# How Do You Keep a Bathroom Mirror From Fogging Up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257 "2003-05-01T00:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/1 "2003-05-01T00:35:45Z")
I guess it is more of an inconvenience than anything else. But after I take a shower, the bathroom mirror is covered with fog, and I have to use a tissue to clean it. \*Side Note:\*There was this handy man on PBS that was giving out helpful advice. And he was going to tell how to keep a bathroom mirror from fogging up. Naturally I wanted to hear that, but unfortunately had left the room when he said it. So does anyone know? How do you keep a bathroom mirror from fogging up? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/2 "2003-05-01T00:43:29Z")
They sell fogless mirrors for use _in_ the shower. They take water from the shower and circulate it around the mirror bringing its temperature up to that of the surrounding air. Fog on the mirror is just condensation caused by the glass being cooler than the air around it. The ultra-high humidity in the room when taking a shower makes such a thing a virtual certainty. I dunno but there may be products you can spray on the mirror that inhibits condensation. I scuba dive and they sell stuff to keep your mask from fogging up (or you just spit in your mask, wipe it around and rinse it off for the same effect but this would be impractical not to mention highly disgusting for a bathroom mirror). ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/3 "2003-05-01T00:50:55Z")
Spray it with Lysol ©. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/4 "2003-05-01T00:53:11Z")
Soap. Wipe it down with some soap. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/5 "2003-05-01T00:55:32Z")
Well, divers spit in their masks to keep them from fogging up. ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/6 "2003-05-01T00:57:02Z")
Soap is good. I wash my eyeglass lenses with a soapy cloth. Keeps them from fogging. Try it on your car windshields too. Anti-smart-ass spray: of course, you wipe the soapiness off. ---
**Author:** ![Agubwa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@Agubwa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agubwa)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/7 "2003-05-01T01:02:40Z")
Open the window. Works for me! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/8 "2003-05-01T01:06:04Z")
I dunno where I heard this, but try shaving cream. It works! Ya spray a bit of shaving cream on the mirror, wipe it all around until it disappears, no more fog. Anyone know why this works? ---
**Author:** ![MadPenguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@MadPenguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPenguin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/9 "2003-05-01T01:06:33Z")
Is there a Window in the bathroom? Or a Ventilation fan? Try opening the window or turning the fan on. Then you let the warm, humid air escape before it has a chance to fogg up the mirror. I avoid this myself by showering with the bathroom door open. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/10 "2003-05-01T01:07:19Z")
Open the door too. Turn on the fan, if any. By the time you dry off and put on your shirt, the mirror should be clear enought to start fiddling with your hair do. If it’s not quite there yet, brush your teeth while you wait. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/11 "2003-05-01T01:10:35Z")
Remove the mirror. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/12 "2003-05-01T01:32:31Z")
To quickly clear a fogged bathroom mirror, turn a blowdryer on high and hold it fairly close to the mirror. It will start to clear pretty quickly. Just like using the “defrost” when your car windshield fogs up! ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/13 "2003-05-01T01:51:35Z")
I installed a long mirror in the bathroom which went the length of the wall. The part which was above the radiator never fogged up because of the warm air circulating up. You can create the same effect easily with a space heater blowing air to the mirror. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/14 "2003-05-01T02:57:42Z")
trust the soap idea…works for a day or two, then reply… ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/15 "2003-05-01T02:59:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elelle \* > \*\*I dunno where I heard this, but try shaving cream. It works! Ya spray a bit of shaving cream on the mirror, wipe it all around until it disappears, no more fog. Anyone know why this works? \*\* I can second this. As a guy, I have to shave every morning if I don’t want to be pulling off that “fuzzy Don Johnson look” all day. I always shave right after a nice hot shower, and I use the shaving cream trick. I just lather up my brush, and spread a bit on, and then wipe it off. No more fog. If I had to venture a guess as to why it works I owuld say that fats in the soap interfer with condensation of water on the mirror. Then again, IANAMTSG (I Am Not A Mirror Type Scientist Guy). ---
**Author:** ![psychomonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@psychomonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychomonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/16 "2003-05-01T04:02:56Z")
According to the Mother Earth News Almanac, you can prevent car windows from fogging up by using Gycerin-spreading a small coat over the inside of the glass. Id WAG that the lanolin in shaving cream works in the exact same way. -psm ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/17 "2003-05-01T04:43:59Z")
If you have a bathroom fan, it’s not doing its job very well if your mirror is fogging up really bad. You can have someone install a new bathroom fan that’s more powerful than your current one. All that moisture every day can’t be too good. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/18 "2003-05-01T05:19:35Z")
Electric mirror defogger: [http://www.lasalesco.com/newpage12.htm](http://www.lasalesco.com/newpage12.htm) Or just use the hairdryer! There are de-fog sprays that you can apply. Usually used by dentists on the mirrors for your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/19 "2003-05-01T12:31:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bearflag70 \* > \*\*Remove the mirror. :dubious: \*\* The appropriate smart ass remark would be: Stop taking hot showers. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257/20 "2003-05-01T12:36:12Z")
AGH! Damn you, **Philster**! My response was going to be: Take cold showers? I was scrolling down the whole time saying, “No one’s said my answer, no one’s said my answer, _still_ no one’s said my answer. YUSS!” and then I got down to the very last post! Arrr! And opening a window works? I usually leave the window open and still get foggy mirrors. Hmm. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-bathroom-mirror-from-fogging-up/172257.md?page=2)