Whether one is buying reusable cloth face masks or sewing his or her own, they all need to be washed often. New masks should always be washed before wearing for the first time. Usually, the best masks for young children are the ones they will put on and keep on. Many face masks can be tossed into a washing machine, however, since it may involve many risks such as wear and tear due to mechanical aspects and high temperatures, you can also wash them with your hands, as well.
Laundry detergents work great on face masks. For sensitive skins, the masks should ideally be washed with a fragrance-free detergent. For drying the washed masks, dryers can be used, however, it is not recommended, since the heat may accelerate wear and tear. In such cases, it is better to air-dry the masks, using a blow dryer or natural air.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines masks should be washed regularly. There’s usually no need to use hot water when while washing a mask. The coronavirus can be easily broken down with soap and water, and the water temperature does not affect it.
It must be made sure that the mask is completely dry before use. “Masks are very small, and they will easily dry overnight,” according to Cornell University fiber scientist Juan Hinestroza. Clean out your sink, and then pour some warm water and soap (or laundry detergent) into it. “Any soap works,” says Hinestroza. Swish your mask around to make sure the water and soap completely saturate it, then rinse it off really well. The goal is to rinse off any soap residue left on the mask.”, adds Hinestroza.
