Face masks are an important part of our new everyday life. While there are a variety of different masks, knowing how to clean the reusable kind is just part of the necessary maintenance so they last a long time and remain efficient. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are meant for healthcare workers so the general public uses cloth masks.

Now people are making their own masks and there are a variety of reusable cloth masks on the market. The problem is that wearing facial coverings is a new thing in everyone’s life and face mask cleaning isn’t universal knowledge. So follow this guide so you know how to properly clean your cloth facemasks!

Create Your Own Cloth Mask

According to the CDC, the only people who don’t need to worry about face coverings are any child under the age of 2 or any person who has trouble breathing. Everyone else should follow the right mask protocols to ensure proper use and safety. The best thing you can do is have a variety of options and routinely clean them.

While you can buy plenty of cloth masks, you can also dust off your craft skills and make your own. It may seem intimidating but you don’t even need a sewing machine (or any tools!) The best masks are those made of 100% cotton and can fit snugly on your face.

This means that a variety of fabrics just laying around your house will work for a facemask. This can be anything from pillowcase fabrics to certain t-shirts that don’t tend to get holes in them. For an additional layer of protection, use some sort of interface like a coffee filter, this will help stop particles.

There are a variety of thorough guides you can follow to make your mask, organized by difficulty level. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own homemade facemask!

Now that you have your mask, either a DIY facemask or purchased cloth facemasks, you’ll want to know how to clean it.

Face Mask Cleaning

You should be washing your face mask after each use. If you have a variety of masks for different uses, consider how much you use each one to determine how often you need to wash it. If there’s a mask you only use for very brief interactions and you sanitize your hands before putting it on and taking it off then you can wash that less often.

If you’re wearing a mask for hours and notice it’s getting a bit gross quickly, you should consider carrying a variety of clean masks that you can switch throughout the day. Those masks need to be cleaned daily to keep them clean.

As for actually washing it, you can use a washing machine or hand wash it. Neither is particularly better than the other, just focus on the water temperature. The warmest that your mask material can take is the best temperature setting to have.

Be sure to choose a good soap to clean your mask with, this will help further sanitize it. If you have an option between the two, using a washing machine is preferable since it spends more time being washed. If you have to hand-wash, leave it soaking in hot water and rinse thoroughly.

Face Mask Maintenance

It’s also important to know the material of your mask so you can know the best way to wash it, not unlike clothes. You may have a mask made of more delicate materials, like silk, which won’t handle scalding hot water so well. That’s why layered cotton masks are the ideal choice.

Proper washing will help your masks last for many uses and if you want to add on another level of cleanliness, don’t forget the importance of having a mask spray for your masks.

Some people believe you can wash surgical masks but this is not true. These are disposable and should not be washed and reused.

You can keep track of your dirty and clean masks by using different bags for them. Store wet or dirty masks in a plastic bag until you can wash them but be sure to wash them as soon as possible so they don’t get moldy. You can store clean masks in a paper bag so you won’t have to ask ‘is this okay to use?’

When you are outside your home and need to store your mask, you can keep it in your pocket or purse. Just be sure to sanitize your hands after removing your mask and putting it back on.

Some other health tips that the CDC recommends in addition to proper face coverings are:

• Keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from other people
• Using hand sanitizer if for some reason soap and water aren’t available
• Don’t have contact with people who are sick
• Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water as often as you can

While it may seem like there are a lot of rules to follow, remember that these are only implemented to keep you and your loved ones safe. Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy-peasy.

Living With Face Coverings

Whatever you think of facial coverings, they’re here to stay. Instead of worrying about it, there are many ways to embrace it! For one, you can get crafty with it and create your own DIY facemask.

Face mask cleaning doesn’t need to be a hassle either, it just means being more diligent than before to make sure that your cloth facemasks are as clean as can be. Before you know it, you’ll be cleaning and maintaining masks without a bother in the world.

If you’re looking for more articles like this, be sure to check out our other useful tips!