Travel cakes and crockpots are not only convenient kitchen tools. One study found that they may also be an effective way to sanitize N95 respirators – coronavirus-fighting tools for health care workers who are deficient.
Researchers from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign found that 50 minutes of dry heat in an electric cooker can kill four types of viruses on N95 respirators, including a coronavirus.
According to a video published by the researchers on how to properly disinfect with an electric kettle, you need to heat the appliance for five minutes until it is at 175 ° C (347 ° F) before putting a cloth in the pot to line the interior, because the heat could otherwise melt your mask.
Place your N95 respirator in the pot and let it warm for 50 minutes.
After 50 minutes, researchers found that the respirators were sanitized, safe to use, and free from heat damage.
Researchers also found that the N95 respirators can be treated up to 20 times with the cooker and still retain their filtration capabilities.
N95 masks filter out virus particles and are crucial for healthcare professionals
N95 respirators are crucial pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals on the front page of the pandemic, as they provide better protection against the virus than other types of masks.
Unlike dust masks that prevent you from spreading the virus to others other than surgical masks that protect you from large drops and splashes, N95 respirators seal tightly around the nose and filter out small particles.
The lack of PPE in the US has forced some health care workers to use N95 respirators and find creative ways to make them last.
This new method of dry heat could provide a safe way for frontline workers to sanitize their masks without compromising their effectiveness.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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