Yes leaving a gap around the sides helps with fogging, but it defeats the point of wearing the mask to begin with, which is to filter air in and out. The gap It works because you’re bypassing the mask. I use rainx on my glasses every now and then when I notice the fogging.
If the air is fogging the glasses, it is already escaping out the top. Medical professionals will tolerate foggy glasses. Perhaps. Buddy going to the grocery will go commando.
As a student who has to wear a mask and glasses for up to eight hours a day, I find that looping a piece of microporous tape over so that it sticky on both sides helps. I place the strip of tape on the inside of my mask and then create a seal along the bridge of my nose. I replace halfway through the day but it works for me!
That's good idea stop your glasses popping up I wear glasses with a mask but how are you but how but how I stop on how I stop my glasses fogging up all the time you can't can't see anything someone told me once a lady was wearing glasses and I said to this lady or said how I said how do you keep your glasses how do you stop your glasses from fogging up she told me that when you wear your mask make sure your glasses sit on top of your mask I done that and it actually works I hope it's been helpful
Not ideal, I agree. Surgical masks are rated as a loose fit - and never intended to give a tight seal. Air will move around the borders regardless of what you do. Have you seen the doc who uses a vape to show where the air movement flows? Quite an eye opener :)
@@Plunivycfcrws WRONG 🙄 They can catch virus exhaled which means if air is not going through mask virus is not filtered/stopped/caught/slowed (whichever description you chose)🍩
Not entirely. The mask does not contain your breath as air flows through the mask freely. It is still a barrier and An improvement over no mask. The mask is not capable of preventing germs, only reducing them. With a better fit, air still moved past the edges due to the non occlusive fit. That being said, they are designed to be worn close to skin
@Bill Bob it's not supposed to prevent it 100%, it's supposed to reduce the chances of getting covid like she said in the above. if someone were to talk and spit/sneeze, which some people do, these droplets will be stopped with their mask. Then there is also your mask (another protective barrier) which is there to hopefully stop the droplets from getting into your mouth/nose too. Of course if it's airborne like during an aerosol procedure, then these surgical masks won't help u at all because air can still move in and out of these masks. This is why in hospitals, the droplet precaution for isolation rooms/patients is to wear a surgical mask. And an airborne isolation is when u wear N95/PAPR. If people understand the difference between a droplet precaution and an airborne precaution, then they will understand the use of different masks.
Your hack that involved rerouting the breath air gave me an idea. I cut a 1" x 3" strip from a lightweight poly vinyl grocery bag and taped it to my upper lip with 2 small squares of surgical tape. The strip overhangs my lip by about 1/8" and serves to reroute breath down to my chin. It stopped my glasses from fogging in my living room, look forward to trying it on the job. I do somewhat physical work in a refrigerated area. The combination of exertion, 30 degrees, glasses and a mask has me pulling off the mask more than is safe. Hope this plastic mustache works.
@@NurseMinder Wasn't 100% fog free but a dramatic improvement. I changed mask type, too, so can't with certainty attribute all the improvement to the plastic mustache but the improvement was impressive enough that I'll continue the practice. Now if only I could find a solution to my runny skier's nose. Saline rinse was a fail.
@@iroquoistheater I put a little bit of Kleenex tissue inside each nostril when I go out in the cold. It keeps the cold air from causing cold air rhinitis. Just be careful not to push it in too far or breathe in hard through your nose. To remove, just blow your nose.
As a glasses wearer since I was 8 years old (can't see without them), I find that simply fitting the mask higher up the nose, so that the glasses are resting over it works fine for me. I have to wear my glasses fairly loose also because of hyper-sensitive skin, and this works for me.
@@danif620 Yup, unless you're using medical grade masks designed for that purpose. People aren't getting that we wear masks to stop us from spreading viruses, not from getting them. Small vents on the sides will let air escape, but the mask directly in front of your nose and mouth will absorb the water droplets, which is what we want to happen, as that carries the virus from our airways to the air to other people who breathe it in.
I use a special antifog lens cloth from a company called Nerdwax that helps a lot. Was also reminded that when I played squash and racquetball, we’d rub the inside of our safety goggles with glycerin soap and rub until it was clear and that helped them from fogging up. Haven’t tried that during the pandemic but it worked well from what I remember from my athletic days!
The loop-the-loop, that worked best against fogging, seems to be at odds with the goal of wearing a mask, in that it allows breath to escape laterally, rather than having any potential virus have to run an obstacle course through the fabric. So....I am wondering if a surgical mask, worn loop-the-loop PLUS a cloth mask over it, to prevent air escaping from the sides, might be the solution to protect both the mask wearer and those around them. Thoughts?
Surgical masks are rated as loose. They will never give a tight fit. There are some pretty interesting visuals out there. Vaping videos that show how leaky these masks are
Hi Melissa, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
@@jeniferlopez1033 The gap negates virtually all the effectiveness since most air will flow through it so while you're following the letter of the rule (wearing a mask) you're wasting your effort doing so.
I have used clear packing tape on the top of my mask. I put it across the whole top and have it just extend 1/2 inch or less above mask so there is just a bit sticking to my face. I keep it away from the tender eye skin and peel it off when done with a gentle roll from just one side all the way across. The wider tape keeps the air sealed away from the upper part of the mask and any moist air has time to cool down.
Hi Patricia, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
The tape strategy works! I used one solid piece of paper tape and it stayed for my full day with no fog. It even worked through a few on and off adjustments!
Hi Kimberly, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
@@piggysister01 *Never thought about it, but Yes Ivory bar soap on the dry side I've applied to dental mirrors. It wouldn't fog when using mirror to look at teeth. 🤗🤗🤗*
The tissue hack works pretty well for me. Tomorrow I will try the loop de loop. Can’t believe I have waited this long to try to remedy the fogging issue...thanks
Hi Sherri, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends?? Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
Noticed that when you twisted the ear loops it caused the sides of the mask to come away from the cheeks. This is a fail that you did not notice. We are told to make sure from the whole bridge of the nose, past the cheeks then under chin back up 2nd cheek and back to nose must be flat and conforming to face. I make our masks out of thick tee-shirt material 2X thick. This helps as well as the elastic around ears is cut from knee-hi. This also is the best for people like me with asthma, copd and latex allergies. Also they wash well. My pattern makes a natural bridge and little to no humidity on my glasses, except getting out of air con car then into air con store or house after being in the heat. Hope this helps someone else.
I use a mask everyday. I use double sided tape and it works like a champ plus exfoliates when you're done and peel it off! It lasts all day! I can take my mask Down for an airflow break, and then put it right back in place with a nice tight seal. I absolutely love it!
Instead of using the folded tissue, I have been using a piece of Warm and Natural quilt batting on my home made masks cut about the same size as you used for the tissue. I have scraps of the batting, so I use once then toss. I have also sewn the batting to the lining of the cloth mask with a quick hand stitch and the mask with the batting does go through the laundry okay.
I'm a healthcare IT technician so like you, I wear my mask and glasses for hours on end. I've had great success with simply washing my glasses with dish soap (Dawn and other concentrated brands seem to work best) and water. I then just dry them off with my shirt or a paper towel. The only time they fog up is when I'm running with a mask on. Other than that, fogging doesn't really occur for me
You got it when you said the problem was air coming through the front of the mask. My answer was to place a small scrap of thin leather inside the mask so the air straight out of the nose is sent down and out rather that up into the glasses. Don't use a big piece since the air needs a place to exit. You just want to force air down to the mouth area away from glasses. I use a cloth mask and have not tried it on paper.
Try cleaning your glasses with a bit of shaving cream. Also use shaving cream on your bathroom mirror to keep them from fogging when showering! It works!
Can it be shaving gel, or does it have to be the actual cream? I was wanting to try this but noticed that I only have the gel kind. Thanks for the tip, I hope it works both ways!
