The right way to wash your face mask to protect yourself from the coronavirus

It's no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has stirred up a storm all across the globe. Millions of people across multiple different countries have been infected with the virus and many others have even succumbed to the illness. The WHO has put out a certain set of guidelines to follow during this time, one of which includes wearing a face mask whenever one steps out. In the USA where there is a supposed shortage of face masks, people have been asked to use other rudimentary methods of covering their faces like using scarfs or bandanas instead. But the one question that arises here is how often should one wash their face mask and how exactly should it be washed to help prevent the coronavirus?

The CDC recommends that the mask be washed according to its frequency of use. The guidance recommended: “A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.” Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, also spoke about this and said that one can wear a mask multiple times before washing it as long as the mask isn't dirty. He said that it's okay to put the mask in a weekly wash cycle.

He said, "You shouldn't be using them all that frequently. You're only going out to the pharmacy and supermarket." However, other experts claim that one should wash their mask after every use. All one needs to do is wash it with detergent and hot water. And if you're opting to wash it in the machine, make sure to opt for a hot cycle wash instead of a normal one.

While masks cannot prevent you from catching the disease, they most certainly can lower the risk of you getting it. Viruses often travel from person to person in the form of droplets that are let out through a cough or sneeze. Wearing a mask can help protect you from big droplets and can thus keep you safe. Alternatively, it can also protect you from when you're touching your face subconsciously (the virus can thrive on surfaces, people touch surfaces and then randomly touch their faces and this can lead to an infection).

Apart from washing your hands frequently, the WHO has also recommended that people maintain a distance of 6 feet from other people. However, wearing a mask is also what really helps. “My personal opinion is that that’s probably been an important thing in other countries flattening their curve,” said Dr. Otto Yang, an expert in infectious diseases. “If you go to Taiwan or Singapore, everyone’s got a mask on all the time. Healthy or not. Sick or not.”