Here’s How Often You Should Wash Your Face Mask
Should you be washing your homemade facemask? Yes. But, how long can you go in between washing it an wearing it?
The CDC has officially recommended that EVERYBODY (except babies under 2 years old) should wear face masks when going out in public.
You can make yourself a SEWN face mask.
OR — if you have no sewing ability — like me — you can make a mask out of a T-Shirt.
You can also make a mask out of a bandana.
There’s even directions on how to make a mask out of a sock.
These will all work. Something is better than nothing.
Some have recommended that you use a paper towel inside to act as a filter. The CDC has recommended using a coffee filter. Some are even using vacuum bag filters.
BUT — the BIG question — How Often Should You Wash These Masks?
MY recommendation — take it or leave it — is that you should wash it EVERY day. I was a nurse at a hospital, so it’s just second nature for me to come in the house, strip down, and throw EVERYTHING in the washing machine. It’s just how we do.
Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, has a different recommendation. He says, as long as the mask isn’t soiled, and as long as you didn’t come in contact with anyone with COVID-19, washing your mask once a week is okay.
He says, for homemade masks, you don’t wear them except to the grocery store or pharmacy, so the masks shouldn’t get that dirty. Washing them once a week is okay.
Remember, wearing a mask does NOT take the place of social distancing and hand washing. Wearing a mask is POINTLESS without also doing the other two things.