After watching your video, I remembered one I saw about keeping your mirrors from fogging up. Use a bar of soap. Rub the bar on the inside of your glasses and then whip with a clean dry cloth or tissue.
With the tissue paper method, try putting it across the whole width of the mask, not just most of it. By not covering the whole width, your sides are still tissue-paper free and that's likely what's allowing the warm breath to fog up the lenses.
Try using shaving cream on lens. I do that during the winter. And come into warm bldg and they dont fog up. Put shaving cream on lens spread around with fingers and wipe off with a lint free cloth or microfiber towel. Guaranteed to be anti fog. Plus works on bathroom mirror also to keep it from fogging up during shower
With the applying soap, use a bar of soap, rub it onto your lenses both inside and outside, don;t use any water. Once you apply it get a tissue and massage the soap into the lenses and wipe off, repeat it again and you should not get any fogging
I can't explain how I do it but there is some way that I get my mask on just right to where my glasses don't fog up, but this is only sometimes. I'm thinking that it's when I wear my mask a little higher than it's supposed to be (so just under my eyes) and my glasses are pushing down on the top of my mask. With lack of a mirror when putting my mask on this is my guess as to what happens.
Hi guys, I had the same problem and because I wanted to get my driving license this was a big concern, hopefully after watching a lot of videos and many useless tips i found out using a "surgical tape" like the way she used is working very well! (she didn't use a surgical tape and also don't stick the tape piece by piece , use only one piece of tape that cover whole upper part of the mask and cover it all, make sure all part of the mask even a little bit more is covered by the surgical tape which is going to prevent the breath passes through the top of the mask ) that's it. hope this helps someone stay safe
I read recently to spray WD40 on your windshield and wipe it off real well with a cloth. This should stop fogging. I wonder if this would work on our glasses for this purpose. I wear glasses with my mask too. I'll try it! But there are other anti-fog products out there too that might help.
Hi Carolyn, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends?? Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
Hi Valerie, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends?? Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
I read about a anti fog tip: put a bit of fashion tape between the mask and your skin at the bridge of the nose. Tried it several times and it seems to work. Might not be something you have around the house … but I’ve found some for not much $$ at my local drugstore. Women’s lingerie departments in larger stores also carry these.
When I make masks I use a tin tie (the fastener from a bag of coffee) for the nose bridge. A tin tie has two pieces of wire in a plastic strip that is about 61/2 inches long. It extends just past cheek bones and I get a good fit across my cheeks and over the nose. I have very little trouble with fogging. Tin ties are available in bulk from packaging companies. I am not sure how to incorporate tin tie into a pre-made surgical mask.
I’ve tried the tape and I didn’t like it. The tape got gross after awhile and stopped sticking and the skin under the eyes is too thin to allow taking the tape off without causing possible injury to the skin. So far I see masks with a part that dips down off the cheekbone a little seems to be the most comfortable. I make my masks with t-shirt material and sometimes sew in two bread twists on top of one another across the top of the nose to help with this. Be sure the bread twists are lined with plastic and not paper otherwise they deteriorate inside the sewn area and possibly rust the wire in the middle and stain the mask eventually.
Hi Jacklyn, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
I cut.a strip of foam sheet, put it across the bridge of my nose...you can get sheets of foam from the craft store or wal mart etc... ...it worked and I used paper clips on the back of my head..no fog! Worked for me..
I make Olsen style masks. I use a thin thin piece of memory foam with double sided tape. Tape to your mask. Make sure it is the length of your metal nose piece.
Suggestions for people that sweat profusely and can’t see thru the required googles for the sweat? I mean it’s either we wear the googles and fall down or don’t wear them and be safer. Do you think there will ever be a time when we won’t have to don this stuff again?
While allowing the air to escape from the sides of the mask appeared to work the best, I fear that actually defies the purpose of the mask, which is to reduce the amount of moist air particles expelled into the air. In my experience, having the mask fastened higher up on the head does work but I've needed either a barrette to pin the ties there or a ponytail/bun to hook the mask loops over to prevent them from sliding down my head.
I tried a hack I saw on TikTok which said to rub a little lip balm on em them wipe them off and the moisture can’t collect. Just make sure u wipe them really good otherwise you’ll run into everything! 😂 hope this helps💯
I was thinking about something like a snorkel (a straw?) to breathe out through, or side vents, but I can't see how this would work either. I'll try the tissue one. It's really bad now that it's winter here in Canada; I just take off my glasses and walk by braille...
Thank you for the video testing the hacks out. Would love to know if you have tried these other methods out like the full shield face mask, the face mask nose clips i saw on Etsy, or the anti-fog lens cleaner for eyeglasses? I'm still trying to find a solution it's either i wear the mask and can't see well or ????
@@NurseMinder [source: the lancet dot com] : “COVID19 guidelines issued by WHO and US CDC have been consistent about the need for physical distancing of 1-2 m but conflicting (opinions NOT CONFLICTING CONCLUSIONS) on the issue of respiratory protection with a face mask (notice it does not say 'surgical mask') OR a respirator. This discrepancy reflects [little] evidence and consensus about the transmission mode of coronavirus. For eye protection, data are even less certain aerosol transmission of SARSCoV2 for the analysis . -No randomised controlled trials were available “ (gee how convenient), (what? No controlled trials??? yep NONE) … yet even the president has jumped on the bandwagon... dont allow yourself to be duped!!! there is NO evidence of the efficacy of using paper masks NONE... why oh why does fakenews REFUSE to do the research. it took only 90 seconds to find this on g00gle.. it is time for civil disobedience way past time. America wake up! [source: thelancet dot com]
@@NurseMinder , I also wear goggles with mask, reminded me of back in the day spitting on scuba mask to keep it from getting foggy. That was back in the 70's. Didn't spit, but made me laugh thinking of my youth. (66 and still nursing)
Claudia Harper yes! I was thinking the same thing. I used to spit into my scuba mask to prevent it from fogging... and there was an over the counter “spit” or anti-fog solution you could purchase.
wouldn't the loop d'loop and or gap let aerosols from the wearer escape more and if the wearer has Covid-19 then there'd be a higher risk of transmission? and also a higher risk of contracting it since there are gaps on the side where air can enter when inhaling, rendering the mask ineffective, correct? I am struggling with the fogging issue too but not as much as healthcare professionals who wear their mask for longer periods.
One thing I have noticed is there is a belief that the surgical mask is a tight fit - and it is not. Think of those drafty windows ... a surgical mask may look like it is sealed, but it is rated as loose A. Loop will create a slightly bigger gap. I have to loop as the other methods do not work. It would be great if there was a small/medium/large mask size. One size does not fit all
Thank you for making this video. My work is now requiring us to wear masks throughout the office and ive argued with my boss because ive tried 4 different masks and they all fog up my glasses. I will try the double looping method.
i have found if you leave it doubled over at the bottom so that all the air from your mouth can go down that will work best.. loved your stress test... you are one of the few that tested to check the hack... thx
I'm not a nurse, but I'll be trying some of these hacks. Presently my solution (hack?) to glasses fogging when I am out for walk in our quiet suburban area or on hiking trail is to keep my mask hanging from a cord around my neck until I see or hear people approaching. Then I pull it up ("Shields up!"). My glasses fog up almost immediately, but I find that if I just slide my glasses down a little on my nose, the fogging clears. This allows outside air to more easily reach the inside of the lenses. The other day I was walking in a bustling area of NY City, I kept mask in place and simply tilted my head back a little, so a little more air came in under the glasses to clear the fog. I realize that for nurses and other people who need to keep their mask and their glasses in optimum position this is not a solution, but it works in my situation.
