Here’s How Often to Wash Your Face Mask
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – even in January and February, when things really didn’t get worse in the US – there have been mixed messages when it comes to wearing masks . At Lifehacker, we are fortunate to have our Senior Health Editor Beth Skorecki on this matter all this time, providing us with an update on all mask policy changes .
But one question that comes up all the time is how often we should wash our cloth face masks. According to new information recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), we must wash our masks at least once a day. Here’s what you need to know.
How Often To Wash A Cloth Mask
Last week, WHO released new guidelines for wearing masks based on new scientific evidence. (You can read everything here .)
While much of what’s included in the update is common sense – such as advising people 60 and older and people with weakened immune systems to wear masks in situations where social distancing is not possible – it also contains some helpful infographics about wearing masks. … And one of them conceals their new recommendation to wash masks at least once a day.
As per these updated guidelines , here’s what you should do whenever you remove your fabric mask:
- Wash your hands before removing the mask.
- Remove the mask by the straps behind the ears or behind the head.
- Remove the mask from your face.
- Store the mask in a clean resealable plastic bag unless it is dirty or damp and you plan to reuse it.
- When removing the mask from the bag, remove it by the straps.
- Wash the mask with soap or detergent, preferably hot water, at least once a day.
- After removing the mask, wash your hands.
And if you’re a city dweller and don’t have your own washing machine, the Mayo Clinic says the cloth masks can also be hand washed. In any case, like the WHO, they recommend using hot water and detergent.
Viruses aside, now that summer has come and many parts of the country are quickly hot, humid and disgusting, you probably want to wash off that wet and sweaty mask anyway. And no, as Beth Skorecki previously pointed out , pouring essential oils over cloth masks is not equivalent to washing them:
One thing: don’t expect essential oils to protect you if you are using a mask. There’s a news anchor making a great bandana mask guide telling people that lavender and peppermint oils are “antibacterial” and “help fight germs.” COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not bacteria, and there is no reason to believe that applying essential oils to a bandana will do anything about the virus. (Nice smell in your mask that blocks disease? This is some crap from a 17th century plague doctor .)
So if you are the type of person who leaves the house relatively regularly, you probably want to get some cloth masks so you can change them while the used masks are washing and drying. And unlike a few weeks ago, it is now fairly easy to find fabric masks at affordable prices, especially on sites like Etsy .
To learn more about face masks, watch this video: