In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, face masks have become a necessity, like keys or your wallet – you can’t leave the house without them. For the reusable dust masks popular with so many people, that means a lot of washing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises wearing masks in public settings, especially to protect others from carriers of the virus. Many states, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and large retailers also require patrons to wear masks to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Protective face masks have become a controversial touchpoint of the pandemic, with some Americans complaining and even having outbursts about wearing them. But science shows that masks are essential to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We already know the effectiveness of face masks. That’s the evidence base there, ”said Dr Simon Kolstoe, a senior lecturer in evidence-based health care at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.
But there is one question that dogs wear masks: Do you really need to wash them after each use?
The answer is yes.
“It is highly recommended to wash that mask every day,” said Dr. Ravina Kullar, a specialist and an epidemiologist for infection. Dr. Kullar points out that the purpose of the mask is to prevent the virus from spreading, so if there are any virus particles in you, the purpose of wearing it is defeated.
However, despite this advice, surface transport is not thought to be a major factor in the spread of coronavirus. The primary transmission of spread is person-to-person contact. The recommendation to wash your mask comes from an abundance of caution, as well as the proximity of the object to respiratory output.
The CDC also recommends washing masks: “Masks should be washed after each use. It is important to always remove masks correctly and wash your hands after treating or touching a used mask, ”says the website. According to the CDC, your proper mask means properly treating it only through the ear loops or bands, filling it to place it in the washing machine, and washing your hands immediately afterwards.
Cloth masks can be washed by hand or in a washing machine. Surgical masks, another popular option, cannot be washed and must be discarded after one use. There is very little “peer-reviewed” information on how to wash an N95 mask. Some potential options include vaporized hydrogen peroxide, with dry heat, or UV light – methods that are not really suitable for experimenting at home.
For dust masks, if you are using a washing machine, the CDC regularly recommends detergent and “the warmest suitable water setting for the cloth used to make the mask.” If you wash your mask by hand, prepare a bleach solution and wash your mask in it for five minutes, then rinse in cool water or room temperature. Mask filters must be washed by hand.
There are also certain practices to ensure that you wash your mask effectively without overdoing the dust.
Patric Richardson, the self-styled laundry evangelist, said that a cloth mask can sustain about 100 washes if it does not run through the dryer, and 50 if it is. He also explained that the elastic parts of the mask are likely to wear faster than the actual cloth.
“Depending on the fabric, and that’s obviously the million dollar demand with a handmade mask, but most fabrics are very durable for about 100 washes if they are not in the dryer,” he said.
Richardson also recommends wearing face masks made from cotton, which he said is the most durable. While other materials such as silk or even bandannas use are popular, they are often less effective and do not last as long. In addition to choosing a good material, Richardson insists on using detergent.
“The skin on your face is pretty sensitive, so you want to make sure you don’t use a lot of detergent because you want to rinse it 100 percent clean,” he said.
In addition to maintaining good washing practices, the type of face mask you use is also business. Dr Kolstoe made a video, testing different types of masks by trying to blow out a lighted match. If you can blow the match, the mask is ineffective. And if you can not, it works.
‘If you wear this mask to stop you blowing your breath over other people, then it makes sense that you could blow a match [or] blow out a candle that is directly in front of you then the mask is not particularly effective, ”he said.
Eventually, an overwash mask could become porous and lose its usefulness. When that happens, it’s time to get some new masks, either by buying or making your own. Whatever you choose, just be sure to clean them after each use.
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