Reusable face coverings serve as a simple barrier to help reduce the spread of respiratory droplets. For these cloth masks to remain an effective tool, maintaining a high standard of hygiene is important. Understanding the necessary cleaning practices ensures the mask continues to function as intended.
How Often Masks Require Cleaning
The most consistent recommendation is to wash your cloth face mask after every single use. This practice addresses the accumulation of moisture and particles that occurs throughout the day, preventing them from lingering in the fabric. If you wear a mask for only a short period, it should still be cleaned at least once daily before its next use.
Immediate cleaning is necessary if the mask becomes visibly soiled or wet from sweat, saliva, or environmental factors like rain. A damp mask can become difficult to breathe through and offers less effective filtration than a dry one.
Storing a mask between uses requires a clean environment, like a paper or mesh fabric bag, if it is still dry and clean. If the mask is wet or dirty, it should be placed in a sealed plastic bag until it can be washed. This prevents the transfer of contaminants to other surfaces.
The Health Consequences of Dirty Masks
Wearing an unwashed mask introduces biological and environmental matter directly onto the skin and into the breathing zone. Each exhaled breath traps moisture, creating a warm, humid microenvironment ideal for microbial growth on the mask’s inner surface. This promotes the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms naturally present on the skin and in the breath.
The accumulation of exhaled moisture, skin oils, and dead skin cells contributes to various dermatological issues. This can lead to contact dermatitis, irritation, and acneiform eruptions, commonly known as “maskne.” Breathing in the trapped bacteria and viruses from an unwashed mask can also potentially cause sore throats or other respiratory issues.
Beyond skin irritation, a dirty mask loses its protective capacity as the trapped debris and moisture compromise the fabric’s filtering ability. Pathogens and environmental particulates can persist on cloth fibers for several hours, posing a risk if the mask is not regularly disinfected.
Proper Washing and Drying Techniques
Cleaning a reusable cloth mask can be done effectively using a washing machine or by hand, with the goal of sanitizing the fabric without causing damage. When machine washing, the mask can be included with your regular laundry load, ideally using the warmest appropriate water setting for the fabric. Placing the mask in a mesh laundry bag can help prevent the ear loops or ties from becoming stretched or tangled with other garments.
Regular laundry detergent is sufficient for machine washing; however, fragrance-free options may be preferable for those with sensitive skin. After the wash cycle, drying is a particularly important step for sanitization. Masks should be dried on the highest heat setting in a machine dryer for at least an hour to help eliminate remaining pathogens.
If hand washing, use hot, soapy water and scrub the mask for a minimum of 20 seconds. After scrubbing, the mask must be rinsed thoroughly with clean water to remove all detergent residue, which can otherwise cause skin irritation. For cotton masks, a solution of four teaspoons of household bleach per quart of room-temperature water can be used for a five-minute soak, followed by a thorough rinse.
Whether machine or hand washed, the mask must be completely dry before it is worn again. If machine drying is not possible, the mask should be air-dried in direct sunlight, which utilizes ultraviolet light for an added sanitizing effect.