Keep Your Masks Clean and Reusable With These 5 Tips
With masks now a necessary part of our everyday lives, learning how to keep them clean and reusable is essential. Wearing a dirty, unhygienic mask can harm your health, and buying disposable masks can be costly and harmful to the environment. So, what can you do to keep your masks clean and reusable?
This article will discuss the five best ways to keep your masks clean and reusable. We’ll cover how to choose safe and comfortable, properly store and adequately wash them, and what materials to look for in washable masks. So, read on to learn the best tips for keeping your masks safe and clean.
Identifying Dirty Masks
To keep your masks clean and reusable, knowing when they are dirty must be washed or replaced is essential. There are a few physical signs you should look out for when identifying a mask that needs to be cleaned or replaced. A quick sniff test can also confirm whether your mask needs washing.
Discoloration on the inside or outside indicates that your mask may need washing. If your mask has been soiled, it will likely have visible signs of dirt or stains that should not be ignored. The ear loops of the mask can also be an indicator; if the ear loops feel uncomfortable or are causing irritation on your skin, this is usually a sign that the mask is contaminated and needs to be washed or replaced.
You can always trust your nose if you doubt whether a mask needs to be washed. First, take a quick whiff of the mask; if there is any odor from the cloth, this could indicate that bacteria may have collected on the surface, and it’s time for a new mask or to give it a good wash.
Washing Masks
How we wash our masks largely depends on the mask we use. Reusable masks typically need to be hand-washed with soap and water. In contrast, you should not clean disposable masks but throw them away after use and replace them with new ones immediately after removal.
When washing a reusable cloth face covering, it’s important to remember not to use bleach, as this can damage the material and make it less effective at filtering out germs. Instead, use warm water and regular laundry detergent or mild soap to gently hand-wash the mask for a few minutes before rinsing off excess soap with clean water. Then, allow the mask to air dry completely before using it again, or place it in direct sunlight for added sanitization – but make sure not to leave it out any longer than necessary, as UV light can also degrade fabric over time.
Since disposable masks are meant for single-time use only, they should not be washed but thrown away after each use. Ensure you have enough disposable masks to replace with clean ones each time you wear them. And always remember to put used disposable masks into a sealed garbage bag after removal, as they could still contain infectious particles even after they’ve been removed from your face.
Sanitizing Masks
To ensure maximum safety, it also helps to sanitize our masks and simply wash them with warm water and soap each time we wear them. This can help reduce the number of germs on the surface of our masks and make them more effective at protecting us from viruses and other forms of illness. Here are some methods you can use:
Regular soap will do fine if you can’t access other sanitizing products. Soak your cloth face covering in warm water mixed with soap for several minutes before rinsing off excess suds with clean water and air drying completely before using again. Be sure to leave the face covered in soapy water only as long as necessary, as this could cause deterioration over time.
Using an iron is great for pressing wrinkles out of fabric masks, but it can also help kill germs. Before pressing your face mask with an iron, coat both sides lightly with an anti-bacterial spray before ironing with medium heat (make sure not to get too close, though – no more than an inch away). Be sure NOT to leave any moisture underneath while ironing, as this could cause discoloration or damage over time. Once finished, give your cloth face covering one final spray before wearing it again to reduce germs further.
Disinfectant wipes are a great way to quickly sanitize cloth masks without having to go through the process of washing them first. Simply wipe down both sides of your cloth face covering with a disinfectant wipe until all visible dirt has been removed, then let air dry completely before wearing again. Be sure not to throw away used wipes until after they’ve properly dried so you don’t spread any germs around your home by accident.
Storing Masks
Once you’ve cleaned and sanitized your masks, there are certain precautions you should take when storing them so they don’t become contaminated again before their next use. First, it’s important to store clean face coverings in clean areas free from dust or other particles that could potentially contaminate them while they’re being stored; avoid storing them in bedroom drawers where dust often accumulates. Additionally, ensure that whatever container you choose is ventilated so that moisture doesn’t build up; this could lead to mildew growth, rendering your face coverings unusable. A good option is getting a small plastic box with holes drilled in it where you can store multiple masks without compromising their breathability or sanitation levels. If you are looking to safely store masks in your car that allows for convenient access en route to work or an event, investing in a designated mask holder that easily attaches to your car visor is a must.
To prevent moisture accumulation in storage containers, leaving the containers open is advisable. This permits air to circulate, preventing the buildup of humid air within enclosed containers. In addition, a breathable fabric case specially designed for storing multiple cloth face coverings has ventilation holes sewn into them, ensuring moisture does not accumulate during storage.
Replacing Masks
It is important to replace facial coverings regularly for maximum safety, even if all necessary precautions have been taken, such as washing and sanitizing after each use. This is especially true for masks used during intense physical activities like exercising or outdoor sports such as running or jogging. However, there are two critical situations where replacing masks should always be considered:
After engaging in extended physical activities such as running or jogging outdoors, where sweat buildup is more significant than usual, or even during milder activities like walking, replacing your facial covering with a freshly washed one is advisable. Despite minimal visible dirt buildup, sweat alone can affect the mask’s breathing performance over time. By doing so, your cloth face coverings will remain effective enough to filter germs even during strenuous activities where sweat may accumulate on masks more quickly than usual.
Another important consideration is to assess any damage caused by wear and tear each time before wearing facial coverings again, especially when intentional adjustments have been made, such as cutting off ear loops. If the damage is noticeable, it is important to replace masks immediately, such as worn-out fabric edges or frayed ear loops. It’s always better to be safe than sorry in such cases.
Conclusion
Maintaining your masks’ cleanliness and reusability is crucial to ensure your community’s safety and well-being. Consider these tips to keep your masks clean and safe. Identifying soiled masks to wash properly and sanitizing, storing, and replacing them, these tips will keep you and your masks protected and hygienic. Follow these tips for optimal safety and effectiveness.