Washing reusable masks?

[Reallyworried69]

How often do you do it? After every wear however brief? If you do a weekly shop? Once a week? I'm not sure what's advisable.

About washing disposable masks.

You can do it. They won't disintegrate.

BUT they will not retain their filtering properties.
Masks need to be water resistant and have very small "holes". Disposable masks are not likely to maintain their properties after washing despite appearing ok.

Why? Soap denatures the virus, so why can't they be washed at low temperature? Just like my hands, body and the rest of my clothes.

You're not just washing the virus, but other viruses and bacteria and fungi that you exhale too. Your mask will be full of them too.
Bacteria can have molecules on their coats that are not destroyed just by soap. And they can stick to the fabric, particularly as it is a filter, and be harder to remove. 60oC ensures that all other bugs are removed too.

I don't wear one very often but I wash mine in the washing machine with everything else at 40 degrees. That is sufficient but I also give it a hot steam iron which should should kill anything.

At the end of the day they get a handwash in a bowl of soapy water. Then they're dry by the morning.

Anyone else getting more coldsores since wearing masks in this heat? I've got a right humdinger on my lip at the moment.

We don't wash our hands at 60 but hand washing is highly effective. Soap breaks down the virus itself as well as loosening it from surfaces, which is why a wash in warm soapy water is fine for the mask as well as for your hands.

Christ, who would have thought this time last year we would be talking about how to wash our facemasks. This whole year has weirded me out.

@Purplewithred

We don't wash our hands at 60 but hand washing is highly effective. Soap breaks down the virus itself as well as loosening it from surfaces, which is why a wash in warm soapy water is fine for the mask as well as for your hands.

You have to scrub your hands, which is more difficult within the fabric of the mask, hence 60oC is recommended.

Also see about bugs other than this virus.(see post earlier today)

@gamerchick

Christ, who would have thought this time last year we would be talking about how to wash our facemasks. This whole year has weirded me out.

At least it's only masks. Imagine having had your home just blown out like in Lebanon.

Masks are a tiny thing, fgs.

Steam irons, people. No need to argue about soap or temperature.

And Lweji, tragedies around the world do not make the changes occurring here any less weird.

@picklemewalnuts

Steam irons, people. No need to argue about soap or temperature.

And Lweji, tragedies around the world do not make the changes occurring here any less weird.

Yes, they are weird. Just no need for all the angst I see.

There's a saying in my country: if my grandmother hadn't died, she'd be alive today. Our lives change, for all sorts of reasons.

Washing masks well is important to dislodge particles, that can end up clogging pores, and to remove organic matter, not just inactivate sars-cov-2 or other bugs.
Masks are supposed to be traps for very small particles, thus dislodging them shouldn't be that easy.
A steam iron does not do this, even if it can kill the bugs.

At least it's only masks. Imagine having had your home just blown out like in Lebanon

Masks are a tiny thing, fgs

No angst from me and I'm allowed to say something is weird when it is... Despite all the other shit going on in the world

Well mine has never seen the washing machine.

@fedupwiththeidots

*This is not correct. It has been established that droplet transmission is important and that particle transmission plays a key role too. The virus is essntially airborne.*

Link? To a peer reviewed RCT that shows masks work? otherwise your word is worth shit.

I agree the virus is largely airborne. Droplet transmission is irrelevant in eg a supermarket where people pass at a distance fleetingly. Aerosol transmission may occur. But there is not one shred of evidence to say masks have a benefit in this situation.

In the meantime, there are RCT to show that cloth masks spread viruses:

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577

Did you even read the comment by the author of the 2015 study (therefore not covid) in 2020, which is at the top?

And the WHO is now recommending masks based on the growing scientific evidence that they do help prevent transmission, along with social distancing and handwashing.
You're welcome to inspect their evidence, which is public.
I may give a link to a study showing that surface transmission is less important, when I'm in the mood.

In any case, the WHO doesn't recommend any cloth mask. It gives guidelines for the most effective masks, if you bother to search.

I find it amusing when people spout crap, demand scientific evidence from others, then post a link to something that is irrelevant or too old.

I wash mine after 2x I wore it. I need to buy another one or two, so I can wash them after every time I use one

Masks have stopped social distancing though. Woman in my local shop said people are right in their faces now. Like a mask offers some magical protection

That's definitely happened round here too. There is zero social distancing going on in places where people are wearing masks.

I’m not washing them after every wear, I don’t have enough, am wearing them for as little time as possible and don’t want to buy more. If it’s about stopping particles and is for other people’s benefit rather than mine then I don’t see how it makes any difference anyway. While it’s sunny weather I’m putting them out in the sun after wearing so maybe the UV light will do something.

Where is it? Is it an RCT?

Where is the RCT for the efficacy of parachutes?

Mine is on and off all day when I'm on the office as I have to put it on every time I leave my desk. I'm not sitting there with it on so I'd probably need about 10 a day if I changed it every time! It then goes in the washing basket and is washed at 40 in the weekly wash. I'm not doing a separate wash for masks!

@Lweji

Why? Soap denatures the virus, so why can't they be washed at low temperature? Just like my hands, body and the rest of my clothes.

You're not just washing the virus, but other viruses and bacteria and fungi that you exhale too. Your mask will be full of them too.
Bacteria can have molecules on their coats that are not destroyed just by soap. And they can stick to the fabric, particularly as it is a filter, and be harder to remove. 60oC ensures that all other bugs are removed too.

Thanks. Like others I'm sure, I've definitely lost sight of "non-covid" dangers. In the case if masks, these probably are non! - negligible, given they're worn directly over mouth and nose. Will do a 60 degree wash occasionally (although likely not after every use if I'm honest. Live alone, so that's either lots of masks or lots of unnecessary washing m) to prevent giving myself a respiratory infection!

I don't wear those cloth things but I must remember to retrieve DH's buff thing from his trouser pocket...