Image: Shuttlestock
Face coverings, such as cloth masks, are mandatory for all Victorians and are being recommended for public use in some other parts of the country.
Wearing a face covering helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 by providing a physical barrier. In saying that, they don’t replace the need to keep up physical distancing, hand hygiene, and staying at home when feeling unwell (as well as any other government restrictions). They should also be worn correctly.
Importantly, they should also be washed properly. If you come into contact with an infected person while wearing a mask, virus particles could land on your mask and contaminate it. If you don’t handle and wash your mask correctly, you may infect yourself or others by touching the contaminated mask.
When to clean
Cloth masks should be cleaned after each use. Importantly, if your mask gets wet, moist or visibly dirty, it’s time to take it off, put on a new one and wash the old one. A supply of masks will help you manage the cleaning process, so you always have one to hand. The number of masks you want to have in supply will depend on how frequently you leave the house and use them.
Remember the mask may be contaminated, so don’t touch the front of it when taking it off. Instead, use the loops or ties to take it off, then store it in a plastic bag or dedicated area, ready to be washed. And wash your hands immediately afterwards.
If you happen to have a surgical or medical mask, these are single-use only, so should not be laundered, cleaned or reused.
How to clean
Washing cloth masks is pretty straightforward. You can add them to your normal laundry wash. Make sure to use a detergent and to use the warmest temperature setting your clothes and cloth can handle.
There is no need to use disinfectant in your wash. For the detergent, you may want to use a non-scented detergent if you are sensitive to the smell.
If you want to wash your cloth mask by hand, use a bucket of hot water with a detergent. Just use hot water from the tap, no need to boil water. Let the cloth mask soak in the water, give it a hand wash and rinse. If your mask remains visibly dirty, try washing it in the washing machine.
As always, ensure you wash your hands after you put the mask in the washing machine or bucket, and after handling your mask in general.
Drying them is important
A wet cloth mask is not effective to use, so your cloth mask must be dry before using it again. You can dry your cloth mask in any number of ways.
You can use a dryer (using a heat setting) or lay it flat to air-dry. Direct sunlight is also another way to dry your cloth mask. You can hang it, but it’s best to dry it flat so it doesn’t lose its shape.
When you have washed and dried your mask, store it in a clean, dry place where it won’t get contaminated again.
How often do I need to make or buy a new mask?
Cloth masks are all very different. You may have purchased one or made one yourself. As a result, there is no set “life” of a cloth mask.
But here are some indications you may need a new one:
- it doesn’t fit snugly on your face anymore, or has lost its shape
- there are tears or holes, or the material is wearing thin
- it frequently falls down or you need to keep adjusting it.
Read more: Which face mask should I wear?
And don’t forget
When putting on a fresh mask, make sure you wear it properly, ensuring it covers your mouth and nose. Do not wear a mask slung under your chin, or have your nose protruding over the top. Avoid fiddling with your mask, moving it around unnecessarily, or excessively touching it.
Finally, masks used alone will not prevent infection. Used together with physical distancing and hand hygiene will offer the most protection.
Read more: Victorians, and anyone else at risk, should now be wearing face masks. Here’s how to make one
This article is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.
This article was co-authored by:
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Disclosure statement
Brett Mitchell is affiliated with the University of Newcastle, Editor-in-Chief (Infection, Disease and Health), member of the Infection Control Expert Advisory Group (Advising AHHPC), member of the COVID Evidence Taskforce Leadership Group, Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Brett Mitchell has received funding from the NHMRC, HCF Foundation, Australian College of Nursing, Rosemary Norman Foundation, Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, Cardinal Health, MSD, and the Commonwealth (Innovations Connections).
Philip Russo is the President of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. He is Deputy Chair of the Infection Control Expert Group to the Department of Health, a member of the COVID Evidence Taskforce Steering Committee, the Australian Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on AMR, the Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and a member of the Australian College of Nursing. He is also the recipient of a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship, and has received research funding from the Rosemary Norman Foundation, Cardinal Health, Australian College of Nursing and the Cabrini Institute
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