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?

You're supposed to change every 2/3h.... And yes wash before reusing.

They've been washed maybe 5 times in the last year.....

I've literally never washed one . I have lots but I just pick one up as needed. I also only wear them as I have to and was never too worried about Covid so I just didn't bother. YANBU to follow the "rules" though!

One used it goes in a plastic bag, then I use hand gel and mask gets washed or sprayed with dettol virus spray when I get home. Reused once dry. Rinse and repeat. What's the point if people aren't washing them or disinfecting them?

I tend to take the worn one out of my bag and stick it with the laundry, then put a fresh one in. However eg today I wore a mask to walk to a table in a restaurant, then to walk out so it has stayed in my bag. When I get my hair cut I always have two, one for the cut (fringe so bits creep under it) then a fresh one if I need to go anywhere afterwards.

I also have loads all the same, band logo on the front. People probably assume I'm using the same one but I alternate.

@getyourfreakon

One used it goes in a plastic bag, then I use hand gel and mask gets washed or sprayed with dettol virus spray when I get home. Reused once dry. Rinse and repeat. What's the point if people aren't washing them or disinfecting them?

No point 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wear one for after school club pick up in the playground. It’s on for no more than 2-3 minutes outdoors and never closer than about 4-5m to another adult or child that’s not my own. I do wear the same mask 2-3 days in a row if I go nowhere else between.
If I go shopping or to the hairdresser or chiropractor then I wash the mask straight after.

You do it how it should be done OP. I am less organised and wash my masks about once a month, wear other family members when I don't have mine with me and find them stuffed into the bottom of dirty bands all the time.

I go days without wearing one. I don't go out to work and my OH does the food shopping. I wear one for about 5 minutes twice a week on the day I take and collect my grandchild to school. My daughter is looking at flats at the moment and I wear one if I go and look around a flat with her.
I went to cast my vote the other day and completely forgot to take one with me. Fortunately I had a scarf on so just held that up to my face for the 2 minutes it took me to put a cross in the box.
Why would I bother to wash my mask every day? I only wash it when I think it needs to be washed = probably twice in the last 5 months or so

If I’ve only used it popping in the shop for 5 mins, I will reuse, but I wear a different mask every day to work and throw it in the wash straight away when I get home.

Makes me fee ill seeing people with grubby blue disposable ones they’ve obviously been wearing for months 🤢

@ProvisionallyAnxious

I recall when I joined Mumsnet a big topic of conversation / debate was how often you should change your bed. I suspect that where a person is on the spectrum of bed changing probably reflects where they are on the spectrum of mask washing. 😅

I change my bedcovers weekly, wash masks far less often.

My DP changes bedcovers fortnightly, and he reuses the same disposable mask for weeks/months (he bought a packet of 10 when maskwearing became compulsory, and still has one or 2 left).

So based on that I don't think there's any correlation between mask and bed washing!

I do think it makes a difference if you have to wear them all day at work, or on public transport etc rather than for us who are only wearing them in the supermarket. It's like clothes washing - I wouldn't wash an item I'd worn for less than half an hour, but I'd always wash something I'd worn all day at work.

All masks are only worn once and thrown in with that days wash load. Clean masks on radiator every morning ready to be picked back up on out way out. We each have at least 5. I can't stand them dirty

My hygiene habits are low by MN standards but yes I wear a clean one every day, sometimes more than one if it was required say in the morning then evening. It's gross to be reusing them.

And to all the PP saying 'I only wear one because I have to' - ??? That is literally the case for everyone. Nobody is wearing them for the enjoyment of it!

My goodness, in Germany we are not allowed out in public unless wearing an OP or FFP mask.

OK... I don't think I have ever washed my reusable face mask.

I don't always wear it though as I get disposable ones through work which I sometimes wear a few times and then end up with a few in my handbag and I put on whichever one I happen to pull out.

Can't believe people bother washing after every use tbh!

If I only wear it for a few minutes (eg popping into the chemist for a prescription) I’ll rewear it, if I’ve had it on for longer I’ll put it in the wash. So I guess each of mine is worn for less time than your school or work day, but spread over more days?

I'm on about my third disposable one since last July. I have been wearing them till they either fall apart or get lost. Only use them for the shops and nursery pick.up though - so only 10-30 mins and not every day. I admit they are pretty grim.

So think it through, masks dont catch the virus alone, they catch water droplets containing live viruses/virion. So touching the outside of the masks = contact with said viruses. They can take a few days to die .... so if you wear it the next day and it happens to have viruses embedded in the material then you could exchange here

Essentially just wash them! I use a disposable mash and get rid of I've been in a supermarket/hospital etc and don't use again that day - best safe than sorry

I cant imagine it would be good for you to use an unwashed face mask. Surely there could be bacteria growing on it that you are breathing in?

I see it as basic hygiene washing my face mask every day. Just as I change my knickers every day.

My goodness, in Germany we are not allowed out in public unless wearing an OP or FFP mask.

But you can also have visitors inside your home so guess it's swings and roundabouts really

I have several made from the same material. People at work probably think it’s the same one every day 😂. OP - do what feels right for you and don’t worry what other folk are doing.

New one every day, just like underwear

Washed after every use here, but we’re a household of schoolchildren/ teachers so wearing them all day, 5 days a week.

We do have several identical ones though as we bulk bought when they were on offer at Home Bargains- wouldn’t go casting accusations against colleagues if I were you OP!

I sleep in mine (can't be too careful) and then shower in it in the morning. They can get a big soggy after a couple of days and I have had to poke some disintegrated bits down the plug hole with DP's toothbrush.
But yes, providing I have a shower, it is washed every day.