You can bring a second lens in your case to swap out and be on your way in no time!
Make Sure Your Goggles Fit Correctly: If you find your goggles fogging often and you are certain your anti-fog coating is in good shape, you may have a fit issue. If your goggles don’t fit your nose and cheekbones properly or there isn’t adequate venting than you will always fight fogging issues. If this is you, head over to our ultimate ski and snowboard goggle buyers guide to learn about which goggle types may work best for you.
Ski & Snowboard Goggle FAQ
Can I use lens cleaner to clean my goggles?
It’s both possible and plausible that using a mild lens cleaner could aid in cleaning your goggles. I would be very hesitant to use on the interior lens that has the anti-fog coating, if at all. It’s always best to check with the manufacturer of your goggles to see if they have a cleaner or can recommend what is best to try. Customer service should be able to provide you a straight answer or point you to a product that will work without affecting your anti-fog coating.
Can I use my gloves or hat to clean my lenses?
Never use your gloves, hat, t-shirt or any other item of clothing to clean or defog your goggles. It is very tempting to just quickly wipe your lens clean with whatever is most convenient, but it could cost you dearly in the end. Cleaning your lens with anything other than a microfiber cleaning cloth or your manufacturer provided cloth can result in lens damage inside and out. Even hand towels can act as mild abrasives which can remove or scratch mirrored lens finishes.
Can I apply more anti-fog/defogger on my lens?
Adding more anti-fog spray invariably remains an option as a last resort. This will never be a bulletproof fix, as there are so many variables that go into the results. The brand, fit, and condition of your goggles are just a few things that could alter how successful spray will be for you. If you want to go this route, I would start with a spray made by your goggle manufacturer, if available. If not, I would contact their customer support to find what they recommend using. Like I said, this step won’t be an end-all for your fog issues. You may need to bite the bullet and purchase a new pair of goggles or replacement lens.
What should I do if I already ruined my anti-fog coating?
If you are certain your anti-fog coating is completely ruined then you only have a few options to try. The obvious would be to try an anti-fog spray as I outlined above. Once more, this is likely only a temporary fix. Another option would be to purchase a new lens for your goggles, if available. If not, purchasing a new pair of goggles may be in your not-too-distant future.
How can I avoid fogging altogether?
Unfortunately, fogging ski and snowboard goggles is all but impossible to avoid. The best way to ensure it’s a minimal problem is by finding goggles that fit extremely well and have adequate venting. A common problem area for poorly fitting goggles is typically around the bridge or nose area. If this area is not adequately sealed against your face, you will always experience frequent condensation build up or even icing issues.
If you made it this far consider yourself a goggle care expert! Keeping your goggles clean and clear isn’t a difficult task, but knowing the most efficient techniques will definitely save your goggles and money. To learn more about ski goggles or other eyewear, please check out some of our related articles below, especially our ultimate ski and snowboard goggles buyer’s guide. If you are looking for a new pair of goggles you can start by browsing our curated collections where you can sort by style, color, brand and much more!
Did we miss something? Have more questions? Let us know in the comments below!
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The Best Way to Clean & Defog Ski Goggles – Goggle Care Guide
The sun is shining, the snow is perfect, and the lift lines are short, it’s the perfect day on the mountain. Then it starts, and when it does, it can ruin your whole day. I am talking about your goggles fogging and when it happens (and it will), you will want to know how to defog and clean them without ruining them all together.
Before I jump into the details I’ll give you this; the best way to clean your goggles in a hurry is to use your manufacturers recommended cleaning cloth or bag to blot, not wipe, the lens very gently. Annoyingly, the inside lens on ski and snowboard goggles have a sensitive anti-fog coating which makes it difficult to clean.
Despite how easy it appears to clean your goggles, there many ways that you can get it wrong. To avoid a $200 mistake, take a look at our recommended goggle cleaning and maintenance steps below.
Featured Topics
The Best Way to Clean your Goggle Lens
Ski goggle lenses are flexible and because of this, they are much more delicate to clean than sunglasses. A common misconception is you are able to use the same techniques and products to clean your goggles as you do your sunglasses, but this is untrue.
The interior lens typically has an anti-fog coating that is essential to the effectiveness of your goggles ability to fight fog. Without it, your goggles would quickly become fogged rendering them useless. Compromising this coating with improper cleaning will likely leave you in search of a good anti-fog spray or a new pair of goggles altogether. There are no big secrets or tricks to cleaning goggles correctly, just a little common sense and forethought. Below are the only steps I take to clean my ski goggles, or any of my eyewear for that matter.
