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What you should know about washing cloth masks
These are four things to know about maintaining your cloth face masks' cleanliness.
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After being washed, it is important for cloth face masks to be hung out to dry. (shutterstock.com/praditkhorn somboonsa/File)
H
omemade fabric face masks are often seen as the eco-friendly, affordable alternatives to mass-produced masks, given the government’s recommendation to wear masks to flatten the COVID-19 curve.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend such masks for the public because surgical masks or N-95 respirators should be reserved for medical staff.
The effectiveness of cloth masks depends on the fabric’s ability to filter particles while still being comfortable to wear. According to the University of Utah Health, in the United States, cotton and T-shirt fabrics can be used as materials. And even if your face is covered, it is important to avoid touching the mask’s surface and to wash your hands properly for 20 seconds after wearing them.
Washing your reusable cloth masks is equally important as virus droplets may stick to their surfaces and it's highly recommended to clean them after each use.
The CDC note that the frequency of washing your masks depends on how often they are worn.
Read also: DIY cloth masks: Not ideal but good zero-waste alternative
Dimitar Marinov, assistant professor of the Medical University of Varna’s department of hygiene, told Huffington Post that people should wash their masks every two hours, especially when they’re in public places where physical distancing can be a challenge.
The way you wash your fabric face masks should be adjusted to the type of fabric. The CDC recommend putting cloth face coverings in washing machines.
Similarly, the University of Utah Health also recommends that fabric masks are cleaned with hot water (71.1 degrees Celsius) in a washing machine with soap or detergent. Afterward, rinse them with water and hang them to dry.
If a washing machine isn’t available, dermatologist Emily de Golian suggests hand-washing by using soap or detergent and scrubbing for a minimum of 20 seconds with warm water, according to cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com. (wir/wng)
