I think you meant to say 'adhesion', rather than 'surface tension'.ShawnD said:Fog is actually millions of little water beads. Soap reduces surface tension between water and glass causing the water to sleet rather than bead. The water is still there; it's just more together.
This is true. The soap molecules (stearates I guess) will reduce the surface tension of water. I was a bit confused by the "between water and glass" bit.brewnog said:Soap will indeed reduce the surface tension of the beads of water, thus making the wetting angle of the droplets much smaller, and tending to allow them to form a film rather than collection of droplets.
hypatia said:I use rain-x no fog{for cars} for my indoor mirrors, it works for a really long time with one application without the haze that soap can leave.
Onion or Potato juice also does the same thing
Fogging on a bathroom mirror is caused by condensation. When warm, moist air comes into contact with a cool surface, it turns into water droplets, causing the surface to fog up.
Soap works as a surfactant, which means it reduces the surface tension of water. When applied to a mirror, it creates a thin film that prevents water droplets from forming, thereby preventing fogging.
No, there are other methods to prevent bathroom mirror fogging, such as using a defogging spray or installing a heated mirror. However, soap is a simple and cost-effective solution that is readily available in most households.
Any type of soap, whether liquid or bar, can be used to prevent bathroom mirror fogging. However, soaps with a higher concentration of fatty acids, such as dish soap and shampoo, tend to be more effective.
The duration of fog prevention depends on factors such as the humidity in the bathroom and the type of soap used. In general, soap should be reapplied every 1-2 weeks for optimal results.