So, you have decided to wear a cloth mask. Thank you for covering your face! While masks do not end the spread of illness, they act as a barrier to stop us from sneezing, coughing, or spitting on people when speaking to them which helps reduce asymptomatic transmission to those around you. They also are a mechanical device to help prevent people from touching their faces after touching an infected surface.
Medical personnel may use them to cover their disposable masks to extend the life of their medical grade gear. Cloth masks are not intended to be a medical device.
It is important to remember that wearing a mask doesn’t replace physical distancing suggested by the CDC. Masks are now recommended “in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission”.
They also state that “Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.”
Whether you supported a local artist to get a handmade mask, or it was donated to your team because you’re an essential worker, The Carolina Mask Project has some guidance for you today on how to care for and handle your mask.
If you need to purchase a mask, visit our special thanks page and click on the links to learn more about the businesses who are donating their time and resources for the project, some of which are selling masks.
Stay safe and extend the life of your masks using these tips.
Cleaning Your Masks
Clean your masks after every use. There are different ways to wash your masks, depending on how soiled they may be. If you get makeup on them or have been exposed to a symptomatic person, you may have different needs when it comes to cleaning your mask.
When washing your masks with your laundry, try using a mesh bag to help protect your mask in the wash. Avoid bleach or fabric softener to prevent irritation on sensitive skin or breathing in harsh fragrances or chemicals.
Dry your masks completely in the dryer on the hot setting. You may need to flatten out your nose wire after laundering. Gently press your mask with a hot iron using the steam setting to help it regain it’s shape.
When washing masks by hand, some people prefer to boil them for five minutes. You can also fill a basin with hot water and detergent then soak for fifteen-to-twenty minutes. After that, agitate with your hands for twenty seconds and rinse thoroughly. Hang in direct sunlight to dry and press as desired.
For waterless sterilization, you can expose your mask to direct sunlight or a UVC lamp for 25 minutes per side. Be sure to rotate so that all sides are exposed for an extended period of time.
Warning: Do not microwave your mask or spray it with harsh cleaning chemicals!
Handling Masks
First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and then wash your face and let it dry. Always use clean hands when handling your mask. Fit the mask snugly around your nose and chin. Rewash or sanitize your hands again if you touch your mask while wearing it in public.
With clean hands, carefully remove the mask without touching the front of the mask. Immediately wash your hands again and place your mask in a safe place until it can be sanitized before use again.
Masks and Glasses
Wearing glasses with any kind of mask can cause fogging. Washing your glasses with a mild dish soap to remove grease and grime, then drying thoroughly can reduce fogging. Dry with a hand towel or a cloth paper towel. Nose wires are recommended to help fit your mask to your face when wearing glasses.
Adding a rolled up tissue across the bridge of your nose under your mask can help prevent breath from fogging your lenses. There are also anti-fog lens treatments available to avoid fogging.
Using a Filter
Some masks have a filter pocket, but two layers of cotton are acceptable for cloth masks. It is important that your mask fits your face well for filtration to be effective. Using a filter during strenuous activity or outside in hot climates can make the masks uncomfortable to wear.
You can purchase reusable charcoal filters or washable filter fabric to place in your mask but there are also some household items you can use. For added filtration, blue shop towels or coffee filters can be used as liners and thrown away between each use.
Note: Furnace or vacuum filters are often made of different materials and can contain hazardous or larger particles which may be inhaled if the material becomes damp from breath. As such, we don’t recommend their use.
When out in public, it can be handy to have a spare mask to change into in case you are exposed to a symptomatic person or your mask becomes damp from perspiration or moisture from your breath. If you have to go out frequently, than having a larger set of masks is helpful so you can clean them together instead of only a few at a time.
We still have a lot of questions about mask use for the general public. You may see people in their cars wearing masks, while not necessary it could be they have not had the chance to clean their hands before being able to remove their mask safely.
Navigating restaurants during universal masking could be a challenge as well. How are we supposed to store our masks while eating? What about staying hydrated when out in public for extended periods of time? Do you have questions about wearing a mask? Leave them in the comments.
