The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has recommended to combat the coronavirus with non-medical face masks. It is accepted that surgical masks or N-95 face coverings should only be reserved for healthcare providers or COVID-19 patients.
With all the errands, shopping trips, school runs, rides on public transport and commuting, the most practical option is to get your hands-on reusable face mask.
We also know, fighting this pandemic and keeping up with your hygiene is undoubtedly a tedious task. We understand the struggle is real, so let's find out the experts' guidelines on clean reusable masks for daily day use.

This is not professional medical advice. You should always consult your doctor in health-related issues.

As per the director of the Good housekeeping institute cleaning lab, Carolyn Forte suggests to:

• Put your reusable facemasks in regular laundry.
• Try using non-scented detergent and warmest/hottest water with appropriate water settings to kill any potential virus or bacteria at high temperatures.
• Now put your mask in the dryer with the highest heat/ temperature settings.

The cleanliness of the mask is everything. Cloth or reusable facemasks should be appropriately washed regularly to maintain proper hygiene. Here are a few easy methods to clean your fabric facemask as per the standard CDC guidelines and expert's opinions:

According to associate hospital epidemiologist and infectious disease physician of Tufts Medical Centre, Dr Gabriela Andujar Vazquez, “Any detergent or washing agent you use at home for laundry with warm water works fine to kill virus.” Here’s how to do it:

• Check the cloth facemask label or ensure the cotton fabric mask, if suitable to be bleached. If bleach is advised, use 5.25% - 8.25% of sodium hypochlorite and mix it up with 1/3 cup of water in temperate room water.
• Soak the mask in the bleach water for approx. Five minutes and later rinse thoroughly with cold water.
• Ensure all the bleach is appropriately drained. Now lay it down on a completely dry and clean surface ad iron it at a high temperature.

As per various CDC experts' suggestions in a magazine, it is essential to hand-wash the delicate facemask or coverings for at least 20 minutes before drying. Here more to look for:

• Take the warmest water your hands can take on and dissolve the detergent or any antibacterial solution in the water.
• Soak the mask for 20 minutes at least and later wash the mask with water.
• Turn on your dryer on the highest temperature settings and leave the mask within to remove any bacterial particles.

Some manufacturers or DIYs involves facemask filters to make coverings more effective. However, mostly these filters are purposed to be used one-time only but since we are all here learning about cleaning, let's find out how to clean the facemask filters:

Coffee Filters: Disposable paper products used in the mask should not be reused or washed; instead, replaced after every use.

HVAC Filters: Manufacturers often warn HVAC filters are appropriate for one-time usage. However, if you are using them in your cotton facemask coverings, wash them with the techniques mentioned above (warm water and high heat drying)
Non-Woven Interface Material: This type of medium weight filter is reusable and washable. Thus, as per CDC guideline, wash these filters as per the standard method of warm water, detergent or antibacterial solution, and tumble dry.

How Often Should You Clean Face Masks?

With the above cleaning guidelines, let's find out the CDC experts' opinion on washing or cleaning frequency for your reusable cloth facemasks.

Dr. Cassandra Pierre, a reckoned infectious disease physician of Boston medical centre, stated," I recommend to wash your facemask every day." He further added," There are more chances or risks of having droplets on your mask surface whenever you go for errands, use public transport and so on, thus wash off your mask daily."

Always use cotton fabric bandannas, shirts, bandannas, and face scarves to make DIY facemasks easily washed and dried in the laundry.

• Always throw disposable or surgical facemasks after one use.
• Consider using a non-scented detergent to wash the mask as people or children might be perfume/fragrance allergic.
• Always keep two masks for on-the-go usage.
• Always have a bin of washed and dirty facemask in your room to keep the masks separated and sorted.
• Keep a "clean and used" tagged zipper bag in your school bags or purse to keep the fresh one separated from the contaminated one.

Now that you know everything about facemask cleaning, you can save time, money and, more importantly, stay safe. Remember, to wear that mask!