Wearing a face mask is important, and it’s also crucial to make sure that the mask you are wearing is clean. Likewise, getting into a routine of washing your face masks (and having extra, clean face masks on hand) is a good way to prioritize your health and safety this winter.
Although there are many choices when it comes to face masks, cloth face masks might be the most popular–especially because they are reusable. With that in mind, keep reading for doctors’ guidelines for cleaning your cloth mask.
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Dr. Sheneen Lalani, Board Certified Internal Medicine doctor, gives a few clear rules when it comes to washing your face masks.
First, she says that you can either wash them with the rest of your laundry or wash them by hand.
She tells SheFiinds, "Wash them in your regular laundry with detergent or soap." Or, if washing by hand, use "tap water with laundry detergent or soap and rinse thoroughly to remove dirt, detergent, or soap (for at least 20 seconds)."
Dr. Robert Applebaum, renowned plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, agrees.
He tells us, "You can wash your mask alongside your clothes or laundry if it has a washing label to adhere to the rules listed. You can use regular fabric detergent--no need to go out and spend money on some fancy soap."
He adds, "If you are washing by hand, you can use soap or regular laundry detergent and wash off with tap water. Make sure that you rinse the mask thoroughly."
To dry your mask, Applebaum says that air-drying or putting it in the dryer on a warm or hot setting both work.
It's important to keep in mind that the washing and drying process can take some time, so be sure to have a few extra clean masks at the ready in case you need to go somewhere while the other masks are still being cleaned.
As for how often you need to clean your masks, both doctors recommend doing so after every use.
Dr. Applebaum explains, "When it comes to washing your face mask, you should be washing them every time they get dirty or daily."
With that in mind, having a continuous cycle of washing masks is a good way to make sure you're never without a clean one.
These cleaning standards are for cloth face masks. If you have a disposable mask, both doctors recommends disposing of them after every use.
