robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Well elastic is easy to get and improvise replacements. And industrial masks the straps can be removed, if a homemade cloth mask with string/cloth ties no problem.

UV is used for sterilization in many situations - cheap way, just put it out in the direct sun and turn it over every hour or so for a half day or so.

Ozone works well. Many home air purifiers produce it. We have some that have a setting so high it says remove all people and animals from the room if it is on that setting for more than an hour. My wife tried selling them for a while but didn't like doing sales. We got left with several units designed for large rooms.
I do have a CPAP, in fact 3 of us do. But to process reusable masks I would get a large cardboard shipping box. Put some of those self sticking hangers on the insides, one of the purifier units inside and maybe add a UV light bulb then seal the hole the power cords comes out with duct tape. Hang the masks on the hangers, seal the box with duct tape and turn on the power to the purifier and UV. Maybe after a couple of hours turn off the power, open the box and flip all the masks over, reseal and turn back on for an hour or two. Then let them air out before use.

I saw a picture of a room at a hospital that they did this to the whole room with hangers for what looked like a couple of hundred masks on the 2 walls and 2 walls with hangers for gowns. It was stated that this was for temporary use until mask and gown production could get up to speed.

Tom Bar

Probably would. If heat kills it, why not blow hot air (hair dryer) for a few minutes , or IF UV light works, leave it in the sunshine for a few minutes or longer.
LTB, MD- But the wrong kind (urologist) retired. My current specialty is free medical advice worth about what you pay for it

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Thank you!

carlberg

Airborne microbes, including the Covid-19 virus, bacteria and other viruses, seldom occur as individual particles but are usually associated with droplets of saliva or mucus which are much larger than the microbes. Thus masks are fairly good at trapping those particles. The greatest danger is leakage around the edges of ill-fitting masks such as home made ones. A CDC report states that most masks, except N95s, which are the gold standard, are more or less OK but are better than nothing.
(PhD Microbiologist)

lbrande

I sort of forgot that the virus will be transmitted via attachment to other particles...too much engineering time, not enough microbiology study. If I'm not mistaken, the virus will attach to other particles, but the clincher is that the protein surround is the "glue" that causes the virus to attach to the moist areas of our mouth/sinus.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

I heard that 25 seconds in a microwave will kill any living thing. Wonder if anyone has tested that?

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Yes they have, and no it won't.

"Microwaves kill germs in food by heating up mainly water in an object to high temperatures, which passes heat throughout the food - not directly from the radiation. It is important to cook food to the appropriate temperatures and follow good food handling practices.
Attempting to heat other objects in a microwave, like papers or fabrics, to disinfect them can be dangerous, as they are so dry they may catch fire."
https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/coronavirus-information/additional-information/does-the-microwave-kill-the-virus

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Actually the virus has a "spike-like protein" that binds to ACE2 receptors (ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme).
ACE2 receptors are abundant in the lining of the mouth, nose, and throat, the usual portals of entry.
They are also abundant in the lungs, heart, blood vessels, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. This may explain why Covid-19 is a multi-organ-system disease.

pumakat

I spray my cloth masks with 91% alcohol and let it evaporate between uses. Good enough for my peace of mind. I dampen them pretty well.

lbrande

Thanks for the clarification