Four Steps to Clean and Care for Your Goggles

Goggles protect our eyes as we navigate underwater. More often than not we neglect to protect our goggles from damages and causing it to wear off sooner than it should. Swishing your goggles about in the pool does not mean that it is cleaned.

Chlorine and Saltwater do Damage

Prolonged exposure to chlorine or salt water from the pool can damage your goggles over a period of time. When not rinsed out and left to dry on the surface of the goggles, these do damage to various parts of the goggles.  

When the lenses start to become damaged, it affects your visibility underwater and can lead to headaches or blurry vision due to eye strain.

Chlorine and salt also affect silicone and rubber such as the strap and gaskets of the goggle. They turn stiff and brittle over time, resulting in the strap snapping, and gaskets losing its ability to mould to your face like they once did. You will start to notice this when you feel that the water is leaking into your goggles. And the most troubling part is that it always happens without warning, at the most inconvenient times.

In addition, oil and sunscreen from your face are also contributing factors for trapped dirt in your goggles if you do not thoroughly wash them.

How do we Care for our Goggles

Here are some guides to cleaning and caring for your goggles to keep your them sustainable and safe for usage.

1. Use Mild Liquid Soap

Do not use soap or detergent with strong chemicals as they can affect the goggle’s lenses and make it appear cloudy. Use a mild liquid soap such as dishwashing soap or baby shampoo to clean your swimming goggles.

Soak the goggles in this soapy mixture for an hour or so then rinse under plenty of tap water. Again, rinse thoroughly until you get rid of all the traces of soap or lather.

Make sure you clean everything, the debris from the crevices of the goggle strap and the eye cups. If you are able to remove the goggle straps, it just makes the whole process easier.

We recommend trying:

Tommy Bahama Swimsuit Cleaner

• This swimsuit cleaner maintains rich colour and removes everything from chlorine to saltwater to sunscreen. Same effects applies when you use it for your goggles.

Pout Swimmers Top-To-Toe - Grapefruit Island

• This product is formulated specially to remove chlorine and salt water from hair and skin after swimming. It cleanses and moisturises naturally, repairing and protecting hair and skin from chlorine and saltwater damage.
• With no sulphates or parabens, this formulation is gentle on the eyes and skin, and is suitable for all ages, skin, and hair types.
• It is mild and applicable to goggles as well.

2. Wipe with Lint-Free Cloth

Rubbing your fingers on the lenses may leave behind debris and oil from your skin onto the lenses making them foggy and cloudy instead of removing soap or dirt. Never scrub your goggles too as they will damage and remove the membrane coating of the anti-fog, subsequently develop scratches on the lenses. Instead, you could dab them gently with a microfiber lint-free cloth to remove excess moisture or if they are clouding up.

3. Air dry

Allow your goggles to drip dry after cleaning. Let your goggles dry in a well-ventilated area and ensure it is thoroughly dry before keeping them. Avoid leaving them outside or near the window as prolonged exposure to UV can damage the silicone.

4. Storage

You may have encountered or heard of cases whereby goggles are damaged whilst in the storage space. There are a few possible reasons for this:

1. They were still damp when you last stored them, resulting in mould
2. They were kept in a warm humid place such as the car boot for a while. Some straps are susceptible to such treatment and will melt, lose elasticity and therefore function.
3. They are kept loosely in the bag and had bumped about when travelling. Instead, store them either in the box or bag they came in, a cushioned case or within a tight compartment of your bag where it won’t tumble too much

Bonus Information: Anti-Fog Properties in your Goggles

Many of the goggles these days come with anti-fog property that is achieved by applying a layer of anti-fog coating on the inside of the lens. As the membrane layer is quite thin, it is damaged should you scratch or rub the inside with your fingers or a towel, or with just wear and tear. 

Tricks from days gone by such as spitting in the goggles or rubbing with tooth paste or washing up liquid may work when the anti-fog feature has worn out. But there is a better way with an anti-fog spray or gel such as the SWANS Anti-fog liquid or spray 

Learn how to use the SWANS Anti-Fog Liquid here.