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Avoid exposure with recommended practices

wear and care

How long can it be worn?

  • Reusable cloth masks should primarily be used only for one day, then washed before the next usage. However, the mask should be changed if it is wet or visibly soiled (1).

  • If a mask is noticeably worn out it should be thrown away (2). 

  • Any face mask or face covering should not be shared and only used by the same person (3). 

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How often should it be washed?

  • Daily, cloth masks should be handled carefully and washed frequently (4). 

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How do you wash it?

  • Washing Machine

    • Use the proper warmest water setting for the fiber content of the mask (5)

    • Face masks can be washed with normal laundry (6)

    • However, using the washing machine will wear out your face mask quicker than washing by hand. 

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  • Washing by Hand

    • Using the warmest proper temperature for the fiber content of the mask add a few drops of Laundry detergent and gently wash my hand. 

    • Bleach may also be used, â…“ cup of bleach per gallon of room temperature water. Make sure your bleach is intended for disinfecting. However, using bleach will mostly likely cause color damage (7)

    • Soak in bleach mixture for 5 minutes (8)

    • Rinse thoroughly to ensure the bleach is all gone with cool or room temperature water (9)

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How do you dry it?

  • Dryer

    • Do not remove the mask until it is completely dry, using the highest heat setting on the dryer (10). 

  • Air Dry

    • If possible, put the face mask in direct sunlight, while laying flat to completely dry (11). 

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How do you handle a contaminated mask?

  • Carefully, unhook/unties mask from head

  • While only touching the ties/elastics fold the mask in half, so the outside layer is touching itself (12). 

  • Wash face mask immediately or place in a ziplock bag until able to wash (13).

  • Wash hands thoroughly after removing your mask (14).

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Sources:

  1. The World Health Organization, Advise on the Use of Mask in the Context of COVID-19 (The World Health Organization Website, 5 June 2020)Pg 10. Link:https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/332293/WHO-2019-nCov-IPC_Masks-2020.4-eng.pdf

  2. Center for disease control and prevention, How to Wash Cloth Face Coverings (CDC Website, 22 May 2020) Link:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html

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