Washing Masks (Page 2): For what it's worth, the instructions I've found for washing a mask are: One teaspoon of bleach in a quart of hot water Soak for 5 minutes Rinse in running...

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

For what it's worth, the instructions I've found for washing a mask are:
One teaspoon of bleach in a quart of hot water
Soak for 5 minutes
Rinse in running water
Soak a few minutes in clean water
Hang to dry

Another method mentioned:
Put mask in a Ziplock back
Leave it there for a week

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Recommended alcohol is 60%.

malawibob wrote:

I read somewhere that washing the mask in Rubbing Alcohol kills the virus and the mask dries quickly. I forget the percentage of alcohol it needs to be.

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

jerryc41 wrote:

The purpose of a mask is to keep you and others safe, but if the mask is dirty, that's no good. I don't like the idea of putting masks in the washing machine, but an online article suggested cleaning them in the dishwasher. You have a combination of very hot water, soap, and high-pressure spray. I'm going to try it with the next load.

Since regular bar soap used for hand washing will take care of SARS-CoV-2...just wash it as part of your hand washing routine.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

My wife hand washes her's using laundry soap and then hangs them in the sun to dry. She has a few masks so she doesn't use the same one until several days have passed. In a pinch she has some of the hospital type surgical masks as a backup. She has been working through the pandemic so she wears a mask daily.

srscary Loc: Cary, NC

Bill_de wrote:

How long will the virus live on a mask if you do nothing?

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Per this article: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-coronavirus-last-on-surfaces
the maximum period of time for which the virus can survive on any surface is 7 days.

I have 2 masks which I use for my weekly grocery store trips only. So I reuse a mask once every 2 weeks.

techwolf Loc: Edgewater, Fl

ISO alcohol is more effective against lipid encased RNA viruses at 70% as the 90% has insufficient water content to kill the outside shell and the inside RNA.
Read:
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/isopropyl-alcohol-percent-disinfecting-36723904

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

CO wrote:

I have some hand sanitizer spray that I spray on masks from time to time.

Good idea and the ethanol will make you happy as well...

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Bill_de wrote:

If that's true, and I'm not saying it isn't, why was Purell with a high alcohol being pushed as the hand sanitizer of choice?

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That is for when you cannot wash your hands. Like going into a grocery store, coming out etc. Also faster in situations where moving in or out of a store would be held up.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

jerryc41 wrote:

The purpose of a mask is to keep you and others safe, but if the mask is dirty, that's no good. I don't like the idea of putting masks in the washing machine, but an online article suggested cleaning them in the dishwasher. You have a combination of very hot water, soap, and high-pressure spray. I'm going to try it with the next load.

I am told that a face mask protects you from spreading the virus to others. It does little to protect you.
By wearing your mask you have only a very small degree of protection from the virus.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

jerryc41 wrote:

The purpose of a mask is to keep you and others safe, but if the mask is dirty, that's no good. I don't like the idea of putting masks in the washing machine, but an online article suggested cleaning them in the dishwasher. You have a combination of very hot water, soap, and high-pressure spray. I'm going to try it with the next load.

I you have a cloth mask that you can wash, realize that is not very effective at preventing disease but it is psychologically effective for some. If you wash it in your washer it will be clean - you can even use a bit of bleach or Lysol (the old brown liquid) if you would like. This will keep you from rebreathing some of your germs. You could even rinse in out with a garden hose and hang it out to dry. Mostly it won't matter what you do.

Waiting to be safe = Never

tomad Loc: North Carolina

charles tabb wrote:

I am told that a face mask protects you from spreading the virus to others. It does little to protect you.
By wearing your mask you have only a very small degree of protection from the virus.

That's why everyone should wear one. I protect you and you protect me. Is it really that hard to understand?

Budgiehawk

A minimum of 60% Higher is better and dries more rapidly.

srscary Loc: Cary, NC

Bill_de wrote:

If that's true, and I'm not saying it isn't, why was Purell with a high alcohol being pushed as the hand sanitizer of choice?

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The virus is surrounded (its RNA protected) by a layer of fat. Soap and water can remove that layer and expose the RNA, thereby making the virus unable to function.

One could call that death I suppose!

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Here we are talking about cloth mask not the others (N95 or surgical) which are not reusable.
I home made several cloth mask with micro fiber (polyester/cotton combination.) Because it's very difficult to buy alcohol in any store right now, I spray it with Hydrogen Peroxide H2O2, and wait for several min. then hand wash it, and hang it in the Sun to dry. I don't wash it in the machine to avoid being teared apart!

techwolf Loc: Edgewater, Fl

That was the CDC and WHO mantra which has changed 3 times.
A recent study was just finished (I think in England) and it shows that a properly fitted face mask can reduce the intake of virus particulates by 90%.
We are breathing in Covid-19 particulates all day but they have to be 1) Still Viable and 2) Be in sufficient density to overwhelm our immune system.
The density is differerent for each person but I will take a 90% reduction in those particulates and therby the density and keep taking whatvI needbto keep my immune system healthy.