With a majority of states and businesses mandating face coverings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and more research emerging that supports wearing them, masks have become an essential commodity.
Now, masks of all shapes and styles as well as other types of reusable coverings can be easily purchased online and in a number of stores nationwide.
But the increased dependence on the coverings has sparked countless questions. Chief among them: How do I take care of my mask so it continues to be as effective as possible?
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We interviewed three medical experts to get their recommendations for what the general public should and should not do when it comes to wearing masks and disinfecting them.
“If you’re reusing a mask over and over again without caring for it in between, that becomes just as dirty as you touching something dirty and then putting it back on your face,” said Jade Flinn, a nurse educator for the Biocontainment Unit at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
What are the general guidelines for proper mask care?
For cloth masks, which have exploded in popularity in recent months, all three experts say daily washings are a must.
“Treat your mask like your underwear,” Flinn said. “You want to change it every day.”
She added: “Thinking about the moisture and the bacteria that’s building up in that mask itself, you don’t want to wear that mask again the next day.”