Dry Wet Lenses by Blotting, Not Wiping: If you start with a wet lens, begin to dry by blotting them, not wiping, with the provided cleaning cloth or another quality microfiber cleaning cloth. Blotting is the best technique to use to ensure you don’t rub dirt and debris into the lens or accidentally remove the anti-fog coating on the interior portion (much more on that later). It seems like a really simple step, but using the best cleaning techniques won’t be enough to save your lens from scratches if you don’t follow it closely.
Use The Provided Cleaning Bag/Cloth or a Microfiber Cloth Only: I only ever recommend using the manufacturer provided cleaning cloth/soft case or a high-quality microfiber eyewear cleaning cloth to clean the lens. Items like regular hand towels or your t-shirt are poor choices as they can leave lint all over your lens at best or scratch your lens at worst. Paper towels remain an even worse choice as they typically act like a mild abrasive and will likely strip your lens of its anti-fog coating. Paper towels could also leave you with some serious scratches, especially if you have mirrored lenses.
Clean Your Lens With Warm Water & A Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Warm water paired with your microfiber cloth or bag should be all you need to clean your lens properly. Even using mild eyewear cleaners could result in anti-fog and anti-reflective coatings being damaged or destroyed.
If you must use a lens cleaner, be sure it is approved by your manufacturer and use it sparingly on the exterior of the lens only. As mentioned above, the interior of the lens is very delicate and the anti-fog coating can be easily destroyed. If the interior facing portion of the lens needs cleaning, start with a small amount of warm water only. Very gently blot, don’t wipe, the lens with the manufacturers cleaning cloth/case or that good microfiber cloth as discussed above.
The Best Way to Defog Your Ski & Snowboard Goggles
Defog Your Goggles By Making Sure the Vents Aren’t Blocked: Whether you know it or not, all those vents around your goggles are designed to promote airflow which significantly helps to defog your goggles. Good airflow will keep the air warmed by your face circulating out so condensation (fog) can’t form on your lens.
If your vents are blocked by your hat or helmet, your goggles will never vent correctly and will continue to fog. This is why it’s a good reason to make sure you test fit your goggles with your helmet before removing any tags or stickers. Doing so could really save you if you need to return the goggles and try another option.
Warm Weather Can Cause Frequent Fogging Issues: If you ski or snowboard a lot, you will find that not all fogging is avoidable, especially on warmer days or if you are someone who sweats a lot. In that case, you may just need to take a 5-minute break to help your lens defog and clear up.
The best way to do this is to remove your goggles completely from your face to allow air to fully circulate around the lens. You can aid the process by waving your goggles around to speed up air flow. The point of this is to avoid needing to wipe the lens, which could lead to potentially removing the anti-fog coating on the inside.
Blot, Don’t Wipe Your Lens to Defog: Just like the steps for cleaning your goggles described above, you want to be sure to never wipe either side of your lens when defogging. Using a glove or dirty cleaning cloth could scratch the exterior lens, and wiping the interior can remove delicate anti-fog coatings.
Try to Avoid Wiping The Interior of The Lens Altogether: If you are headed into the lodge for a break, you can use a hand dryer or blow dryer to speed up the lens drying or defogging process. This would help you avoid accidentally wiping the interior lens altogether, negating the risk of destroying your anti-fog coating. Of course, you will want to be sure the dryer isn’t too hot for the lens or frame to prevent physical damage. Excess heat to either could cause frame damage or lens distortion. Most hand dryers don’t get this hot, and hair dryers typically have a cool setting, which you should use, that blows mildly warm air only. If you find your lenses are dirty after drying or defogging, follow the steps on how to clean goggles the right way outlined above.
Anti-Fog Sprays Can Be Used as a Last Resort: If you have reached the point of needing an anti-fog spray for your goggles then you may be well on your way to a new pair. There are so many brands and formulas to choose from, so it’s plausible you may find a spray that works well for you. I recommend starting with the manufacturer of your goggles first to see if they make a spray suitable for your lens. If not, ask them what they would recommend in helping you fight your fogging issues.
Additional Snow Goggle Cleaning & Care Tips
Cleaning the Moisture Wicking Frame Foam: Despite the fact that the foam on nearly all goggle frames is moisture wicking, it can still end up soaked. Sometimes this is caused by sweat but most often it’s caused by forgetting to properly dry your goggles after use. When this happens, the foam usually develops a pretty nasty odor that can put a big damper on your outing.