Its a fair question and one many of us worry about as we are Trading off ideal application for being able to work using this method to do our jobs. I have worked swabbing, screening, and flu clinics since May .... no covid symptoms or diagnosis for me
@@NurseMinder ditto!! I was hoping you had found a solution for us! LOL!! I loved watching this video! You're so down to earth, and have a good sense of humor to boot!! Thanks for your time sharing, and all medical employees for what you all do to care for us all!!! May God bless us all!
the tape one is my to-go hack now! but I agree with the skin tape being more effective than the normal tape. Thanks for trying all these hacks, either way, it's very informative.
Thank you for your welcome experiments. However, isn't there a problem with Hack Nr 6, with the gaps to the side, doesn't that defeat the object of a mask, i.e. letting potentially 'contaminated' breath flow into the environment? I think the root of the problem is warm breath hitting the cooler specs... I notice now in the summer outside the supermarket, everything is fine, and also in the non refrigerated isles, but as soon as I hit the cooler isles the specs start fogging up. So we'd better make the most of the summer....
I have been observing others with and without the loop and see the gap with both. Perhaps size of face needs to be considered in a “one size fits all” mask. If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Maja Dunn, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends?? Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉. Nice glasses, looks good on you 😊
Thanks. The tape idea work for me with a slight modification. I used double-sided tape. Even though I have oily skin, the tape stuck to the bridge of my nose better than it stuck to my mask. In fact, I was able to take the mask on and off a few times while the tape stayed on my nose. Each time I put the mask on again, I press the mask on top of the tape area to make the seal again. It's not strong, but it's enough to force the air out of the sides and bottom instead of out of the top and into my eyes.
It appears that when I bend the nose wire to a perfect, snug fit plus the loop de loop as shown in your video, I'd only see about 5-10% of the fog when breathing; however, without the loop de loop method, interestingly, I could see maybe 0-5% of the fog I breathe. It's possible I left the sides of my mask a bit opened to let out the air rather than upward. Thanks for the video. This helps greatly.
Tape would sweat off in 2 seconds. My whole mouth is usually dripping in sweat & glasses get so fogged up I can't even wear them. I might try the shaving cream technique some1 else mentioned & hopefully it's long lasting, if I can remember to do it every day. Thanks for testing these methods though, because I was really curious if there might be a better way.
I use washi tape. You can get it at any dollar store. It holds well and because it has a different texture, it's less annoying than scotch tape. I even forget it's there sometimes.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I currently have school, and I was stressed because I couldn’t see anything, and I needed a quick way to stop the fogging. I tried the loop thing, AND IT WORKED. I CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH 💙💙.
@@NurseMinder I found this: theconversation.com/13-insider-tips-on-how-to-wear-a-mask-without-your-glasses-fogging-up-getting-short-of-breath-or-your-ears-hurting-143001. Another way is to breate out through your nose, that removes some of the moisture from the air. I also think it has something to do with wich design your glasses are, my glasses does not go as far down as yours and that might give an advantage. Good luck with the experiments 😀
I work in a Dr office, wear glasses, found this very interesting... I found the tape hack previously and this has been the most successful for me but I use a 5-6 inch piece of cloth tape (not paper/surgical tape) - it lasts most if not all day even taking the same mask on/off/dangling to talk on phone. Eventually the oils of the skin cause to stop sticking and the first removal is a bit of an exercise in slowing down but it does work well. I had considered the toothpaste method that I learned for defogging my scuba mask but haven't gotten around to trying it and I believe there are commercially made ones as well for defogging scuba masks... Could those products work?
The double loop has worked pretty well for me, so far. An added bonus with the mask being a smidge further down on my face is I'm not 'eating' my mask when I talk. That would simply drive me *crazy* when I'd talk and my mask kept trying land in my mouth no matter what adjustments I made. I was constantly pulling it away from my mouth. GRRRRRRRRR P.S. I tried the sensitive skin tape and I thought I'd taken a few layers of skin with it when I peeled it off. 😣 I gave up that hack pretty quick.
I tie a knot on both ends of the mask as close to the mask as possible and then form the nose bridge closer to the end of my nose. This keeps my progressive lenses in place so my vision isnt distorted and keeps the lenses from fogging up most of the time. I do find that if I am looking down for any length of time the they fog up. However if my head is tilted up or looking straight in front of me they wont fog up
Thank you for making this video! There is a lot of misinformation online and many of these were presented as flawless solutions. This is a great, detailed set of tests showing real results... Nicely done! 😁👌
I’ve tried most of these methods. I do ok breathing but fog up when I talk. I tried putting soap or shaving cream on them and it left a residue that I don’t like trying to see thru. I also don’t like the mask resting so close to my eyes ie the bags under my eyes. I’m afraid the mask will slip right onto my eyeball! Maybe I just need to make my own and costum fit them.
Depending on how high the nose bridge piece is put on the nose, it can keep the air out but I’ve figured that part out. Now when you start to sweat because it’s summer time it causes the mask to slide down the nose and that’s where you run into air escaping into the glasses thus causing them to fog up.
Me too... the more I sweat the more they slide I swear! I’ve been scouring the Internet today for hours looking for anti fog solution but everything I’ve come across have less than decent reviews so why waste the money you know?
The best video by far from my fave professionals. Thanks so much for a thorough test. Nurses will always be my heroes (personal experiences), I really appreciate you all.
I wouldn't use soap or shaving cream. A water soluble anti-fog agent would be better. I ride motorcycles with glasses and I have found that Clarity Defog is one of the best. As for the loop method , it does work but it hurts my ears. You could use it with a mask hook that pulls the loops behind the head.
I use a tissue with paper tape flipped around the nose and edges of the tissue (3 stops). Tape keeps my mask in place and tissue works the best, so far. I also use a mask form to keep it off my face. I use a small piece foam sticky tape to keep that in place on the mask. The paper tape has yet to irritate my skin, but don't leave on long term because it does start to break down and you get sticky stuff on your face.
Thanks for commenting. The surgical mask has always been a loose fit and is designed that way. I have another video that shows a method to improve the close fit, but it will never be a tight fit
So, I work in IT and at bank. No one has been required to wear a mask until the recent increases. If I have to step away from my desk and go near someone, I have to wear a mask. I borrowed one from a friend and barely could breath in it. It was a big mask and comfortable but couldn't breath and glasses just fog. It really is irritating. I have tried multiple "tips" to fix this and none work. I bought a pair of 3 mask black on amazon for like 18 bucks. They do the same thing but I can breathe a bit better. So, I have found 2 solutions that have worked. If I move my glasses down the bridge of my nose a bit, they won't fog. This is the best method. The second option is to spend a bit more money and buy a mask with a nose bridge on it, or filter in near the mouth. A mask with a well fitted nose bridge will stop all that hot air coming out the top. I have not done this. I will not spend any more money on mask. It isn't worth it and tbh, I can just move my glasses a bit down and that works.
funny story ... I was working the COVID screening and my glasses just kept sliding down the mask and I did not noticed at first and wondered why I was having to lift my head up to see (not due to fog but because my lenses were getting low)... the challenges!!
Is it that precise of an adjustment? If so, is there any chance you could get the glasses adjusted to work with the mask (maybe using sone small pads under the pads when you're at home and your mask is off?)
Solved this with one word..... RainX! I’ve tried many things you have in this video. You didn’t do shaving cream. But the best thing I’ve found so far is plain ol rainx. Works for car windows and works great for my glasses. You only need a little and it goes a long way. I do it on my kids glasses also.
Thank you for the hacks. I am working on the fogging issue at the moment. Two points I would like to bring up. One is that I am terribly allergic to sticky tape of any kind, including medical tape and sticky tabs that are used for ECG. I am sure there are others out there who are too. The other is:. In all the tests you did, your breathing opened up the sides of the mask. I know this test was not for the viability of the mask for health reasons, but if any of these ideas are good for relief of fogging, but compromises the safety of the mask, then what is the purpose of the mask?
