The 'disposable' masks are washable!

[eenymeenyminyme]

I thought everyone knew this but it seems not - I washed one by accident and now do it routinely. I find them more comfortable than the cotton ones as I believe others do too.

Just wanted to share and save the environment a bit

Agree - one went through the wash be accident here too and it looks absolutely fine

Bloody hell, they kept that quiet Think of how many less would be thrown into landfill or just left to litter the streets if we'd know from the start!

I only wear cotton reusable, as I can't bear to think of the waste.

The blue papery ones? Really?

I accidentally put one through the wash and was very surprised at how well it came out

I threw it away though (it hadn’t been used...it was just in someones pocket)

@HermioneWeasley

The blue papery ones? Really?

Yep, those ones!

Yes I have had a few sneak through in school uniform pockets they come out fine!

The question is, not whether it's intact enough to wear, but has the porosity been affected. It may be more comfortable because you can breathe through it more easily, which in turn means it's not doing its job so well.

@MereDintofPandiculation

The question is, not whether it's intact enough to wear, but has the porosity been affected. It may be more comfortable because you can breathe through it more easily, which in turn means it's not doing its job so well.

This.

They may survive the wash basically intact but that’s not the only question.

Yes I've washed a few left in pockets and they came out fine so just throw them in now. They haven't disintegrated or anything yet (I mean they probably will after a few washes).

The metal strip eventually wears out so it doesn't fit properly but yeah a few washes is fine,

When they are washed they are no longer water resistant so are fine to use as an everyday face covering, but are no longer suitable for their intention in use in surgery to prevent droplet contamination of surgical sites. This is why it is not put on the box as it makes them unsuitable for their intended use.

@MereDintofPandiculation

The question is, not whether it's intact enough to wear, but has the porosity been affected. It may be more comfortable because you can breathe through it more easily, which in turn means it's not doing its job so well.

I think they have a water-repellent coating to stop the water droplets that carry the virus from adhering the mask - I think this comes off in the wash perhaps?

They're not effective post washing though. Or at any rate, not effective enough to be reused at our workplace (MH unit).

Yes they are - if you have good quality ones you can definetly wash them even a few times. Mine are thrown away after they got a bit out of shape/ get fluffy on the outside.

www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Disposable-masks-can-be-reused-and-washed-up-to-10-times-says-French-group-UFC-Que-Choisir

masks could withstand washing at 60C, tumble drying and ironing 10 times before they started to lose their filtration capacity

Well, who knew. I shall wash the next mask!

@MereDintofPandiculation

The question is, not whether it's intact enough to wear, but has the porosity been affected. It may be more comfortable because you can breathe through it more easily, which in turn means it's not doing its job so well.

Who cares. Very few people wear them for any reason because they’ve been told to and to stop hassle.

The quicker these things go back to hell the better.

As long as you are ok with what is effectively a kitchen towel over your face you’ll be grand!

I was just about to post the connexion France link... masks can be washed and reused 10 times without loss of function.

We wash ours too. We mostly use cloth ones so we're still on our first pack of disposable ones. They are probably more hygienic straight out of your own washing machine than something that's been hanging around a supermarket floor. Perfect for the school run but won't be performing surgery in one.

No, you can't do medical stuff in them, just the same as for cloth ones, but they're fine for wandering around the supermarket, just the same as for cloth ones. And they're not uncomfortably soggy by the time you reach the checkout, unlike the cloth ones.

@MereDintofPandiculation

The question is, not whether it's intact enough to wear, but has the porosity been affected. It may be more comfortable because you can breathe through it more easily, which in turn means it's not doing its job so well.

But it still fulfills its prime function - showing willing, preventing you being fined.

Yes I’ve been doing this for months. I wash them very gently in the kitchen sink in warm soapy water. Then pat them dry on a tea towel.
I find the elastic sometimes comes off but you can easily sew it back on.

I’ve washed loads left in pockets. If you cover them with something you can iron them too (the ones I’ve washed have been all screwed up). Without covering them, they stick all over your iron 😂

@Tinselandbaubauls

I’ve washed loads left in pockets. If you cover them with something you can iron them too (the ones I’ve washed have been all screwed up). Without covering them, they stick all over your iron 😂

ooh, the voice of bitter experience