There are a few options available to clean this, but you will need to be very careful. The foam and adhesive used to attach it to the frame can be quite delicate, so a gentle touch will be needed. I would start by combining a few drops of dish soap with warm water and working it into a nice lather in/on the foam. Once you have thoroughly worked the soapy water in, rinse it out with warm water and blot dry with a towel. Be sure not to touch the interior lens when drying or simply remove it altogether, if possible. Again, this is a good measure to take to preserve the anti-fog coating.
If your goggles still have an odor after this, a more drastic measure can be taken. Although I don’t recommend this, some people have gotten desperate and used their washing machine to rid their goggle frames of undesirable smells. If I were to do this, I would first make sure I had removable lenses and second, had a laundry bag of some sort to put the goggle frames into. Light detergent and warm water, at most, is all that would be needed. Last, I would blot dry with a towel and air dry by a fan or a low heat vent.
Always Have Multiple & Oversized Cleaning Cloths on Hand: Microfiber cleaning cloths are typically cheap and work incredibly well for cleaning lenses. I have repeatedly found that if I have them around, my eyewear is taken care of much better. Place one in your car, bag, purse, coat pockets, etc. and you will likely find your goggles and glasses stay nicer, longer.
Invest In a Decent Hard Case: Getting an excellent hard case is highly recommended to completely protect expensive goggles and lenses when they are not in use. Hard cases should be considered a travel necessity for all goggles as they provide fantastic protection against potential damage when bags are handled roughly.
Best of all, they provide a safe home for those expensive secondary lenses ensuring they are always kept scratch free and ready for you to use should you need them. Hard cases are also convenient to have if you are impatient and don’t want to take the time to clean or dry your lens while skiing/riding. You can bring a second lens in your case to swap out and be on your way in no time!
Make Sure Your Goggles Fit Correctly: If you find your goggles fogging often and you are certain your anti-fog coating is in good shape, you may have a fit issue. If your goggles don’t fit your nose and cheekbones properly or there isn’t adequate venting than you will always fight fogging issues. If this is you, head over to our ultimate ski and snowboard goggle buyers guide to learn about which goggle types may work best for you.
Ski & Snowboard Goggle FAQ
Can I use lens cleaner to clean my goggles?
It’s both possible and plausible that using a mild lens cleaner could aid in cleaning your goggles. I would be very hesitant to use on the interior lens that has the anti-fog coating, if at all. It’s always best to check with the manufacturer of your goggles to see if they have a cleaner or can recommend what is best to try. Customer service should be able to provide you a straight answer or point you to a product that will work without affecting your anti-fog coating.
Can I use my gloves or hat to clean my lenses?
Never use your gloves, hat, t-shirt or any other item of clothing to clean or defog your goggles. It is very tempting to just quickly wipe your lens clean with whatever is most convenient, but it could cost you dearly in the end. Cleaning your lens with anything other than a microfiber cleaning cloth or your manufacturer provided cloth can result in lens damage inside and out. Even hand towels can act as mild abrasives which can remove or scratch mirrored lens finishes.
Can I apply more anti-fog/defogger on my lens?
Adding more anti-fog spray invariably remains an option as a last resort. This will never be a bulletproof fix, as there are so many variables that go into the results. The brand, fit, and condition of your goggles are just a few things that could alter how successful spray will be for you. If you want to go this route, I would start with a spray made by your goggle manufacturer, if available. If not, I would contact their customer support to find what they recommend using. Like I said, this step won’t be an end-all for your fog issues. You may need to bite the bullet and purchase a new pair of goggles or replacement lens.
What should I do if I already ruined my anti-fog coating?
If you are certain your anti-fog coating is completely ruined then you only have a few options to try. The obvious would be to try an anti-fog spray as I outlined above. Once more, this is likely only a temporary fix. Another option would be to purchase a new lens for your goggles, if available. If not, purchasing a new pair of goggles may be in your not-too-distant future.
How can I avoid fogging altogether?
Unfortunately, fogging ski and snowboard goggles is all but impossible to avoid. The best way to ensure it’s a minimal problem is by finding goggles that fit extremely well and have adequate venting. A common problem area for poorly fitting goggles is typically around the bridge or nose area. If this area is not adequately sealed against your face, you will always experience frequent condensation build up or even icing issues.
Conclusion
If you made it this far consider yourself a goggle care expert! Keeping your goggles clean and clear isn’t a difficult task, but knowing the most efficient techniques will definitely save your goggles and money. To learn more about ski goggles or other eyewear, please check out some of our related articles below, especially our ultimate ski and snowboard goggles buyer’s guide. If you are looking for a new pair of goggles you can start by browsing our curated collections where you can sort by style, color, brand and much more!
Did we miss something? Have more questions? Let us know in the comments below!
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