Oh joy, when I got to work this morning after a month off waiting for the R rate to decrease, there was a new rule…
Everybody has to wear a mask ALL the time.
Yeah, it makes sense of course, but for people like me who wear glasses, trying to type with a mask on ain’t no joke. Steamy windows was the order of the day, and the loops of the mask kept getting entangled with the headphone wires and the arms of the glasses. Every so often I have to sip water, and so the mask has to come off; I felt like throwing it across the room! Here I am below demonstrating the tricky little problem…
Somebody is going to make a fortune if they can develop a mask that doesn’t steam up spectacles. I don’t like wearing a visor, as possibly contaminated air can come up under the chin where there is a gap. I have the fabric masks with wire that fits over the bridge of the nose, and think they’re a better fit.
Does anybody have any tips on how to stop steamy windows?
Yes! I searched for something on Amazon and found a cloth wipe that WORKS! I am in the classroom and outside, so my glasses were constantly steamy. Here is the product information from Amazon:
Anti-Fog Cloth Nano Anti Fog Eyeglasses Cloth Reusable Dry Defog Glasses Cleaning for Goggles Camera Lens Helmet Antifog When Wearing Face Cover (6)
Breathe on your glasses to get them foggy, wipe with the dry cloth for 10 seconds. That’s it. One cloth lasts for weeks of uses. The 6-pack is $8.99.
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Great! Thank you. Have you got the actual link please, as there are many to choose from.
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I will work on that, says the non-techy. Promise.
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YES! I’m tired of my glasses getting fogged up…
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Me too.
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I wear glasses too. It’s all about the mask. I don’t see it pinched over your nose. Get the masks with the built in wire so you pinch it, put your glasses resting on the top of the mask and your good. 🙂 x
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I’ve tried that, but it still doesn’t work (sigh).
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😦
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My surgical masks have a strip along the top, perhaps metal, which can be moulded across my nose and face to stop upward air flow. It does tend to heat up my face!
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Yes, that’s another issue.
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I have the same problem. A snugger mask leaves less room to fog up my glasses. My eyesight is terrible without my glasses, and when I’m shopping, it’s a comedy show as I try to read things in the store before my glasses for up. I take the glasses off and repeat the process several times. Quite the pain!
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Indeed. I give up in shops and take the glasses off completely.
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There are several anti-fog tricks that are cheap and effective. Paper surgical tape across the top of the mask is one. Air exhausts out the side, not the top. Several varieties of anti-fog wipes and sprays are available from auto parts stores and opticians (those are both spelled A m a z o n) because not just us glasses wearers need to kill the fog. Motorcycle helmets, riot gear face shields, PPE ll require a no fog coating. Yes, masks are a PITA but it beats being dead. And there’s a solution to the fog.
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Cheers Phil. Will investigate.
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The trick is to keep the exhaled air from going out the top of the mask. I purchased the clips, but they are uncomfortable at best and must be heated with a hairdryer and molded to your face. The only thing that works for me is to put my glasses on top of the mask. This helps seal the mask to the face. As Pete said, a mask that has the wire along the bridge of the hose helps mold it tighter to the nose. I am always fighting the foggy windows.
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Me too. Thanks Maggie. I’ll try lifting the mask up higher.
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Luckily I am retired so I only need to wear one when shopping etc. but masks are driving me mad. Trying to read labels on the supermarket shelves is a nightmare. I’ve tried various masks, tucking them under glasses, putting demister fluid on the lenses – all with no success. Apparently there are anti- fog clips for glasses that seal the gap between the mask and the glasses. I haven’t tried those yet but they look more trouble than they’re worth. They might be a solution for those who have to wear a mask for long periods and who have the optimum face shape.
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I even tried taking the glasses off at one point, but the eyes said no.
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I find it happens less when I use the hospital-style blue disposable mask. The strip at the top of those holds it tighter against my face My larger black cloth masks steam my glasses up inside shops. It might be woorth investing in a genuine 3M N-95 mask. They are more expensive, but have a valve that stops you steaming up your specs.
My wife has to wear a mask at all times in her GP surgery. She says it gives her a headache, and she can’t wait to get if off her face after work. But then her face still feels as if she is wearing it, and that feeling lasts for ages.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete. I’ll Google the mask you suggest.
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Fortunately that’s a problem I don’t have, but I can imagine it must be very tiresome for you. Good luck in finding a solution.
Thanks also for the Tina Turner reminder 😉
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Not quite the same steamy windows as Ms Turner sings about…
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And not as much fun, I’d wager…
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I was able to buy a cleaning cloth at the pharmacy that helps to cut down on the fog. It isn´t perfect but helps. Some masks seemed to be better than others too. It is a problem. Thankfully I don´t have to deal with work.
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Thanks Darlene.
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My only solution is to work outside where I don’t need one 😦
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Hmm… that could pose a bit of a problem for me.
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I realise it’s not a universal solution 😦
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I worked in the dairy department when this nonsense all started. So you can imagine as I reached into the cooler to stock the shelves then back out to my warm cart to open boxes was a nightmare! Thank goodness I quit that job. If I pull my mask up right underneath my eyes it seems to help…sort of. I also think it depend on the shape of your face. Good luck.
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Thanks Lisa. I’ll try that one.
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