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How to Properly Wash Reusable Face Masks

Singapore has already relaxed its COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, focusing on fundamental measures such as the wearing of masks, safe distancing, and capacity limits. 

Besides surgical masks and N95 respirators, people are also using DIY cloth masks to cover their mouth and nose. It may not be foolproof protection against coronavirus, but it still helps in reducing virus transmission. Now, while one should dispose of medical-grade masks immediately after use, how are you supposed to wash a reusable fabric mask? 

Here’s How You Should Be Washing Your Face Masks 

Reusable face masks are meant to be tossed into the laundry basket after every use. As such, it’s good to have enough face masks to keep in rotation while in between laundry days or your trips to a Singapore laundry service. 

When washing cloth masks at home, it’s enough to load them into the washer, using laundry detergents and the warmest possible water setting. You can also wash them by hand, scrubbing them with soap for at least 20 seconds with warm water. 

“Wash your face masks after every use” leaves a little room for interpretation. Experts recommend peeling off your face mask once it is soiled or the inner lining gets moist. Another consideration is when you feel you may have been exposed to the virus. For example, when you’ve been on public transportation and someone sneezed on you, you would want to remove that mask and change to a new one when you arrive at your destination. It’s a precautionary measure in case it’s gotten contaminated and you wouldn’t want to wait until you get home to take it off. 

Some reusable masks have pockets for filtres and these can be washed, too. You may opt to wash these filtres as often as you wash your masks. But, some suggest that you can get away with wearing them 2-3 times before washing. 

It’s important to note, however, that while cloth masks are washable and reusable, each wash reduces their effectiveness and you’ll have to replace them eventually. The same is true when they are damaged. 

How to Properly Put On, Use & Take Off Masks 

Safety with face masks not only involves how you wash them but also how you put on and remove a mask. Here’s an overview of how to properly use a mask, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before putting on a mask. 

2. Cover your mouth, nose, and chin with a mask. Mold or pinch the wire to the shape of your nose to ensure that there is no space between your face and the mask. 

3. Replace your mask with a new one after every use or as soon as it is damp. Do not reuse your mask. 

4. To take off your mask, remove it from the straps and avoid touching the front. Discard immediately and wash your hands with alcohol or soap and water. 

How Often Should You Wash Your Clothes During a Pandemic? 

While on the topic of washing face masks, you may also be wondering how often you should wash your clothes, particularly your quarantine fashion.

Short answer: it all depends on your social distancing—whether you’re staying at home most of the time or you’re out and about. When you’re out in public, you should assume that everyone around you is carrying the virus and you have to take extra precautions not to carry that back to your home. 

• Toss your clothes in the wash after you’ve been out and about 

When you’re outside in public spaces, it’s essential to stay on top of your hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus. Sanitize your hands and everything you are touching every so often while you’re out and about. 

When you get home, make sure to strip down immediately and toss your clothes in the laundry. You don’t necessarily have to run a load right away though. Several studies suggest that coronavirus doesn’t live long on fabrics. In particular, about 90% of the virus dies within an hour. The best you can do is to keep them contained in a laundry basket until you’re ready to wash them. 

• Wash your clothes as usual when you’ve been staying at home 

When you haven’t been going out, and there’s hardly anyone coming in, then you probably can get away with doing your laundry as usual. Hygiene experts suggest that it would boil down to the type of clothes you’re wearing, how close they are to your skin, and what activities you’re doing while wearing them. 

Your workout clothes, for example, absorb much of your sweat while exercising, thus you should be washing them after every workout. Meanwhile, loose shirts, sweaters, and jeans can go a little longer between washes. You can wear them a couple of times or for a few days as long as they don’t smell or are not visibly soiled. 

How to Properly Wash Your Clothes 

When it’s time to wash your clothes, you don’t have to do anything outside of your regular routine. Washing them in detergent and warm water cycles should be effective enough to kill and get rid of the coronavirus. 

No special dryer setting is required either. After the rinse cycle, machine-dry your clothes and you’re good to go. 

Takeaway 

With the majority of the population now vaccinated, attitudes towards COVID-19 have become more relaxed. But, that shouldn’t mean we can be complacent about our health and safety because the virus may not be going away anywhere. 

These tips are a great reminder that wearing your masks everyday and practicing good hygiene, particularly when it comes to clothes, are still important to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

Clean Care is a provider of premium laundry and dry cleaning services in Singapore. They take your health and safety seriously, offering pick-up and drop-off services so you can stay home as much as possible. They’ll pick up your laundry and deliver it to you already washed and neatly folded. No contact required. 

Visit their website today to schedule a laundry pick up.