Mask Care Tips

Check out these great mask care tips shared in this week’s Tuesday Notice from CPS.

How to wash and care for your reusable cloth face masks
How often should you wash your face mask?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a cloth face mask should be washed after each use. If you’re wearing a face mask every day, it’s a good to have a few in rotation, so you’ll always have a clean one available.

Machine washing your face mask
The simplest way to clean your cloth face mask is to add it into your washing machine along with your other laundry. Any regular detergent will do, and the CDC recommends using the warmest water setting for the specific cloth of your mask. If you have a laundry bag, put your mask in there to keep it from getting tangled.

Hand washing your face mask
For handmade masks, which might be more delicate than the store-bought kind, hand washing is the best way to go. Lather the mask with soap and scrub it for at least 20 seconds under warm or hot water. Pat out excess water with a clean towel.

Using bleach to wash your face mask
You can also use bleach to hand wash your mask. You’ll want to find a bleach that’s safe for coloured clothing and is also intended for disinfection, so read the bleach label carefully. The CDC recommends a ratio of 4 teaspoons of bleach per 950ml of room temperature water. Soak your mask in the bleach and water solution for five minutes, then rinse it in cool or room temperature water.

Drying your mask
If you have a dryer, place the mask inside on the highest heat setting. Otherwise, just hang your mask up or lay it flat in direct sunlight to dry.

How to store your mask
It’s best to store your clean face masks in a covered container until you’re ready to use them, but make sure they’re completely dry before putting them away, to prevent mold growth.