Great contribution. Yes you are right. This video is not focused on infection control and simply assesses the hacks seen to reduce fog. The efficacy of the surgical mask is limited to filtering 60 to 85% with a good seal. This drops when there are gaps. The surgical mask is a loose fit and a tight fit will not be possible like that with an N95. There is a method that improves the seal and decreases fog and it is the video “get a tighter seal”.
I would assume really soft Kleenex would make a difference because when having a cold or runny nose, using those instead of regular tissues makes a big difference.
Hi Michelle, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
I think, if the air can go out at the sides, the virus can come in the same way. Somewhere it doesn’t look right, but I agree, we have to try something. I found out thar much depends on the model of the mask.
I love the gap idea but wonder about protection for yourself and others. I wear the PAPR as much as possible for 2 reasons- the n95s don’t fit and the cool air blowing in my face prevents fog up. Bonus is my patients can see my face
I have found several ways to keep my glasses from fogging. None of them are 100%, but they help. I live in the southern United States and humidity is our "friend" and some days it feels like I swim to my car. I am not a nurse, but I have a compromised immune system so I faithfully wear a mask. I have an OLD antifog cloth that I found in my parents home several years ago. We were never without one in our glove compartment in our car. We used it on all of the windows to keep them from fogging up. I keep a piece of o e in my purse to use on my glasses and it does a pretty good job. I also wash my glasses daily with shaving cream. And unbelievably, it works pretty well. I also got some anti-fog spray from Wal-Mart and have used it. The results are about the same. Good luck!! And thanks for the mask wearing tips!
I am a critical care vent paramedic so far what works for me is to use a tie up large mask leave the sides open. The air will go tobthe path of least resistance. If i use a loop mask the twisting the loop around my ears causing the mask to turn downward under my eyes and try to pull the mask out from your cherks alittle so the air can escape. I do not fog at all on my glasses.
I've used the tissue method with great success. I use Kleenexes tho, not TP. There are actually a lot of videos touting this method, and I've passed it along to all my bespectacled pals. I wouldn't feel comfortable "leaving a gap" when the whole point is to stop airborne particulates from entering the respiratory system, but that's just me I s'pose.
Surgical masks are a loose fit and cannot replace the seal of an N95. If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Marchi Fleming, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends?? Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
I work at a grocery store and have been using the loop de loop since March. However someone said something about applying chap stick across the top of the mask to form a gas barrier. Idk though...i like the loop de loop personally
It is a great question. The surgical mask has never been a tight fit and it is a barrier only. The surgical mask is made as a one size fits all - so it could never be a tight seal. Even for larger head shapes. It may feel tight but there are gaps. So with that, the loop method will create a slightly bigger gap
@@NurseMinder Because of my fogged glasses I overlooked an older woman, as I ran into the bathroom and sat on toilet. 🥵😱😭 How would you reacted on her place ???
Hi, loved the concept of the video, but just a suggestion, it would've been more helpful to see a control to see how much the glasses fog without any hacks
Seems as though the soapy water wasn't fully dried off prior to the stress test, hence more moisture/humidity in the air within the left side resulting in fogging. Might have been different results if the washed lens was allowed to dry more?
I once did shaving cream on a mirror to stop fogging in bathroom after showering. I'm going to try that for my glasses to see if it works. You should try it.
Yes leaving a gap around the sides helps with fogging, but it defeats the point of wearing the mask to begin with, which is to filter air in and out. The gap It works because you’re bypassing the mask. I use rainx on my glasses every now and then when I notice the fogging.
If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
Rebekah James it's about stopping droplets not air
@@julielaidlaw2412 The droplets is in the air.
Rebekah James the air when its first airborne it will hit the mask first the remaining air will escape leaving behind the droplets
If the air is fogging the glasses, it is already escaping out the top. Medical professionals will tolerate foggy glasses. Perhaps. Buddy going to the grocery will go commando.
I hate wearing my glasses and always feeling uncontrollable with all the fog
Me too
And slipping :/
It is so annoying becuase when I go back to school we have to wear masks 5hewhole day
JUST PUT THE MASK UNDER YOUE GLASSES
put the glasses infront if your nask a bit
As a student who has to wear a mask and glasses for up to eight hours a day, I find that looping a piece of microporous tape over so that it sticky on both sides helps. I place the strip of tape on the inside of my mask and then create a seal along the bridge of my nose. I replace halfway through the day but it works for me!
That's good idea stop your glasses popping up I wear glasses with a mask but how are you but how but how I stop on how I stop my glasses fogging up all the time you can't can't see anything someone told me once a lady was wearing glasses and I said to this lady or said how I said how do you keep your glasses how do you stop your glasses from fogging up she told me that when you wear your mask make sure your glasses sit on top of your mask I done that and it actually works I hope it's been helpful
Sticky anything breaks me out. :(
We can put a man on the moon, but the whole world together can't figure this one out. Sad.
Haha. I wonder if the moon walkers have foggy glasses?
i saw put trump on the moon and we can get our planet back in shape - and wearing masks and social distancing - with him gone a great distance away.
He certainly seems to have selfish priorities when it comes to stopping the spread of covid.
@@NurseMinder yes I do have foggy glasses a moonwalker of mj
Maybe the men who sent men to the moon can figure it out.
Doesn't leaving the gap defeat the purpose of the mask by letting unfiltered air in & out easier? I would think this would be a big no!
Glasses fog up. “Mask doesn’t work”
That was exactly what I was thinking! Covid is gonna just seep out the sides.. but choosing between that and fogged glasses... Tough call 🤣
Not ideal, I agree. Surgical masks are rated as a loose fit - and never intended to give a tight seal. Air will move around the borders regardless of what you do. Have you seen the doc who uses a vape to show where the air movement flows? Quite an eye opener :)
Masks don’t filter any air you donut
@@Plunivycfcrws
WRONG 🙄 They can catch virus exhaled which means if air is not going through mask virus is not filtered/stopped/caught/slowed (whichever description you chose)🍩
Doesn’t leaving a gap render the mask useless as it’s meant to contain your breath and prevent breathing in germs/viruses?
Not entirely. The mask does not contain your breath as air flows through the mask freely. It is still a barrier and An improvement over no mask. The mask is not capable of preventing germs, only reducing them. With a better fit, air still moved past the edges due to the non occlusive fit. That being said, they are designed to be worn close to skin
@Bill Bob it's not supposed to prevent it 100%, it's supposed to reduce the chances of getting covid like she said in the above. if someone were to talk and spit/sneeze, which some people do, these droplets will be stopped with their mask. Then there is also your mask (another protective barrier) which is there to hopefully stop the droplets from getting into your mouth/nose too.
Of course if it's airborne like during an aerosol procedure, then these surgical masks won't help u at all because air can still move in and out of these masks. This is why in hospitals, the droplet precaution for isolation rooms/patients is to wear a surgical mask. And an airborne isolation is when u wear N95/PAPR.
If people understand the difference between a droplet precaution and an airborne precaution, then they will understand the use of different masks.
The masks are for show but are required. Whatever makes them less annoying, I say.
@@deaconpaul It's for show? What's your evidence? I hate them too, but I wouldn't want to change anything without knowing.
Early Retirement stupid!
The problem with creating wide gaps for the air to escape at the sides of the mask is that air won't be filtered - no good for infection control.
That is true
Nurses are always so calming. Like someone you meet and you just know you both are gonna be best of friends in 5 minutes. Contagious positivity! 😁
They're all different personalities. I know a nurse who is a complete narcissist.
Your hack that involved rerouting the breath air gave me an idea. I cut a 1" x 3" strip from a lightweight poly vinyl grocery bag and taped it to my upper lip with 2 small squares of surgical tape. The strip overhangs my lip by about 1/8" and serves to reroute breath down to my chin. It stopped my glasses from fogging in my living room, look forward to trying it on the job. I do somewhat physical work in a refrigerated area. The combination of exertion, 30 degrees, glasses and a mask has me pulling off the mask more than is safe. Hope this plastic mustache works.
