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?

@Archiduchesse

Yes. Treat them like knickers - wear once, do not turn inside out, change if damp or soiled! 😀

I like it!

Ours are worn once, out in one of those mesh washing bags, washed in a 40 degree wash (with Dettol laundry liquid if I remember). Then ironed (as they are 3 ply cotton and look horrible creased - I'm fussy lol) which should kill any germs.

Two a day but they are then thrown away as where I work we have to wear disposable and not 'fashion' masks.

Mine is washed after every use. I wash my mask at the sink with antibacterial hand wash, hand up to dry and wash my hands. It dries quickly and they get machine washed every week. I just gather them up and wash them steam shot with the iron to sanitise.

I'm a retired nurse and feel that a mask is contaminated once it's worn once whether that be for 5 mins or 2 hours. I keep a clean and dirty box in the car. As soon as I get back in the car mask goes in dirty box. If I need another mask later I put on a fresh one. Masks are w hand washed in very hot water.

I bought a pack of 10 all the same and now I’m worried people will be thinking I’m wearing the same one day in day out lol

I think it is normal to wash them daily.

However I hand wash my reusable ones so your friends seeming to wear the same one doesn't mean it isn't being washed.

I don’t wash mine every day but I wfh and only wear it for about 15mins when I’m doing the school pick up so it barley gets any use. If I was wearing it all day I’d probably use a clean one every day.

Although now I’ve read your post I’m probably going the throw them all in the wash tonight

@StormcloakNord

Oh dear. You'd hate me lol

I have about 3 masks I often scramble to find. Bought them at the start of this pandemic and they've never been washed whoops!

I only wear them because I have to though, not because I think it offers any form of protection.

Me too. I honestly don't know anybody who isn't the same. Whatever mask is in your bag, glove box, pocket, whatever.

Yes I do but I have a severe lung disease and don't want to risk any increase in infection from a festering mask.

I hand wash and hang to dry like others have said. I also have several that are the same so I'm not sure how you would know.

I only wear one for school run and going to the shops so I don't wash it every day. Plus I have three of the same fabric, so it probably looks like I never wash it, but generally wear one a week!

Change my face mask every day and wash them. Frankly shocked some don't do this.

Actually take that back I'm not shocked. Nothing shocks me now thanks to Covid

I only wear a mask when entering shops and outside picking up the children. So no I don’t wear fresh every day or wash inbetween. I think if I were wearing it to a job and it was getting worn all day then yes, I’d wash each day or dispose of a surgical mask daily.

I only wear mine to the shops etc and hand wash it when I get back. I've occasionally forgotten and fished it out of my pocket for a second wear but it's usually washed and dried after every wear (even if only 10 mins)

My masks are washed after every wear - I think this is standard

I do wash my mask after each use. I have about 8 I keep in a small soft bag inside my main bag.

I wouldn't wear it again. Though I will say I have a few clothes masks that are the same so be sure they aren't wearing a clean one and they haven't got a few the same.

Same to me as knickers. They need changing every day at least once.

I thought I hadn't put my mask bag in my bag the other week. My friend offered to lend me one of hers.

No no from me. I would have gone to the supermarket and asked for one as they do keep spare or asked them to bring me a pack to open and put one on and put the pack in my trolley.

Each to their own. However like knickers they need changing at least once a day

Wash after every use, normally supermarket or public transport. They get touched my grubby hands so no desire to reuse without washing them.

Spot on @TwatWaffleTwinkleToes

I wash my masks after ever use. If you don’t wash them, apart from the Covid angle, they get grubby and damp. No wonder people get spots!

@cupsofcoffee

I wash mine when I remember to take it out of the car. I only wear it for about ten minutes a week though!

Same as me. 🙂

Yes I have a fresh mask daily. Apparently using a dirty mask is worse / more risky then no mask at all.

I have a mask around gear stick, and a mask tucked in my bag. I don't think either have been washed and I must have bought them months ago. I haven't caught covid yet, so I'm not worried.

A lot of people get a multi pack so they may look similar but not be the same ones.
I have to wear one every day for work apparently you’re meant to change it every 2 hours or something but I just wear the sand one all day and then a new one the following day and then put them all on the wash.

I posted upthread about the couple I heard where the woman was saying she couldn’t go in a shop with her dh because “you’ve got THE mask”.

The thought of going out shopping with dh with one shared mask....