How do you wash your masks?

[albustydumbledore]

Posting for traffic.

Hot wash?
Reg wash?

Would soaking in boiling water be enough?

Hand wash as hot as I can handle (scald to start with then wash when it's cooled down enough to put hands in) because I'm scared of the elastic stretching too much in the machine. Hot iron to try to kill off anything that's left.

Yes but you're not seeing in them are you? Surely if you were, you'd change them frequently? Peeing? I'm not peeing in my face covering, or coughing or sneezing, just breathing. It looks clean and doesn't smell.

Regular wash

@peajotter - the reason to wash them is that it’s highly likely that you might touch the main bit of the mask, then touch something else, thus transferring virus that someone else could catch (assuming you might be infectious). So it’s not about avoiding infecting yourself. And also just to keep it clean, given it sits right on your face!

I don't, and I am still alive! I've probably killed off several grannies though!

Normal wash, because soap kills covid.

Just a normal wash and tumble dry. I only do it once a week or so - I probably wear mine for five minutes a week max!

A fresh mask for every time I put it on/take it off - which is why if I'm running errands you'll see me driving with it on, despite the "how ridiculous" comments on here.

Bung in wash with everything else. Or handwash if i need one tomorrow and am not doing a wash. I have 3, and dont need for work/ transport, just for shops, church, etc.

They go in the wash with everything else and in the dryer with everything else.

I'm not.

The government advice is:

“ Wash your face covering regularly and follow the washing instructions for the fabric. You can use your normal detergent. You can wash and dry it with other laundry.”

Here

You really don’t need to do it in a very hot wash, or iron it to apply even more heat. The point is that the virus is made inactive by simple soap and water by about 20 seconds - it doesn’t need extra heat and a washing machine cycle is way longer than 20secs!. Here’s a quick explanation of the science: from the BBC

I wash in normal wash and air dry or tumble them...hope that isn't wrong! Tempted by disposables if there is a whole system I have to follow. I just got used to washing nappies and reusable wipes. At least washing those the wrong way only results in a leaky nappy at worst!

@Botherfreedays

There are several stages in my routine. Firstly I shake off the dirt that has collected on it from the car footwell. Then, as I get out of the car I rub it on my trouser leg. Then for the belt and braces sanitation I wave it around in the fresh air while I walk to the shop door where, ta-dah, I have a clean fresh mask to wear

This made me laugh so much disturbed sleeping ds 🤣🤣

@Wigeon fair enough about cleaning things that sit on your face, I will probably wash my current one once I’ve worn it for an hour or so total, I’m not a frequent mask wearer. And I tend to make new ones because I like the pretty fabric.

But I’m not convinced by the risk of touching things after touching my unwashed mask. I touch my face, mask, bag, keys, steering wheel. Then I sanitise my hands before entering the shop. A clean mask makes very little difference to the amount of virus on my hands. I am more worried about those I see who put on a clean mask but don’t sanitise because “the mask is clean and I didn’t touch my face”.

I refuse to buy disposables, that would be contributing to a bigger problem than Covid.

@whirlwindwallaby

I refuse to buy disposables, that would be contributing to a bigger problem than Covid.

Same here.

@whirlwindwallaby

I refuse to buy disposables, that would be contributing to a bigger problem than Covid.

I don't like contributing to the waste. I mean, obviously, I use reusable nappies and wipes, so it's on my radar. But temporarily, I might, if I had to learn another new system. I've got one system for my reusable nappies and wipes, another for clothes and another for reusable sanpro. And they're all different fecking temperatures as well. I may have reached my limit for special washes before I'm more of a problem than just binning things. Also, where I live there isn't landfill so to speak, as everything is incinerated and the energy from that is used to power houses in the area. Not 100% green, but could be worse. I'm sure someone will come up with a recyclable mask soon enough!

@Botherfreedays

There are several stages in my routine. Firstly I shake off the dirt that has collected on it from the car footwell. Then, as I get out of the car I rub it on my trouser leg. Then for the belt and braces sanitation I wave it around in the fresh air while I walk to the shop door where, ta-dah, I have a clean fresh mask to wear

I am impressed at how thorough you are!! Fabulous 😂😂😂

Thank you, Wigeon, that UK govt link is more up-to-date than mine.

So, in with the normal wash they go.

But, if my masks can just go in with clothes, as I have been doing, that's fine.

Also, I'm not wearing them for myself or anyone I live with necessarily as we are all low risk, so possibly it is ok to wash them the easy way?

Yes it's fine to wash them with other laundry

Stick them in the regular wash about once a fort might when it gets a bit whiffy

Ours go in a 60 degree wash as per instructions in a net bag.

I don't use power as can't stand the smell close up.

Wash on a 60 with the tea towels and a glug of Dettol laundry stuff (because that's how I always wash my tea towels)