Interesting. Let me know how it works on the job
@@NurseMinder Wasn't 100% fog free but a dramatic improvement. I changed mask type, too, so can't with certainty attribute all the improvement to the plastic mustache but the improvement was impressive enough that I'll continue the practice. Now if only I could find a solution to my runny skier's nose. Saline rinse was a fail.
@@iroquoistheater I put a little bit of Kleenex tissue inside each nostril when I go out in the cold. It keeps the cold air from causing cold air rhinitis. Just be careful not to push it in too far or breathe in hard through your nose. To remove, just blow your nose.
As a glasses wearer since I was 8 years old (can't see without them), I find that simply fitting the mask higher up the nose, so that the glasses are resting over it works fine for me. I have to wear my glasses fairly loose also because of hyper-sensitive skin, and this works for me.
Awesome
Try shaving cream just like the bathroom mirror all use in the car in the winter before using clean with hot water an vinger
But then it digs into your eyes if you wear it that high up
Would that chemically effect the tenting on the lens?
Pocos Hope sure does. I learned that the hard way on my $500 lenses.
Creating gaps at the side for the air to flow out, is surely also creating a pathway for the virus particles to get in?
They get in through these masks anyways.
I agree I agree with what you just said that is definitely right
@@danif620 Yup, unless you're using medical grade masks designed for that purpose. People aren't getting that we wear masks to stop us from spreading viruses, not from getting them. Small vents on the sides will let air escape, but the mask directly in front of your nose and mouth will absorb the water droplets, which is what we want to happen, as that carries the virus from our airways to the air to other people who breathe it in.
I use a special antifog lens cloth from a company called Nerdwax that helps a lot. Was also reminded that when I played squash and racquetball, we’d rub the inside of our safety goggles with glycerin soap and rub until it was clear and that helped them from fogging up. Haven’t tried that during the pandemic but it worked well from what I remember from my athletic days!
Nurses are a special breed of beautiful people. Love the pace and tone of this video! Thanks.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Humm, this doctor has a crush on nurses. LOL.
Yep i agree with you sir 😊
SIMPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
@@supermelodia 😆😅
The loop-the-loop, that worked best against fogging, seems to be at odds with the goal of wearing a mask, in that it allows breath to escape laterally, rather than having any potential virus have to run an obstacle course through the fabric. So....I am wondering if a surgical mask, worn loop-the-loop PLUS a cloth mask over it, to prevent air escaping from the sides, might be the solution to protect both the mask wearer and those around them. Thoughts?
Surgical masks are rated as loose. They will never give a tight fit. There are some pretty interesting visuals out there. Vaping videos that show how leaky these masks are
Hi Melissa, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
the problem with leaving the gap is that it lessens the effectiveness of the mask...so why wear it at all?
Lmao
The gap lessens the effectiveness, but where is the effectiveness in not wearing a mask. I don’t get it.
@@jeniferlopez1033 dame
*same
@@jeniferlopez1033 The gap negates virtually all the effectiveness since most air will flow through it so while you're following the letter of the rule (wearing a mask) you're wasting your effort doing so.
I was thinking the same thing.
I have used clear packing tape on the top of my mask. I put it across the whole top and have it just extend 1/2 inch or less above mask so there is just a bit sticking to my face. I keep it away from the tender eye skin and peel it off when done with a gentle roll from just one side all the way across. The wider tape keeps the air sealed away from the upper part of the mask and any moist air has time to cool down.
Hi Patricia, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
The tape strategy works!
I used one solid piece of paper tape and it stayed for my full day with no fog.
It even worked through a few on and off adjustments!
Km
Hi Kimberly, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
If u get a bar of soap, like Ivory,smear it on the inside and outside of the lens and clean off with dry cloth, they won't fog up
I'll try that. I already did that technique with dish soap and it didn't work, but who knows..?
It works! Thanks so much 😘😘
@@piggysister01 *Never thought about it, but Yes Ivory bar soap on the dry side I've applied to dental mirrors. It wouldn't fog when using mirror to look at teeth. 🤗🤗🤗*
OMG THANK YOU!!! Testing it right now for a day
Thanks! I'll have to try this.
The tissue hack works pretty well for me. Tomorrow I will try the loop de loop. Can’t believe I have waited this long to try to remedy the fogging issue...thanks
Awesome
Hi Sherri, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
Personally, I'm glad the soapy water didn't work: because I can't stand having watermarks on my lenses.
the struggle is real
Noticed that when you twisted the ear loops it caused the sides of the mask to come away from the cheeks. This is a fail that you did not notice. We are told to make sure from the whole bridge of the nose, past the cheeks then under chin back up 2nd cheek and back to nose must be flat and conforming to face. I make our masks out of thick tee-shirt material 2X thick. This helps as well as the elastic around ears is cut from knee-hi. This also is the best for people like me with asthma, copd and latex allergies. Also they wash well. My pattern makes a natural bridge and little to no humidity on my glasses, except getting out of air con car then into air con store or house after being in the heat. Hope this helps someone else.
@@pamelamoore560 Thank You so much!
Yeah that drives me crazy. I hate it when I go out in the rain all you lucky ones who dont wear specs will never know what we go thru with.
Same, water marks are a fail
I use a mask everyday. I use double sided tape and it works like a champ plus exfoliates when you're done and peel it off! It lasts all day! I can take my mask Down for an airflow break, and then put it right back in place with a nice tight seal. I absolutely love it!
Awesome
Instead of using the folded tissue, I have been using a piece of Warm and Natural quilt batting on my home made masks cut about the same size as you used for the tissue. I have scraps of the batting, so I use once then toss. I have also sewn the batting to the lining of the cloth mask with a quick hand stitch and the mask with the batting does go through the laundry okay.
Awesome
I'm a healthcare IT technician so like you, I wear my mask and glasses for hours on end. I've had great success with simply washing my glasses with dish soap (Dawn and other concentrated brands seem to work best) and water. I then just dry them off with my shirt or a paper towel.
The only time they fog up is when I'm running with a mask on. Other than that, fogging doesn't really occur for me
Awesome!!!
This makes sense. We use a squirt of dish soap and rinse with water when snorkeling to keep masks from fogging up. I’ll give it a go for my glasses!
Dishwashing soap destroyed my lenses. I have scratch like lines on my lenses as a result.
Thanks, it bugs me when people say wash with soap.... like what kind of soap? Dr Bronner's Dial Palmolive.. there are so many kinds of dish soap too
This works great! I used Palmolive.
You got it when you said the problem was air coming through the front of the mask. My answer was to place a small scrap of thin leather inside the mask so the air straight out of the nose is sent down and out rather that up into the glasses. Don't use a big piece since the air needs a place to exit. You just want to force air down to the mouth area away from glasses. I use a cloth mask and have not tried it on paper.
Doug Smith Thanks, will try this!
Try cleaning your glasses with a bit of shaving cream.
Also use shaving cream on your bathroom mirror to keep them from fogging when showering! It works!
Can it be shaving gel, or does it have to be the actual cream? I was wanting to try this but noticed that I only have the gel kind. Thanks for the tip, I hope it works both ways!
I tried that & it made no difference for me ;o(
After watching your video, I remembered one I saw about keeping your mirrors from fogging up. Use a bar of soap. Rub the bar on the inside of your glasses and then whip with a clean dry cloth or tissue.
With the tissue paper method, try putting it across the whole width of the mask, not just most of it. By not covering the whole width, your sides are still tissue-paper free and that's likely what's allowing the warm breath to fog up the lenses.
