Mask washing

I wondered if this was going to be one one of those competitive cleaning threads..... you know the “I leave the post outside for a week, disinfect the entire house twice daily, boil wash OH every Saturday.......”

Masks don't cause oxygen deprivation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5npQivAmcE

I've got about ten pretty cotton double-thickness masks.
After one wear I put them to soak in ZoFlora diluted with hot water for about an hour. Then rinse them thoroughly and dry them.

The conspiracy theorists are up early this morning. Hospital staff can wear masks constantly throughout a 12 hour shift every working day. But the rest of us can’t wear one to pop into Tesco without risking brain damage. Who would have thought it ?

www.sott.net/article/442455-German-Neurologist-Warns-Against-Wearing-Facemasks-Oxygen-Deprivation-Causes-Permanent-Neurological-Damage

Mine get washed after one use
Usually once a week

Please don’t wash and reuse disposable ones. That’s not what they are meant fot

I wear home-made cotton masks. They go in the washing machine at 30C or 40C along with everything else I have been wearing. After all, my clothes are as likely to be contaminated as my masks so, why treat them differently? I am very careful to use a clean mask if I take one off between shops.

Hetty58 PinkCakes made that post on 1st September when 1295 new cases were reported for the day, a lot less than the 19724 reported yesterday. Always best to check the dates and facts of posts before being dismissive of people.

PinkCakes:

'fewer cases now'

What? Where? I'm in London and things are getting bad. Maybe you live on a sparsely populated little island?

The masks we’ve got come with washing instructions that say wash in cold water. Apparently it’s the soap suds that break down the fatty coating on the virus rather than the temperature of the water. The water can then wash the virus away.Going by this rather than wiping door handles etc with antibacterial wipes or using sprays we should just be washing them with soapy water. Much cheaper and better for the environment.

rockgran, thanks for the the youtube link for Dr John Campbell. now watching it and very interesting!

Oops - spot the glaring error in my post above!

I like to thing that if soap is bad for the virus, detergent is the same and will do the job at 40°.
The minimum wash time in my machine is 30 minutes - that's 29 minutes and 40 seconds longer than we are advised to wash our hands, and I don't know about anyone else, but we don't wash our hands at 60°, so I think it will do.

I also have accidentally washed a couple of disposable masks and they survived! I’m sure it’s not recommended but it would probably be ok to do once or twice.

Masks are a preventative measure. Other hygienic methods are needed to complete personal safety and most people have no clue as to what these are.

Don't usually bother washing them as I pour boiling water over them. That kills the buggers! I also take a handkerchief with me done the same way and wipe my eyes after going into shops and get back to the car.

I have one mask made so that there is a see-thru area over my lips - people can seem me smile at them, or they can lipread what I am saying. Apart from that I use the disposable ones. I wash them all in soap and water by hand, hang in shower to drip to nearly dry and then put them where the sunshine can finish off their drying. I have a special flat plastic box to in which I can keep two or three masks cleanly and easily in my handbag.
It does amuse me as to how many people just take off their masks and cram them into bag or pocket until they use it next time doesn't appear very hygienic to me.
Do wonder with the children in secondary schools needing to put on masks when they go into corridors, etc, then take them off again, until next time. usually just put in a pocket in between. Am wondering if this sort of action is more likely to make them unwell with something or the other than any sort of protection to anyone.
But, never mind!! masks seem to have become the magic potion with regard to this Covid virus - those who wear them them (no matter what condition they are in) are good, and those that do not are bad.

I'm another one who washes them with the next wash, so anything from 30º to 60º. If it's not a washing day I do them by hand with soap (or even take them into the shower with me ).

Wash mine at 60 degrees and let them dry in the airing cupboard . Tend to put them in with towels or sheets which I also wash at 60 degrees . They are put in the dirty laundry basket until I do a load. I have several so always have spare.

My masks are triple thickness. I live in England but I believe that is the recommendation in Wales so there must be a reason. I also sometimes add a filter. I keep them over my nose and don't fiddle!

I made double thicknesses cotton masks.
One wear and then into the washing machine with other washing. 40 degree wash. I iron them too.
Agree with janipat as to hand washing and temperatures.

Just a thought..........those that wash masks at high temperatures, up to boiling point, do you wash your hands at these same temperatures? If a soap and water wash at normal temperatures is sufficient to kill the virus on your hands why wouldn't it work on masks? And do you wash all your other clothing at the same very hot temperatures? Mine get bunged in with whatever wash is coming next, mostly 30 - 40 degrees.

Thanks rockgran. As ever with Dr John I found it very interesting and empowering.

I don't go to the shops unless absolutely necessary. I wear fabric ones (I've got 4) and wear each one once - so no more than about 30 minutes. I wash them on 30 degrees. I think we need to get things into perspective - the risk of catching Covid-19 is not as bad as it was (fewer cases now), and with a mask or face covering of some sort, the risk is reduced even further.

This is the John Campbell link about wearing a mask to protect yourself as well as others.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DANEqOPcDwc