We all know that a surgical mask, is only for one-time use, but it is made up of a cloth so, can we use a surgical mask to be disinfected and reused?
After this virus, we are constantly putting on a mask and removing it to protect ourselves from the coronavirus. If you are using a disposable Surgical Mask, you might be asking yourself the question: can you wash and wear a disposable mask multiple times?
And the answer is not so obvious, because we read a lot of contradictory things. So here is the straightforward answer:
In This Article
- Single-use Surgical Mask
- No more than 4 hours use of Surgical mask
- What not to do with a Surgical mask
- Which types of mask that can be reused?
Single-use Surgical Mask
A single-use Surgical Mask cannot be washed, disinfected, or reused. As soon as you put on these Medical masks and take it off, you should throw it in a garbage can.
Thus, you do not have to remove it to put it back on afterward, or pass it under the chin or even hang it on one ear. As soon as you do one of these gestures, your mask becomes unusable.
You have to remove it, throw it in a trash can and put in a new one. Why? Because the moment you put on a face mask, it is potentially contaminated. If you touch it or use it again, you can infect yourself or spread the virus.
No more than 4 hours use of Surgical mask
Likewise, a disposable Surgical Mask cannot be worn for more than 4 hours. After wearing it for 4 hours, you need to throw it in a trash can and put a new one.
But you may have read that there are technical solutions to disinfect your mask: in an oven, in the microwave, with UV rays? Be aware that health authorities do not validate these assumptions.
None of these options are satisfactory for disinfecting Medical masks for reuse. The only thing to do after wearing a disposable surgical mask is to throw it in the trash.
What not to do with a Surgical mask
Stanford medical school tried to disinfect masks by putting them in a 70° oven for 30 minutes. The mask is indeed disinfected. But the problem is, this is a special oven. Nothing to do with the one we use in our kitchens! You should not therefore reproduce this experience at home.
It is ineffective, even dangerous.
- Same observation with a microwave oven. But we do not know how long it should be left in the microwave to have an effective result.
Also, the Surgical Mask contains a small metal bar. And we know that the microwave and metal do not mix. Enough to create sparks explode his oven and ultimately render his mask unusable! So this option is not valid.
Must read: Which face mask is best
- Can UV rays be a solution? The answer is always no! Because after being exposed to UV, masks become ineffective: they lose their ability to filter viruses.
Suddenly, they are no longer useful. Not to mention that we do not have a UV machine at home!
- How about washing them with alcohol? Again, disinfecting them with alcohol may eliminate viruses.
But this damages the masks which lose their ability to filter. Also, alcohol and bleach vapors remain on the masks even after several washes. And breathing in the vapors of these chemicals is toxic! The only solution is therefore to throw away your Medical masks or FFP 2 after having used it once.
Which types of mask that can be reused?
Only the cloth face masks are reusable. If you are wearing a cloth mask, then you can reuse it multiple times. It is still necessary to have cleaned and disinfected it correctly after having used it.
Find out how to do it here. You don't have a cloth mask? Don't panic, here is the tutorial to make one easily without a sewing machine. And even easier, you can visit Enviroprotectivegear.com to get the best quality face cover mask
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