Try using shaving cream on lens. I do that during the winter. And come into warm bldg and they dont fog up. Put shaving cream on lens spread around with fingers and wipe off with a lint free cloth or microfiber towel. Guaranteed to be anti fog. Plus works on bathroom mirror also to keep it from fogging up during shower
Yes this has been a popular idea
With the applying soap, use a bar of soap, rub it onto your lenses both inside and outside, don;t use any water. Once you apply it get a tissue and massage the soap into the lenses and wipe off, repeat it again and you should not get any fogging
I can't explain how I do it but there is some way that I get my mask on just right to where my glasses don't fog up, but this is only sometimes. I'm thinking that it's when I wear my mask a little higher than it's supposed to be (so just under my eyes) and my glasses are pushing down on the top of my mask. With lack of a mirror when putting my mask on this is my guess as to what happens.
Hi guys, I had the same problem and because I wanted to get my driving license this was a big concern, hopefully after watching a lot of videos and many useless tips i found out using a "surgical tape" like the way she used is working very well!
(she didn't use a surgical tape and also don't stick the tape piece by piece , use only one piece of tape that cover whole upper part of the mask and cover it all, make sure all part of the mask even a little bit more is covered by the surgical tape which is going to prevent the breath passes through the top of the mask ) that's it.
hope this helps someone
stay safe
But it's sticky while removing the mask I think its not pretty good
I find that the clear medical tape works well and is not sticky when you take it off.
I read recently to spray WD40 on your windshield and wipe it off real well with a cloth. This should stop fogging. I wonder if this would work on our glasses for this purpose. I wear glasses with my mask too. I'll try it! But there are other anti-fog products out there too that might help.
Hi Carolyn, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
I appreciate the time and investigation you have invested.
Hi Valerie, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
I read about a anti fog tip: put a bit of fashion tape between the mask and your skin at the bridge of the nose. Tried it several times and it seems to work. Might not be something you have around the house … but I’ve found some for not much $$ at my local drugstore. Women’s lingerie departments in larger stores also carry these.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
The tape hack works only with surgical tape hypoalergen. I tried it now and works very good.
When I make masks I use a tin tie (the fastener from a bag of coffee) for the nose bridge. A tin tie has two pieces of wire in a plastic strip that is about 61/2 inches long. It extends just past cheek bones and I get a good fit across my cheeks and over the nose. I have very little trouble with fogging. Tin ties are available in bulk from packaging companies. I am not sure how to incorporate tin tie into a pre-made surgical mask.
Awesome addition! Thanks for sharing
With the air escaping out the sides wouldn't that cause concern for germ escape also...just sayin
Yeah ... would be great if a surgical mask was rated more than a loose fit ... just sayin 😉
I’ve tried the tape and I didn’t like it. The tape got gross after awhile and stopped sticking and the skin under the eyes is too thin to allow taking the tape off without causing possible injury to the skin. So far I see masks with a part that dips down off the cheekbone a little seems to be the most comfortable. I make my masks with t-shirt material and sometimes sew in two bread twists on top of one another across the top of the nose to help with this. Be sure the bread twists are lined with plastic and not paper otherwise they deteriorate inside the sewn area and possibly rust the wire in the middle and stain the mask eventually.
Hi Jacklyn, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
I cut.a strip of foam sheet, put it across the bridge of my nose...you can get sheets of foam from the craft store or wal mart etc...
...it worked and I used paper clips on the back of my head..no fog! Worked for me..
I make Olsen style masks. I use a thin thin piece of memory foam with double sided tape. Tape to your mask. Make sure it is the length of your metal nose piece.
Suggestions for people that sweat profusely and can’t see thru the required googles for the sweat? I mean it’s either we wear the googles and fall down or don’t wear them and be safer. Do you think there will ever be a time when we won’t have to don this stuff again?
I hope there will be a time ... soon. Try rainex? Not sure how it will work but someone else suggested it
While allowing the air to escape from the sides of the mask appeared to work the best, I fear that actually defies the purpose of the mask, which is to reduce the amount of moist air particles expelled into the air. In my experience, having the mask fastened higher up on the head does work but I've needed either a barrette to pin the ties there or a ponytail/bun to hook the mask loops over to prevent them from sliding down my head.
Awesome! I have another video that achieves both the better seal and the reduced glass fog
A bra strap holder works as well! :)
A new use for bra straps :)
Thanks for the video...question...what is the fantastic jazz piano music in the background???
Gosh ... I found a site with royalty free music. I cant remember where it was
@@NurseMinder Ok. Thanks for getting back to me. It is great Jazz. Blessings!
I tried a hack I saw on TikTok which said to rub a little lip balm on em them wipe them off and the moisture can’t collect. Just make sure u wipe them really good otherwise you’ll run into everything! 😂 hope this helps💯
😂😂😂😂
I was thinking about something like a snorkel (a straw?) to breathe out through, or side vents, but I can't see how this would work either. I'll try the tissue one. It's really bad now that it's winter here in Canada; I just take off my glasses and walk by braille...
Lol I get the feeling
Thank you for the video testing the hacks out. Would love to know if you have tried these other methods out like the full shield face mask, the face mask nose clips i saw on Etsy, or the anti-fog lens cleaner for eyeglasses? I'm still trying to find a solution it's either i wear the mask and can't see well or ????
I have not tried the antifog cleaner or the shaving cream. I do like the tighter seal (using looped ears or the tie - another video)
@@NurseMinder [source: the lancet dot com] : “COVID19 guidelines issued by WHO and US CDC have been consistent about the need for physical distancing of 1-2 m but conflicting (opinions NOT CONFLICTING CONCLUSIONS) on the issue of respiratory protection with a face mask (notice it does not say 'surgical mask') OR a respirator. This discrepancy reflects [little] evidence and consensus about the transmission mode of coronavirus. For eye protection, data are even less certain aerosol transmission of SARSCoV2 for the analysis . -No randomised controlled trials were available “ (gee how convenient), (what? No controlled trials??? yep NONE) … yet even the president has jumped on the bandwagon... dont allow yourself to be duped!!! there is NO evidence of the efficacy of using paper masks NONE... why oh why does fakenews REFUSE to do the research. it took only 90 seconds to find this on g00gle.. it is time for civil disobedience way past time. America wake up! [source: thelancet dot com]
@@NurseMinder , I also wear goggles with mask, reminded me of back in the day spitting on scuba mask to keep it from getting foggy. That was back in the 70's. Didn't spit, but made me laugh thinking of my youth. (66 and still nursing)
Claudia Harper yes! I was thinking the same thing. I used to spit into my scuba mask to prevent it from fogging... and there was an over the counter “spit” or anti-fog solution you could purchase.
wouldn't the loop d'loop and or gap let aerosols from the wearer escape more and if the wearer has Covid-19 then there'd be a higher risk of transmission? and also a higher risk of contracting it since there are gaps on the side where air can enter when inhaling, rendering the mask ineffective, correct? I am struggling with the fogging issue too but not as much as healthcare professionals who wear their mask for longer periods.
One thing I have noticed is there is a belief that the surgical mask is a tight fit - and it is not. Think of those drafty windows ... a surgical mask may look like it is sealed, but it is rated as loose A. Loop will create a slightly bigger gap. I have to loop as the other methods do not work. It would be great if there was a small/medium/large mask size. One size does not fit all
Thank you for making this video. My work is now requiring us to wear masks throughout the office and ive argued with my boss because ive tried 4 different masks and they all fog up my glasses. I will try the double looping method.
There is one more method you can use. I have a video for a tighter seal and it also prevents glass fog
i have found if you leave it doubled over at the bottom so that all the air from your mouth can go down that will work best.. loved your stress test... you are one of the few that tested to check the hack... thx
Happy you found something that worked for you! Now if we could only find a hack for the colder weather
I'm not a nurse, but I'll be trying some of these hacks. Presently my solution (hack?) to glasses fogging when I am out for walk in our quiet suburban area or on hiking trail is to keep my mask hanging from a cord around my neck until I see or hear people approaching. Then I pull it up ("Shields up!"). My glasses fog up almost immediately, but I find that if I just slide my glasses down a little on my nose, the fogging clears. This allows outside air to more easily reach the inside of the lenses.
The other day I was walking in a bustling area of NY City, I kept mask in place and simply tilted my head back a little, so a little more air came in under the glasses to clear the fog. I realize that for nurses and other people who need to keep their mask and their glasses in optimum position this is not a solution, but it works in my situation.
Is the *leave a gap* method more dangerous for exposure?
Its a fair question and one many of us worry about as we are Trading off ideal application for being able to work using this method to do our jobs. I have worked swabbing, screening, and flu clinics since May .... no covid symptoms or diagnosis for me
I use double sided tape and a cotton mask on top of the blue mask. Helps a bit but once the tape starts losing its tackiness it will start to fog up.
With the loopty loop the air leaked out the sides by the cheeks I think that’s why you didn’t get any fogging
Is it possible the different angles of light affect the visuals from the stress test?
I was evaluating it from what I was seeing - not sure it always translates on camera
I've found that moving my glasses down my nose, just a tad, helps a lot. I have to wear my glasses ALL the time.
If only I could do this! I wear trifocals ... getting old sucks
@@NurseMinder ditto!! I was hoping you had found a solution for us! LOL!! I loved watching this video! You're so down to earth, and have a good sense of humor to boot!! Thanks for your time sharing, and all medical employees for what you all do to care for us all!!! May God bless us all!
I wonder if putting tissue under you yes where the glasses are and leave the nose part free sort of like a chimney.
I have seen others tent the nose piece :)
the tape one is my to-go hack now! but I agree with the skin tape being more effective than the normal tape. Thanks for trying all these hacks, either way, it's very informative.
Awesome!!!
Thank you for your welcome experiments. However, isn't there a problem with Hack Nr 6, with the gaps to the side, doesn't that defeat the object of a mask, i.e. letting potentially 'contaminated' breath flow into the environment? I think the root of the problem is warm breath hitting the cooler specs... I notice now in the summer outside the supermarket, everything is fine, and also in the non refrigerated isles, but as soon as I hit the cooler isles the specs start fogging up. So we'd better make the most of the summer....
I have been observing others with and without the loop and see the gap with both. Perhaps size of face needs to be considered in a “one size fits all” mask. If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Maja Dunn, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉. Nice glasses, looks good on you 😊
I have solved this by putting my glasses a little bit lower than usual so its away from the way and it never gets foggi😁👍
This hasn't worked for me wearing vari focals
@Lahari R Chandra good evening
Thanks. The tape idea work for me with a slight modification. I used double-sided tape. Even though I have oily skin, the tape stuck to the bridge of my nose better than it stuck to my mask. In fact, I was able to take the mask on and off a few times while the tape stayed on my nose. Each time I put the mask on again, I press the mask on top of the tape area to make the seal again. It's not strong, but it's enough to force the air out of the sides and bottom instead of out of the top and into my eyes.
It appears that when I bend the nose wire to a perfect, snug fit plus the loop de loop as shown in your video, I'd only see about 5-10% of the fog when breathing; however, without the loop de loop method, interestingly, I could see maybe 0-5% of the fog I breathe. It's possible I left the sides of my mask a bit opened to let out the air rather than upward. Thanks for the video. This helps greatly.
Tape would sweat off in 2 seconds. My whole mouth is usually dripping in sweat & glasses get so fogged up I can't even wear them. I might try the shaving cream technique some1 else mentioned & hopefully it's long lasting, if I can remember to do it every day. Thanks for testing these methods though, because I was really curious if there might be a better way.
Yup. Sweat is a real issue and when I was testing the kleenex, I wondered about how soggy it might get. 😝
Tape also gets itchy... atleast for me.
I use washi tape. You can get it at any dollar store. It holds well and because it has a different texture, it's less annoying than scotch tape. I even forget it's there sometimes.
Thanks for saving me a lot of time trying these hacks myself!
I hope you find one that works for you .. my fav is the loop de loop
Agreed!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I currently have school, and I was stressed because I couldn’t see anything, and I needed a quick way to stop the fogging. I tried the loop thing, AND IT WORKED. I CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH 💙💙.
10:32 if the air can get out that easily the “polluted” air can get in just as easily. Don’t do this!
If you have an alternative please share
@@NurseMinder I found this: theconversation.com/13-insider-tips-on-how-to-wear-a-mask-without-your-glasses-fogging-up-getting-short-of-breath-or-your-ears-hurting-143001. Another way is to breate out through your nose, that removes some of the moisture from the air. I also think it has something to do with wich design your glasses are, my glasses does not go as far down as yours and that might give an advantage. Good luck with the experiments 😀
I work in a Dr office, wear glasses, found this very interesting... I found the tape hack previously and this has been the most successful for me but I use a 5-6 inch piece of cloth tape (not paper/surgical tape) - it lasts most if not all day even taking the same mask on/off/dangling to talk on phone. Eventually the oils of the skin cause to stop sticking and the first removal is a bit of an exercise in slowing down but it does work well. I had considered the toothpaste method that I learned for defogging my scuba mask but haven't gotten around to trying it and I believe there are commercially made ones as well for defogging scuba masks... Could those products work?
It might work. I have not tried it myself
The double loop has worked pretty well for me, so far. An added bonus with the mask being a smidge further down on my face is I'm not 'eating' my mask when I talk. That would simply drive me *crazy* when I'd talk and my mask kept trying land in my mouth no matter what adjustments I made. I was constantly pulling it away from my mouth. GRRRRRRRRR
P.S. I tried the sensitive skin tape and I thought I'd taken a few layers of skin with it when I peeled it off. 😣
I gave up that hack pretty quick.
I have a new one coming soon. .... just filmed it today
I tie a knot on both ends of the mask as close to the mask as possible and then form the nose bridge closer to the end of my nose. This keeps my progressive lenses in place so my vision isnt distorted and keeps the lenses from fogging up most of the time. I do find that if I am looking down for any length of time the they fog up. However if my head is tilted up or looking straight in front of me they wont fog up
Thank you for making this video! There is a lot of misinformation online and many of these were presented as flawless solutions. This is a great, detailed set of tests showing real results... Nicely done! 😁👌
You're very welcome!
I’ve tried most of these methods. I do ok breathing but fog up when I talk. I tried putting soap or shaving cream on them and it left a residue that I don’t like trying to see thru. I also don’t like the mask resting so close to my eyes ie the bags under my eyes. I’m afraid the mask will slip right onto my eyeball! Maybe I just need to make my own and costum fit them.
That may be an idea. I think the size of glasses, face shape are factors
Wear a bandana, works for me I never get foggy glasses. It might take some personal adjustment
Bandanas are ok - they offer the least filtration
Depending on how high the nose bridge piece is put on the nose, it can keep the air out but I’ve figured that part out. Now when you start to sweat because it’s summer time it causes the mask to slide down the nose and that’s where you run into air escaping into the glasses thus causing them to fog up.
My glasses slide down lol
Me too... the more I sweat the more they slide I swear! I’ve been scouring the Internet today for hours looking for anti fog solution but everything I’ve come across have less than decent reviews so why waste the money you know?
The best video by far from my fave professionals. Thanks so much for a thorough test. Nurses will always be my heroes (personal experiences), I really appreciate you all.
I appreciate you 🙂
I wouldn't use soap or shaving cream. A water soluble anti-fog agent would be better. I ride motorcycles with glasses and I have found that Clarity Defog is one of the best.
As for the loop method , it does work but it hurts my ears. You could use it with a mask hook that pulls the loops behind the head.
Absolutely!!
Where you buy clarity defog?
If the air escapes from the sides of the mask, that defeats the purpose!
