Steamed up mirror solution

Hello everyone, just a quick post about a solution I found for stopping my shaving mirror steaming up when shaving. Normally I shave after I have showered but find keeping my mirror clear can be a pain. What I found is that if I run my face cloth under the hot tap and wash the mirror with the hot cloth it stops the mirror from fogging. I apply the face cloth to the mirror three or four times and hold it against the mirror to warm up the glass and then dry it off, works a charm for me:). Just thought I would share . Has anybody got any other methods for keeping your mirror clear?

Physics rocks, doesn't it! That's an awesome tip Kenneth. I usually open the window and that takes care of it within 30 seconds, but this is better and it's more fun. (yes, I'm a geek and proud of it LOL)

I've seen products they sell for just that purpose. I don't remember the specifics but they are out there. They also sell mirrors that are not supposed to fog up.

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Originally Posted by kenneth

Has anybody got any other methods for keeping your mirror clear?

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Join the Polar Bear/Cold Water Shaving/James Bond Shower/Dark Side of the Moon....
Never have a problem with the mirror fogging up.

Do use a warm/hot final rinse followed by an ice-water towel...

Now if I could just learn how to shave without a mirror...

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Originally Posted by MJC

Join the Polar Bear/Cold Water Shaving/James Bond Shower/Dark Side of the Moon....
Never have a problem with the mirror fogging up.

Do use a warm/hot final rinse followed by an ice-water towel...

Now if I could just learn how to shave without a mirror...

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Agreed on most points, but why the warm/hot final rinse?

Just scribble a thin S on a mirror with the corner of a piece of bar soap. Polish out the soap S with a cloth so you can't see it and that should eleminate fogging. A quick swipe with some soap lather and then just squegeeing it off with the edge of your hand should do it as well, if it's just a small shaving mirror.

Yes, the mirror still technically fogs up... it's caused by the mirrors lower temperature bringing the moist air down to the dew point and the water condenses on the surface in small droplets. The very small amount of soap on the glass causes the water droplets (fog on the glass) to loose it's surface tension thus allowing the droplets to spread out into a thin layer of moisture on the glass so you can see clearly.

This treatment needs to be repeated regularly as the moisture eventually washes the minor amount of soap off the mirror surface, allowing dew droplets to form again.

Regards

Kaptain "Better Shaving through chemistry and physics" Zero

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Originally Posted by Srdjan

Agreed on most points, but why the warm/hot final rinse?

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For some reason it is easier to clear the accumulation of lather out of the Mo with warm water, but that may just be my habit.

I clear the lather off of the blade by stropping off on my (non-dominate) forearm, and can get through the normal 2 pass + touch up shave with the spent lather on my arm and switching the razor between hands. So I do not have water running while I shave.

Then I turn the tap on (warm/hot) clear the later off of my forearm using the spine of the razor and rinsing under the faucet - the only time I do this at any time, and my goal is to rinse and heat the blade to promote drying. (I have razordinkaphobia)

While the sink is partially filling with warm/hot I tend to the razor (square of TP to dry (carefully) store in a silicon sleeve until I can strop & oil in another room)
That warm water in the sink is what I use with a washcloth to clear the lather out of my ears and Mo...

And in the end, it's all very YMMV and "It's your razor and your face"

The whole shaving with a straight razor can get you to challenge yourself.

Used to think that face lathering was crazy, now I can't remember doing it any other way.

Cold water shaving? are you out of your mind? - now I can't get over how much better it goes.

Stropping the lather off on my forearm is the latest change, yet another "why didn't I try this three years ago?"

Enjoy the journey and know that you are amongst friends...

Smooth Shaving..

Hahaha I do the same, with stropping the lather off on my hand/forearm and cleaning it off with the spine later, warm water to rinse the razor, square or 2 of toilet paper to dry it, yes, of course! I have to say, I don't go as far as the silicon sleeve though.. and probably won't oil my razors after every shave. ;)

Cold water? Yes sir, but not always (I like the feeling of warm is all), but I do know that it helps me with minor nicks - another one thanks to physics, albeit that of the human body.

I like your method a lot and I, too, am particularly picky about saving water where I can. Funny to speak about that in a wetshaving forum, but, there it is....

OP, sorry about the off-topic bits!

On topic, I wouldn't put soap on my mirror in my current bathroom setup, but I've done it in hotels (shame on me!). It leaves soap stains that someone has to clean up later and I am not big on cleaning, unless absolutely necessary. You know, a typical male......

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Originally Posted by kenneth

Hello everyone, just a quick post about a solution I found for stopping my shaving mirror steaming up when shaving. Normally I shave after I have showered but find keeping my mirror clear can be a pain. What I found is that if I run my face cloth under the hot tap and wash the mirror with the hot cloth it stops the mirror from fogging. I apply the face cloth to the mirror three or four times and hold it against the mirror to warm up the glass and then dry it off, works a charm for me:). Just thought I would share . Has anybody got any other methods for keeping your mirror clear?

