Provided by oceanswims.com
Every time we sell a pair of goggles in person, we lecture the buyer… well, most of the time… on looking after those goggles. Maybe we should include a printed sheet with every pair. It’s not just a matter of keeping them clean. There’s also a need to keep them in good running order, the anti-fog quality of the inner lens continuing to work and providing you with clear vision. There is one thing that’s guaranteed to destroy your vision, however, and that’s allowing your goggles to become dirty, greasy and scratched.
So, this is our advice…
Goggles are the most personal item of your swim gear. More personal than your togs, even. They deserve respect and care. You should keep your goggles in a case (most goggles come in a case) when you’re not using them. If you leave them bashing around in your swim bag, they’ll be scratched and they’ll become covered in dust and grease. Keep them clean, and keep them protected.
Before you swim
When you are dry, and when your goggles are dry – this means, before you enter the water, before you get wet, and before your goggles get wet – you should spit on the inside of the lenses (just saliva, if you don’t mind) – then wash that around the inside of the lens. Then rinse the goggles in the water. It’s important that this be done before you get wet and whilst the goggles are dry. Why? We don’t know. We do know that water in your mouth changes the quality of your spit and the process won’t work. Ditto with the goggles. If they are wet, it doesn’t work.
After you swim
Wrap your goggles in your towel or something similar. When you get them home, rinse them in fresh water, leave them to air dry, then store them in their case. Every now and again, wash them gently with detergent, then rinse and leave to air dry before storing in their case. You could also use something like Goggle Goo, which oceanswims.com sells from View. That’s good, too, for cleaning and for restoring the anti-fog quality.
