How Often Should You Wash Your Mask?

Like it or not, masks may be the must-have fashion accessory for the foreseeable future. While many jurisdictions are making masks mandatory, sometimes both indoors and outdoors, for others it may just be a matter of time. Many of us have started using reusable masks for the sake of the environment and our wallets, but how often does that mask need to be washed? Well, it turns out the answer is daily…

“It is possible to get a mask contaminated after daily wear,” says Prof Raina MacIntyre, an infectious disease researcher at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. “We tested this and found virus on the inside and outside of masks, both surgical and cloth.”

That’s bad news for many who are used to putting on their mask, taking it off, shoving it in a pocket, and so on and so forth for days on end. But unfortunately, frequent mask washing is a necessity, especially if you come in contact with any vulnerable populations.

“You can imagine if someone is infected and they are wearing a cotton fabric mask that is heavily contaminated, it’s possible that those particles could carry the virus,” says Prof William Ristenpart, a chemical engineer at the University of California, Davis. “Of course, you can’t wash it every 20 minutes, but every five or six days is way too long.”

Ready to get in touch with yourself? Visit our online library at Selfvibe for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.