[Closed] Blue face masks - washing.

My kids need 5 a day for trains/school protocols.

Why does he need 5 a day?

I think the question is why after months of wearing these, are folk still buying single use masks?.

I bought a job lot last February whilst they were cheap for all my extended family.

They need a mask for the train every day each way, and school policy is they need 3 clean masks to use moving around the school.

Fairy nuff if you have a load.

I'd be having a word with the school about that nonsense wasteful rule though, utter pish.

We go through a few a day between us.

That's why we've a lot of washable, be reuseable ones that mrs_oab made for us. They can be bought.

I too don't get why so many are using single use still. According to smallest_oab, some of it in school is fashion.(!)

I did a bit of reading on the re-use of single use masks and couldn't find much negative. Basically you just need to leave in a covid safe environment for a while. A paper bag for a week was suggested. That'll make it useable again, although a wash might help if it's dirty, can't see how it would hurt as long as it doesn't damage it. Would be interested to hear if this is correct.

I've got a mix of single use and washable masks and the single use ones are nicer especially when working. Couldn't really justify using them only once though.

Surely if they are washed in a washing machine, they will be covid safe?

Isn't the virus covered in a layer of fat that the detergent breaks down and destroys it?

IANAV.

We’ve been told to wash fabric ones in a machine, and that soap breaks down the virus

If a mask survives the wash intact (they do, and are actually better) and the soap has killed the virus, I can’t see the issue, but thought I’d see if there is something I’ve missed.

Gobuchul - that was my understanding.

They need a mask for the train every day each way, and school policy is they need 3 clean masks to use moving around the school.

Unless the train journey is a few hours each way one will be enough, I bet the school don’t even monitor that ridiculous rule. One will likely do for the short periods each day he’ll wear them. 2 would allow him a fresh one should the other become damp.

Buy a few cloth washable ones.

The surgical type ones are classed as single use as it’s per patient or procedure in a clinical environment not a 15 minutes trip around the shop.

We was our fabric made ones by hand in very hot water.

The fabric one's are far better (but you need 2 layers of fabric) with a pocket for a liner.

I think washing the blue ones is a good idea and transporting in a paper bag.

I've been chucking the single use ones in the washing machine along with towels and boxers on a 60°C wash.

Seem to hold up OK.

You don't even need to use very hot water. Soap does the trick

Not tried washing them but I also bought a load in March and find them much more comfy to wear than some other washable masks I've tried (mostly the ear elastic is much more forgiving), I do use them multiple times though (as it's generally only 30 minutes at a time when doing a food shop).

I hope there's a special place in hell for the people that leave single use masks in their shopping trolleys...

For anyone looking at washable multi wear, if you struggle with the ear thing take a look at Buff... They're not cheap but they take a replaceable filter.

They fit over the head and so don't get that pain behind the ears.

They do kids sizes too

I wore mine for 2x consecutive days, 8hrs a day and it was so comfortable

https://www.buff.com/gb/masks.html?age_general=2518

Shit, I just put on whatever one I can find, be it in my pocket, in the van etc.

Have some washable cotton masks that work supplied, but they're 4 layer and get v hot quickly, which then causes my glasses to steam up. This is a pain when moving around sites at work.

The single use ones don't seem to cause that issue and are much more comfy, so a reusable one with the same properties would be ideal!

Got to be better than those using buffs and scarfs - they are just making a token gesture and not offering up any protection whatsoever. If you can blow out a candle through a mask you're wasting your time.

I just buy a load of blue masks in and have a packed in the cars, a mask in the pockets of all my coats/hoodies/trousers, because when I pop out I'm bound to forget and get to a destination and be without a mask. I will wear a blue one a few times before chucking it. Re-usable ones irritate my nose and make me sneeze especially after a few washes - which is the biggest no no even if you have a mask on as no mask will contain a sneeze and you will spread your atomised saliva into the surrounding air which is the main way it is transmitted. Blue ones are fine but after a few uses the inside gets fluffed up and start to irritate my nose so I chuck them at that point.

I just wear a buff and more importantly keep my 2 metres.

What are the single use ones like vs re-useable with regards steaming up glasses ? I find the re-useable ones, even with a fitted 'nose wire' still steam up my glasses badly, especially with the temperature drop.

Ive seen fabric ones advertised specifically to stop glasses steaming up?

We were given a pack of the blue ones months ago. Still have them. I just recycle them. Leave them on the back seat of the car for a week. Rotate.

Handwash in a basin in soapy water? Let dry on the radiator?