# Using hair dryer on the bathroom mirror

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 3, 2000, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992 "2000-08-03T15:17:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a88e57/32.png) [@zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zero)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992/1 "2000-08-03T15:17:13Z")

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Every morning after my shower I use the hair dryer to get rid of the steam that accumulated on the mirror. Now, is it more effective to hold the hair dryer in one place, or move the hair dryer around?

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992/2 "2000-08-03T15:26:25Z")

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I don’t know which one’s more effective, but personally, I hold the dryer on one spot until it clears, that way I know I’m making progress.

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**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992/3 "2000-08-03T17:34:37Z")

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I spread a little shaving cream on the mirror and rub it off.  
That leaves a clear spot that sometimes lasts a couple of mornings.

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**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992/4 "2000-08-03T18:52:07Z")

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I find that it’s more effective if you move it around in a small circle, about the size of your face. It seems to work faster than just holding it in one place, but I’ve never actually taken a stopwatch and timed it.

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**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992/5 "2000-08-03T21:25:37Z")

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The air spreads on contact with the mirror, anyway, so you progressively heat a wide area just by holding the dryer still. You probably shouldn’t aim the dryer below the main area that you want clear, since that will drive the heated water vapor upwards, where it may recondense on the mirror. Overall, I doubt it makes much difference.

Personally, I just use FogX–it usually lasts for a few weeks. You can get it at most auto parts places, I think.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-hair-dryer-on-the-bathroom-mirror/27992/6 "2000-08-04T00:47:06Z")

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Even simpler, depending on your household (I’m a bachelor, so can get away with this) is to leave the bathroom door a little ajar while you’re in the shower.