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Take less time in the shower.

I just plug in the hair dryer. 20 seconds or so is all it takes to clear my mirror, and my mirror is 29" x 46"(2' 5"x 3' 10").

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Originally Posted by CZMark

Take less time in the shower.

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Since my Dad was a U.S.M.C. Officer - we where not allowed to take "Hollywood Showers" (more than 2 minutes total of running water)

So the move to warm to cool to cold shower was no biggie.

This also gives you more time to shave BTW...

But then I still use the terms "deck" "overhead" "bulkhead" and "hatch"...

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Originally Posted by kenneth

Hello everyone, Has anybody got any other methods for keeping your mirror clear?

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http://straightrazorpalace.com/pre-s...gy-mirror.html

My method is just rubbing some shaving foam onto the mirror then rubbing it off. As long as you don't touch the mirror afterwards it stays fog free for a rather good time (current application is coming up on 3 weeks).

Plus it's also a good way to get rid of the canned foam I've still got from before I started using soaps.

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Originally Posted by SRNewb

I just plug in the hair dryer. 20 seconds or so is all it takes to clear my mirror, and my mirror is 29" x 46"(2' 5"x 3' 10").

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The wife cracked a mirror last winter doing that! :drop jaw: it is a large mirror mounted on an outside wall so was obviously cold, so be careful!!

P.S. There is an automotive windshield product that works real well, just can't remember the name, might be Rain-X or something.

I also use a hair dryer on my mirrors, it takes the fog right out and heats the glass enough, that the condensation wont reform. Works great.

I think I will have to start a forearm de-latherers club. It is really easy and convenient. Also if you have razor with a swayback it is a perfect forearm de-latherering tool.
I tens to do as MJC and use my razor spine to clear my forearm. However my razors don't see water I just pinch a towel around them to clean them then strop on leather.

Shave with cool water:idea:

Use an extractor and leave the door open

I shave and then shower. I use enough water while shaving to get the hot water to the bathroom and my shower starts out warm.

Yup as noted above...take your leftovah shave cream out of the scuttle and smear it all ovah your Mirrah and then wipe clean with a papah towel....works great !!!

The best solution I have found are the mirrors made by the shavewell Company
I have been using the travel mirror for most of my shave for over a year now.
I got mine from executive shaving in the U.K.
These are an American made product that is a charity that helps disabled people. So not only are they a great mirror but when you buy one of their products you are helping a good cause as well .
Cheers Paul

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Originally Posted by NewellVW

The wife cracked a mirror last winter doing that! :drop jaw: it is a large mirror mounted on an outside wall so was obviously cold, so be careful!!

P.S. There is an automotive windshield product that works real well, just can't remember the name, might be Rain-X or something.

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Yes. its called , anti fog by rain x
Works great.
Attachment 217228

There are a few methods I've found. One is to shower with cool water that doesn't create a steam. Turning on the vent fan seems to keep the mirror from fogging up as well. Opening the door to let the steam out and using a few squares of toilet paper to sop up the moisture on the glass clears it pretty quick if I forget to turn the fan on.

Thanks Paul looks like a handy mirror. Just going to have a look online for them. Cheers Kenny.

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Originally Posted by CZMark

Take less time in the shower.

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On a normal day I can get wet, soap up, rinse off in about 4 minutes.

With the exhaust fan going I do not have a fog issue.

The Rainex works great but in the Old days, we used a small cloth bag of Bull Durham Tobacco in our log trucks to wipe the inside of windows with, works very well.

If a mirror is sealed in so water doesn't affect it, just run it under hot water for a few seconds and wipe off, the heat will keep the fog off too.

During the cold months I use an Altoid alcohol stove to heat up the bathroom before I shower so I don't use a lot of hot water constantly chasing comfortable warmth. I always tried to play with placing it for even tile heating, but once I realized that it heated the mirror I now burn a smaller one on the lip of the sink as I shower. I used to soap my mirror but I couldn't figure out how to do it without compromising a crystal clear image in the mirror. I like the hair dryer idea mentioned previously, and any other solution that heats the mirror. Think about a glass filled with iced beverage on a humid day, and a fresh, hot cup of coffee next to it would be bone-dry on the outside.

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Originally Posted by 32t

I shave and then shower. I use enough water while shaving to get the hot water to the bathroom and my shower starts out warm.

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DITTO DITTO

I have an all glass shower. I use this on the inside of the shower glass and walls. Applied monthly, I never have water spots or fogged up glass and we have very hard water. Not having water spots to clean is a blessing. Really cuts down on the number of time we have to clean the glass in the shower.

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Originally Posted by outback

Yes. its called , anti fog by rain x
Works great.
Attachment 217228

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