Face masks and other cloth face coverings are already an everyday item. As stay-at-home orders are lifted, wearing masks continues to be an important facet of protecting against the spread of covid-19, and for those that can be reused, it's important to know how to wash one. mask. Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications for the American Cleaning Institute, says that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "reusable face masks and cloth coverings should be routinely laundered depending on how often they are worn."
Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab, says cloth face coverings are the only ones that can be washed.
"If you made it yourself and it has a paper filter, similar to a coffee filter inside, it should be removed before washing," he adds.
How to machine wash masks
According to Forte, the best way to wash a cloth mask is also the easiest: Masks can be thrown in the washing machine.
She advises that masks can be washed in warm or, preferably, hot water (higher temperatures help disinfect) and suggests using a stain-resistant detergent.
One suggestion would be
Tide Ulta Liquid Laundry Detergent
.
Buy it here:
MX$717 and
$26.98 USD.
Although another good option would be the Gain brand detergent
MX$449 and
USD$28.50.
Forte says that for optimal cleaning and sanitizing, you want to make sure the washer and dryer are on their highest heat settings and not overloaded, so the mask can spin freely in each machine.
She says disinfectant products for clothes aren't necessary, and Sansoni echoes that, saying, "You don't really need any specialized products. You can just tuck the mask in with the rest of your clothes."
How to wash masks by hand
Forte says that if hand-sewn masks are especially delicate, or have washable filters inside, they should be hand washed.
"Do it in warm or hot water and rub, shaking for at least 20 to 30 seconds," he says.
"Rinse well and air dry."
This can be done with liquid or powdered detergent in hot water, submerging the mask in the solution and scrubbing it for 30 to 60 seconds to remove any dirt.
Then rinse well and let dry.
When washing the masks by hand, be careful not to use too much detergent and rinse very well, so there is no detergent residue that can cause skin irritation.
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And remember, treat the mask like an infected surface after use, and be sure to wash your hands after each time you handle it.
Stains
If a cloth mask has become stained during use, handling, or storage, it can be treated with the same stain pretreatment products used for clothing and other textiles.
Not all stain treatment products work equally well on all stains, so if you frequently need to remove a specific type of stain, it's worth investing in the best product to do it.
These common stains are best treated with the following products.
dirt and grime
Dirt and grime must be treated with a special stain remover.
You can buy these products:
OxiClean Stain Remover MX$ 299 and
$6.99 USD for the Shout atomizer.
groceries
In our own experiences, no one formula will treat the wide variety of food stains out there, but Shout Spray is one of the most effective treatments for most food stains.
Makeup, including lipstick
Makeup, such as foundation, concealer, bronzer, or lipstick, can be removed from fabrics with rubbing alcohol.
Makeup remover wipes are also a good way to pre-treat makeup stains on masks and face coverings.
You can use these towels from Neutrogena.
Buy them here:
MX$ 547 and
$4.99 USD.
Sweat
Sweat is a protein stain and is best treated with an enzyme stain remover.
We recommend you read our special 'How to properly wash gym clothes'.
Alternative drying and cleaning methods
According to Sansoni, a key step in cleaning masks is the high heat of the dryer.
Keep in mind, however, that masks made from cotton or linen can shrink when exposed to high temperatures, so choose the hottest setting that's safe for your mask's fabric type.
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If a mask wrinkles in the wash, Forte says that "after drying, you can iron the mask on a cotton or linen setting at high heat as an added measure, as long as it's safe for the mask fabric."
Steam kills bacteria and viruses and can disinfect hard surfaces, but you must ensure that the steam penetrates all areas of the mask and its folds and for the proper amount of time required for thorough cleaning.
"I have not yet seen evidence that home steamers are an effective way to thoroughly clean cloth face masks and I would not recommend it at this time," he says.
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Sansoni also cautions against using other inventive methods to clean masks.
"We've read about people microwaving, boiling or putting masks in the oven - none of these methods are safe or effective as they can degrade the mask fabric and pose a fire hazard," he says.
"Wash the masks is the way to go."
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