• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Latest
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
The Frisky
  • Home
  • News
  • Health
  • Celebs
  • Movies
  • Love
  • Relationships
  • Style
  • Entertainment
  • Parenting
  • Royals
  • Travel
Health

Is It Safe to Re-use the Old Coronavirus Masks

by Petar Senjo April 13, 2020
by Petar Senjo April 13, 2020 Source: cnbc
1.6K

During the pandemic, there has been a lot of information about whether you should or should not wear masks, but no one is talking about whether you should reuse them. In this article, we are going to clear up everything regarding this subject.

As the number of cases around the world continues to rise exponentially, especially in countries such as Italy, Germany, the United States, Spain, and many others, it is very important that we do everything in our power to stay safe and healthy. All of us should aim to completely alter the virus’s course and stop it from spreading so efficiently. Since we still do not have a vaccine to prevent people from getting infected, all we can do is follow the safety protocols that are published by your officials and the World Health Organization.

You have probably already known about the protocols which consist of constantly washing your hands, avoiding contact with people, wearing gloves and most importantly, wearing a mask when in public places such as work, in a store or on a bus. Since the coronavirus is mostly spread through the respiratory droplets from infected people and the surfaces they land on, it is very important that you understand the proper mask etiquette. It can prevent you from touching your nose or mouth which is one of the ways you can infect yourself after touching contaminated surfaces.

Contents

  • Should I re-use old masks?
  • Be careful when putting it on and off
  • Wash your cloth facial masks
  • Dry them first
  • Use multiple layers

Should I re-use old masks?

Source: livescience

Most disease control organizations such as the CDC and WHO claim that you should avoid reusing old masks because they can still carry the virus on its surface and because the filtration system inside of it will start to deteriorate. Once you wash it, the entire filter will be completely destroyed and all you are left is with a piece of paper or cloth over your mouth which is not that effective.

However, CDC and WHO mostly refer to one-time use face masks which should be properly thrown away after usage. But, there are some companies out there that produce woven pads that can be added to any kind of mask you have, it doesn’t matter if it is N95 or a surgical one. You can get yourself a couple of woven pads that you can easily insert on the inside of your mask and then dispose of it after usage. A great example of such disposable filter pads is the product of winnerzen.com

Be careful when putting it on and off

Source: forbes

Assuming that you have decided that you will be using these kinds of pads and reusing your old masks, you should understand how important it is to be careful while putting it on or off. Self-contamination is one of the biggest reasons why so many people around the globe are infected.

Your first step before doing anything is to wash your hands or at least disinfect them. After you have made sure that your hands are thoroughly cleaned, grab it by its elastics and put them over your ears without touching the center, where the filter is located. Once you are done wearing it, make sure that never touch it where the filter is located. The filter is where the particles of the virus will stick which is why you should avoid touching it with your hands. Grab the elastics around your ears and carefully pull them off. Put the filter pad inside of a plastic bag and dispose of it.

Even if you have been careful after removing it from your face, you should wash your hands again, just to be sure.

Wash your cloth facial masks

Source: unicef

Most pharmacies are usually out of stock when it comes to these items which is why a lot of people have settled for creating their own masks at home. They can be made from all kinds of fabrics. Sure, they might not be as effective as one that is rated N95 or a surgical one, but it is still better than having your nose and mouth exposed to the COVID-19 respiratory droplets.

But, if you do plan on making your own cloth mask with a replacement filter pad, it is essential that you wash it after every use. Since the cloth or any other fabric that you plan on using does not have any kind of protective and filtration properties, the moisture of your breath can cause the virus to stick for long periods of time on its surface. So, if you come into contact with someone that is sick from the coronavirus or if you are frequently moving around in enclosed spaces, you should definitely consider washing it as often as possible.

Dry them first

Source: techcrunch

This is a mistake that a lot of people have been doing this past couple of months. They put on the mask on their face as soon as they have washed it. This can lead to an increased chance of infection because the wet material makes it easier for the virus droplets to stick on it. The virus will also have an easier time to pass through the material and reach your mouth or nose.