Yes. Surgical masks will always allow some air in. They are rated as a loose fit. Leaving a gap increases the risk
If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
I use a tissue with paper tape flipped around the nose and edges of the tissue (3 stops). Tape keeps my mask in place and tissue works the best, so far. I also use a mask form to keep it off my face. I use a small piece foam sticky tape to keep that in place on the mask. The paper tape has yet to irritate my skin, but don't leave on long term because it does start to break down and you get sticky stuff on your face.
Double looping did help but not sure how safe with the mask fitting tight enough
Love your video thanks
Thanks for commenting. The surgical mask has always been a loose fit and is designed that way. I have another video that shows a method to improve the close fit, but it will never be a tight fit
What type of tape should we use ?
I tried what I had in the home.
So, I work in IT and at bank. No one has been required to wear a mask until the recent increases. If I have to step away from my desk and go near someone, I have to wear a mask. I borrowed one from a friend and barely could breath in it. It was a big mask and comfortable but couldn't breath and glasses just fog. It really is irritating. I have tried multiple "tips" to fix this and none work. I bought a pair of 3 mask black on amazon for like 18 bucks. They do the same thing but I can breathe a bit better. So, I have found 2 solutions that have worked. If I move my glasses down the bridge of my nose a bit, they won't fog. This is the best method. The second option is to spend a bit more money and buy a mask with a nose bridge on it, or filter in near the mouth. A mask with a well fitted nose bridge will stop all that hot air coming out the top. I have not done this. I will not spend any more money on mask. It isn't worth it and tbh, I can just move my glasses a bit down and that works.
funny story ... I was working the COVID screening and my glasses just kept sliding down the mask and I did not noticed at first and wondered why I was having to lift my head up to see (not due to fog but because my lenses were getting low)... the challenges!!
do you think that wax could work
Interesting... I am not sure how it would be applied or how it might affect the coating on glasses. Have you tried it?
Two motorcycle helmet tricks work for this: carefully, smoothly and thinly spread the starch from a potato or shaving cream on the inside of the lens.
I don't know where you got your tissue from, but I got mine from Costco and it worked perfectly for me. No fogging. Thanks for the info, please.
The problem for me is even just mask under my glass messes up my vision.
It is a struggle for sure
Is it that precise of an adjustment? If so, is there any chance you could get the glasses adjusted to work with the mask (maybe using sone small pads under the pads when you're at home and your mask is off?)
Solved this with one word..... RainX! I’ve tried many things you have in this video. You didn’t do shaving cream. But the best thing I’ve found so far is plain ol rainx. Works for car windows and works great for my glasses. You only need a little and it goes a long way. I do it on my kids glasses also.
I have heard this one too and This one has me thinking of the sweat drops forming and enjoying the water droplets as they run down the glasses 😂.
I looked at a South African version or RainX and it says keep away from eyes. Mmm. Do I risk this?
Thank you for the hacks. I am working on the fogging issue at the moment. Two points I would like to bring up. One is that I am terribly allergic to sticky tape of any kind, including medical tape and sticky tabs that are used for ECG. I am sure there are others out there who are too. The other is:. In all the tests you did, your breathing opened up the sides of the mask. I know this test was not for the viability of the mask for health reasons, but if any of these ideas are good for relief of fogging, but compromises the safety of the mask, then what is the purpose of the mask?
Great contribution. Yes you are right. This video is not focused on infection control and simply assesses the hacks seen to reduce fog. The efficacy of the surgical mask is limited to filtering 60 to 85% with a good seal. This drops when there are gaps. The surgical mask is a loose fit and a tight fit will not be possible like that with an N95. There is a method that improves the seal and decreases fog and it is the video “get a tighter seal”.
I would assume really soft Kleenex would make a difference because when having a cold or runny nose, using those instead of regular tissues makes a big difference.
Hi Michelle, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
This is really helpful. Especially considering I need to take a driving test and they said I need to keep my mask on during the test
I think, if the air can go out at the sides, the virus can come in the same way. Somewhere it doesn’t look right, but I agree, we have to try something. I found out thar much depends on the model of the mask.
Yup. This one size fits all mask is a challenge
OMG! The hack where you twist the ear pieces and have the mask angle more downwards works!! Thank you so much!
It is my favourite
I love the gap idea but wonder about protection for yourself and others. I wear the PAPR as much as possible for 2 reasons- the n95s don’t fit and the cool air blowing in my face prevents fog up. Bonus is my patients can see my face
Yes. The gaps are less than ideal. This video focused on keeping glasses fog free :)
If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
I have found several ways to keep my glasses from fogging. None of them are 100%, but they help. I live in the southern United States and humidity is our "friend" and some days it feels like I swim to my car. I am not a nurse, but I have a compromised immune system so I faithfully wear a mask. I have an OLD antifog cloth that I found in my parents home several years ago. We were never without one in our glove compartment in our car. We used it on all of the windows to keep them from fogging up. I keep a piece of o e in my purse to use on my glasses and it does a pretty good job. I also wash my glasses daily with shaving cream. And unbelievably, it works pretty well. I also got some anti-fog spray from Wal-Mart and have used it. The results are about the same. Good luck!! And thanks for the mask wearing tips!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
I am a critical care vent paramedic so far what works for me is to use a tie up large mask leave the sides open. The air will go tobthe path of least resistance. If i use a loop mask the twisting the loop around my ears causing the mask to turn downward under my eyes and try to pull the mask out from your cherks alittle so the air can escape. I do not fog at all on my glasses.
Sorry for the phone type os
I've used the tissue method with great success. I use Kleenexes tho, not TP. There are actually a lot of videos touting this method, and I've passed it along to all my bespectacled pals.
I wouldn't feel comfortable "leaving a gap" when the whole point is to stop airborne particulates from entering the respiratory system, but that's just me I s'pose.
Surgical masks are a loose fit and cannot replace the seal of an N95. If you want both protection and fog free glasses, watch my video on improving the seal of your mask th-cam.com/video/s3Y26UGulrI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Marchi Fleming, it’s nice meeting you here.. I’m Richard by name, it would be nice getting to know you better, if that’s ok with you? My mom once said good friends are never too much to have. if you don’t mind, can we be friends??
Lovely smile you got there on your profile picture, it can brighten up the most darkest atmosphere of any man’s world😉
I work at a grocery store and have been using the loop de loop since March. However someone said something about applying chap stick across the top of the mask to form a gas barrier. Idk though...i like the loop de loop personally
Interesting
The foggy glasses thing is KILLING ME
I always have to take my glasses off to shop or something, because you gotta wear your mask!
*Amen & AMEN!!!*
Me too
I really hate wearing a mask but we have to
Me to
@@dianeharrison4975 you don't have to do anything you don't want to do
Is the hack that loosens the mask safe? I thought having a tight seal around the mouth was important?
It is a great question. The surgical mask has never been a tight fit and it is a barrier only. The surgical mask is made as a one size fits all - so it could never be a tight seal. Even for larger head shapes. It may feel tight but there are gaps. So with that, the loop method will create a slightly bigger gap
@@NurseMinder Because of my fogged glasses I overlooked an older woman, as I ran into the bathroom and sat on toilet. 🥵😱😭 How would you reacted on her place ???
Put the metal on the outside of the mask, which is how some N95's do it.
Have you tried the fogstopper from Amazon?
No. Have you?
Hi, loved the concept of the video, but just a suggestion, it would've been more helpful to see a control to see how much the glasses fog without any hacks
Do you mean when I have no mask on or when I wear a mask without any hacks?
@@NurseMinder when you wear a mask without any hacks
Well, that is why I did the video. When I wear a mask without hacks, I fog up :(
Seems as though the soapy water wasn't fully dried off prior to the stress test, hence more moisture/humidity in the air within the left side resulting in fogging. Might have been different results if the washed lens was allowed to dry more?
Great point!
I once did shaving cream on a mirror to stop fogging in bathroom after showering. I'm going to try that for my glasses to see if it works. You should try it.
Well?! Did it work?! The suspense is killing me!