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Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended wearing face masks to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, and with disposable masks in short supply, it's important to know how to handle and clean reusable cloth masks correctly.
When we spoke with Tania Elliott MD, an immunologist and national spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, she reiterated the importance of covering your face in public. "Many people can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus, so you may have it and be spreading it without even knowing," she said. "Therefore, wearing a mask protects others in the event that you sneeze or cough while you're talking and respiratory particles are transmitted into the air." Dr. Elliott added, "A mask should be worn whenever you cannot be more than six feet apart from people."
Can I clean my face mask at home?
Disposable masks made from non-woven fibers, KN95, and N95 masks cannot be safely cleaned at home. Exposure to excessive amounts of water and
Because of supply chain shortages, N95 mask inventor Dr. Peter Tsai and scientists at the University of Tennessee are studying the effectiveness of using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light as a disinfectant. However, no procedures for cleaning these masks at home have been approved.
If you have a KN95 or N95 mask, they can be worn up to five times by the same person according to the CDC. There are exceptions if the mask is used in certain medical procedures, damaged, or heavily soiled.
Fabric face masks, on the other hand, can and should be washed at home. They can be reused until they're torn or no longer fit the face of the wearer.
How to wear and remove a face mask correctly
Before you put on a face mask, wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer. Identify the exterior and interior sides of the mask. Always be sure to place the interior surface next to your skin. The mask should be worn tightly against the face and cover both your nose and mouth. Try not to touch the mask while you are wearing it.
When it is time to remove the mask, slip the elastic bands from your ears, or untie the strings. Do not grab the front of the mask to remove it from your face. Using the strings or elastic bands, place the mask directly in a paper bag for disposal, or to hold it until you're ready to wash or wear it.
Wash your hands again.
Steps for cleaning a cloth face mask
Dr. Elliott recommends cleaning cloth masks after each use. It's a good idea to have several masks on hand that can be rotated, so a clean one is always readily available.
Cloth masks can be machine-washed or hand-washed. When handling soiled masks, it's a good idea to wear disposable gloves and keep the masks away from your face.
How to disinfect cloth masks
While testing different cleaning methods on fabrics in a textile lab, I learned that washing cotton in hot water and drying it on the high heat setting will effectively sanitize it. However, if someone in your household is ill or has a compromised immune system, you may want to add a disinfectant to the wash cycle when cleaning fabric masks.
The type of disinfectant you should use depends on your mask's fabric. While chlorine bleach is an excellent disinfectant, it can weaken and discolor fabrics if used incorrectly. Always read product labels and carefully follow directions.
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