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Reusing Disposable Face Masks: How to Remove, Clean and Store Them Safely

Since it looks as though we’re going to be stuck with face masks for a while yet to come I wanted to go ahead and repost this short article from Yahoo! News about reusing disposable face masks. Yes, they’re supposed to be disposable and not reused but sometimes that just isn’t practical and for those times, here are some tips on how to remove them, clean and store them, and how to judge when it’s truly time to dispose of them.

Read in good health!

While many people are wearing cloth face masks to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, some are choosing to wear disposable ones. For those who wear disposable masks, there’s a frequent question: Can disposable masks like N95 and surgical masks be re-worn? In short? Yes, but only if you take care of them correctly.

To safely remove your mask and touch as little of its surface as possible, use the ear straps to remove and handle the mask.

Once the disposable mask is safely removed, place it in a convenient but safe storage spot, like a clean paper bag, plastic Tupperware or Ziploc bag. Once your mask is in a clean receptacle, leave it there for a few days and after 48 hours, it is safe to wear your mask again. Do not spray your mask with disinfectant, as these chemicals could be harmful to breathe in when you reuse the mask.

If a mask is visibly dirty, soiled or torn, it should be thrown out immediately. If you plan to reuse a disposable mask, it’s a good idea to have a few extra masks available so that one can be worn while others are being decontaminated.

Article and Image Credit: Yahoo!News

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