A hot, steamy shower may be just the thing needed to get a cold day or to relax sore muscles. When getting dressed then, nevertheless, it’s a little hard to check your appearance when the mirror is all steamed up. Standard materials you probably already have on hand around the house keep that mirror in becoming so foggy it’s useless until the room cools down.
Anti-Steam Cream
A small amount of shaving cream spread over the mirror with a soft cloth helps keep the mirror from fogging up when the room becomes steamy. The shaving cream transforms the surface tension of water droplets collecting around the mirror in the kind of steam, changing the way they reflect and refract light. This means the mirror continues to seem fog-free also when the room is warm and steamy.
Wax On, Wax Off
A paste-based car wax rubbed onto the mirror with a soft cloth also prevents the mirror from fogging. Rub the wax, then let it dry. Buff it away with another soft cloth. This wax creates a barrier that prevents the steam in the room from inducing the mirror to fog up.
Not Just for Teeth
A non-gel toothpaste rubbed over the mirror surface with a soft cloth, wiped off just before turning the warm shower or bathtub water, prevents steam from fogging up the mirror. Choose a toothpaste that doesn’t include abrasives like baking soda to prevent scratches on the mirror.
Shampoo
Standard shampoo rubbed onto the mirror with a soft cloth maintains the mirror from fogging up for the same reasons shaving cream works. Detergents in the shampoo change the surface tension of water droplets, which affects the way they interact with light hitting them. Wipe off the shampoo after you are done with the bathroom.
Doors and Fans
To help cut back on the amount of fog on the mirror and the total amount of time the fog lasts, open the bathroom door a few inches so moisture can escape. If the bathroom has an exhaust fan, turn it on either during or immediately after finishing with the bathtub or shower, or open a window slightly to allow steam to escape. The more fresh air entering the room, the less foggy the mirror. In a pinch, pointing a hair dryer in the mirror also quickly makes the steam evaporate.
Anti-Fog Spray
Use an anti-fogging spray designed for assorted glass surfaces like car windows, bathroom mirrors or scuba masks. Instructions vary by manufacturer but generally involve spraying the fluid onto the glass, then wiping it away with a soft cloth.