Swim goggles are the quintessential accessory for swimmers. Once you’ve gone through the process of choosing the right swim goggles and found that perfect pair for yourself or your swim kid, just a little routine care helps keep them in great shape.
Proper care helps ensure that the lenses are reliably clear next time you’re in the water, that there are no cracks in the lenses or problems with fitting that let water in, and that the goggles enjoy a long life expectancy.
Use the following care tips for any pair of swim goggles, whether they’re for recreational use, practice, competition, open-water swimming, or diving.
Swim Goggles Care Tips
- Pick goggles that are snug, but not pulled too tight, or you’ll stretch out the band and it’ll lose its elasticity
- Select swim goggles with an anti-fog coating on the lenses; they’re convenient in the water and prevent or at least limit the need to rub the lenses clear
- Alternatively, buy an anti-fogging solution and give the lenses a squirt before each use (or as per the package instructions)
- If your lenses do fog up, don’t rub it off with your fingertips, as this gradually removes the protective coating on many lenses
- Refrain from cleaning the lenses with any abrasive surface that may scratch them
- Rinse the goggles off in fresh water right after each swim to remove pool chemicals and debris that can damage them
- Wipe the band off with Swim Wipes that are specially formulated to neutralize chlorine and other contaminants
- Don’t store swim goggles in direct sunlight, as it can fade the colors, accelerate the effects of aging on the band, and melt or warp certain components
- Similarly, don’t store them close to a heat source or leave them sitting in a hot car, garage, or other non-temperature-controlled environment for too long
- Let your goggles air dry thoroughly before putting them away to prevent mildew and mold growth
- Refrain from keeping loose goggles on a beach blanket or out anywhere where the lenses can get scratched up by grains of sand
- Never toss loose goggles into a beach bag either, where there’s always some sand
- Consider keeping your swim goggles in a protective case, especially if they’re expensive
- Submerge really dirty goggles in a small bowl of water with 5 teaspoons of white vinegar mixed in, let them soak for 1 to 2 hours, then remove them and rinse them thoroughly