So, before you put it on and after you wash it, you should always make sure that it has been properly dried first. Avoid using a dryer because the high temperature can destroy the thin layer of material.

Use multiple layers

Source: inquirer

If you cannot get your hands on disposable filter pads to increase your protection from the virus, you should consider using multiple layers. Some people like to wear multiple masks others prefer to put on a scarf over their mouth and nose. While something like a shirt or a scarf might not be the highest level of protection against the virus, it is still better than nothing.

Following our advice will definitely help you stay safe during the pandemic, but the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and with social distancing. So, if you can, reduce your movement outside as much as you can.

coronavirusfacial maskmaskPandemicreuse maskSafevirus
Petar Senjo

A creative writer with a keen eye for SEO. Combining his love for the latest news with his expertise in search engine optimization, Petar delivers impactful content that resonates with readers.

previous post
Here Are 10 Amazing Reasons Why You Ought to Have a Credit Card
next post
10 Celebrities You Never Knew Went to Rehab

Related Posts

Common Cold, The Flu, or Coronavirus? Understanding Differences...

February 27, 2024

Being Prepared: Understanding the Most Common Car-Accident Types

October 4, 2023

How to Help Your Teen Navigate Life Post...

December 19, 2022

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Animals
  • Anime
  • Art
  • Astrology
  • Beard Care
  • Beauty
  • Betting
  • Biography
  • Blog
  • Business
  • Buying Guides
  • Cannabis
  • Cars
  • Casino
  • CBD
  • Celebs
  • Children
  • Citizenship
  • Clippers
  • Clothes
  • Computer
  • Couple Time
  • COVID-19
  • Crime
  • Crypto
  • Culture
  • Design
  • DIY
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Family
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Food
  • Food & Drink
  • Furniture
  • Galleries
  • Gambling
  • Games
  • Gardening
  • Gifts
  • Girl
  • Gossip
  • Guide
  • Guys
  • Hair
  • Hair Care Tips
  • Hair Dryers
  • Hair loss
  • Hairstyles
  • Health
  • Highlights
  • History
  • Hobby
  • Home
  • Horoscopes
  • Hot Rollers
  • How to …
  • Industry
  • Internet
  • Interview
  • Law
  • Legal Advice
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Love & Sex
  • Love Your Self
  • Makeup
  • Marketing
  • Medicine
  • Mind & Body
  • Money
  • Motorcycle
  • Movies
  • Moving
  • Music
  • Nails
  • Net Worth
  • News
  • Parenting
  • People
  • Pets
  • Photography
  • Products for Hair
  • Real Estate
  • Recipes
  • Relationships
  • Religion
  • Royals
  • SEO
  • Shopping
  • Skincare
  • Sports
  • Studying
  • Style
  • Super Stars
  • Tech
  • Technology
  • The Body
  • Tips
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Tools
  • Toys
  • Travel
  • Type
  • Uncategorized
  • Vape
  • Vehicle
  • Video
  • VR
  • Wedding
Footer Logo
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Latest
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 - All Right Reserved.

TheFrisky.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

We at TheFrisky participate in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn commissions on products or services that we recommend or promote through our website. When you click on a link to purchase a product or service that we have recommended or promoted, we may earn a commission from the sale. This commission helps us maintain and improve our website and provide you with valuable information and resources.

The Frisky
  • Home
  • News
  • Health
  • Celebs
  • Movies
  • Love
  • Relationships
  • Style
  • Entertainment
  • Parenting
  • Royals
  • Travel
The Frisky
  • Home
  • News
  • Health
  • Celebs
  • Movies
  • Love
  • Relationships
  • Style
  • Entertainment
  • Parenting
  • Royals
  • Travel
© 2024 - All Right Reserved.

TheFrisky.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

We at TheFrisky participate in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn commissions on products or services that we recommend or promote through our website. When you click on a link to purchase a product or service that we have recommended or promoted, we may earn a commission from the sale. This commission helps us maintain and improve our website and provide you with valuable information and resources.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoPrivacy policy

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy