It is normal to wash face masks every day, isn’t it?

[Bvop]

Promoted by another thread - but also by a couple of friends who always seem to be wearing the same face mask: what’s normal re washing? I have one mask all day at work but it goes in the laundry basket when I get home, as do the kids’ and if we go out again we get new masks from the basket of clean ones. This is normal, isn’t it, and it’s gross to wear the same mask unwashed for more than one day?

I only wear my mask for the 10 mins it takes me to nip round Tesco a couple of times a month.

I think I've worn the same 'disposable' mask for almost a year now and, if people are honest, there are lots of people who do the same.

It's a joke, and I can't wait for them to be gone.

The only person it could possibly harm not washing the mask is me. And I had covid right at the start of the first lockdown.

Another here who only wears masks because it's the law/ to make others feel more comfortable (tbf though, I've followed all the covid rules re. distancing/ stay at home/ necessary journeys only etc to the letter, as my DD is CEV).

TBH, mine can live in my pocket for weeks without washing. I r

Wearing a mask isn’t to protect you but others. Don’t be so selfish.

been an ICU nurse for over 20 years so it's part of my job.

If true that's scary.

It doesn't sound like you read the article in full. There's far more than one study contained. It's a review of literature & investigation.

Do you also want to de-bunk the WHO myth-buster site?

Why do you think you have any credibility when it comes to this?

I despair.

@Parker231

Wearing a mask isn’t to protect you but others. Don’t be so selfish.

Who is being selfish? Everyone here is wearing a mask. Just because you think it’s pointless, it doesn’t mean that your mask wearing somehow becomes less effective.

The studies are garbage.

Why? What evidence?

There are plenty of references in that article, as well as evidence from the WHO and fact checking organisations to support the point. And yet, your response is the pithy, uninformed 'garbage'.

It's really sad to see that people revel in their ignorance, and when provided with evidence, still happily ignore it & feel justified to continue propagating nonsense.

If you could back up your assertions, fair enough.

Who is being selfish? Everyone here is wearing a mask. Just because you think it’s pointless, it doesn’t mean that your mask wearing somehow becomes less effective

This.

I'm just of the opinion that breathing in fresh oxygen is healthier for everyone than recycling your own waste gas for hours on end.

Well, in relation to Covid transmission, you're wrong.

Have an opinion, but maybe make it an informed one?

I dont wash them just buy a new reusable mask every 2 weeks or 3

Popping stuff in the freezer really does not have the same effect as washing. It doesn't get dirt off, bacteria won't grow while in there, but it doesn't kill them, they will merrily start multiplying as soon as they warm up again. Insects and the like will probably be killed, but that's about it.

@APinchOfLOL

Some get worn and binned, some get picked up off the floor of my car and worn when I go to the supermarket, some are new and worn. I basically grab the first thing in front of me and go.

I absolutely HATE wearing a mask with a passion. I can't wait to rip it off my face and burn it. They do nothing except make you miserable and repressed, so no I don't give a damn whether my mask is washed or not.

The other day a pregnant friend of mine fainted and nearly choked on vomit as she couldn't breathe under these face prisons. If they are not dropped soon I am getting a lanyard that says I am exempt and I won't wear one anymore.

🙄

There’s a correlation I think between people who don’t believe masks work and those who never/rarely wash them.

@EarringsandLipstick

been an ICU nurse for over 20 years so it's part of my job.

If true that's scary.

It doesn't sound like you read the article in full. There's far more than one study contained. It's a review of literature & investigation.

Do you also want to de-bunk the WHO myth-buster site?

Why do you think you have any credibility when it comes to this?

I despair.

True dat!

Been an ICU nurse since before the millennium - worked the Y2K bug (computer), many horrendous flu seasons including 2018.

If you want evidence based practise I'm your girl and I keep up to date as per my NMC requirements. If you want a safe EVIDENCE based extubation, intubation, oesophageal Doppler study, pressure care regime, resuscitation, inotrope double pump and so on and so forth then I'm definitely your girl! Have written many policies using evidence 😁

I'm still using the surgical masks. I change mine each day if I don't come into prolonged contact with people.
If I've been to the gp surgery, or to get my jab etc, it comes off when I leave and in the bin.

I'd worry about contaminating myself. I appreciate that my views may be skewed because I do have OCD. But no, if anything, I change mine far more than is required.

Doesn't it start to itch? Smell? Feel weird if you've worn your mask for too long?

I absolutely HATE wearing a mask with a passion. I can't wait to rip it off my face and burn it. They do nothing except make you miserable and repressed, so no I don't give a damn whether my mask is washed or not.

I must say if I felt like that, wearing something dirty and smelly would make it worse.

Mine is washed once in a blue moon but only worn occasionally, not more than once a week for minimal length of time

Yes, I wash mine after each use. I have several so can rotate them. I just chuck them in the washing machine with the rest of the washing.

Like others I am struggling to see the connection between not liking masks and being happy to wear a dirty one

I don’t suppose anyone loves wearing a mask. But, given that it is a legal necessity to enter many places, I would much rather wear a clean one.

I am no Mrs Hinch, my house is always untidy, but I am hygienic. Some people seem proud of being grubby and never washing their clothes, let alone masks. They are not on a higher plane - they are just a bit skanky and, believe me, other people can smell those with stale, unwashed clothes.

And for those who don’t like the smell of washing powder: get unscented washing powder. I bought some scented stuff by mistake a month or so back. It does not get used on masks.

@Vintagevixen, you want evidence but won't read an evidence based review?
An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19
It even explains the lack of RCTs

we all have clean ones every day here. I can't believe people are not washing them, that's so grim

I mean if I was wearing it for longer than 3 minutes per day for the outdoor school pickup I would wash it after every wear but it's just not worth it for that. I don't think that's grim, would you wash anything after that short a wear?!

@homesickinscotland

I mean if I was wearing it for longer than 3 minutes per day for the outdoor school pickup I would wash it after every wear but it's just not worth it for that. I don't think that's grim, would you wash anything after that short a wear?!

Same here. 3 mins a day outside in the fresh air. It’s hardly going to smell after one wear.

Fresh washable mask on the way out the door each day. I bought a load so we wouln't run out.

I only wear mine once a week or so if I pop into the shop. They probably get washed every couple of weeks, whenever I remember.

If I had to wear it for a prolonged period, I would wash every day.