Photo by cottonbro
Originally Posted On: How to Wash Cloth Face Masks: A Simple Step-By-Step Guide – reNEU Earth
Face masks: we’re all wearing them. With the global presence of COVID-19 still high, protective cloth face masks are in high-quality protective cloth face mask, washing it the wrong way can reduce its effectiveness in keeping you safe.
So how do you wash cloth face masks the best way? Read on to discover our fool-proof guide to keeping your cloth face masks clean, fresh, and ready for the next battle.
Prepare Your Wash Area
Most face masks are made to last, but like other smaller clothing items, they may be more fragile. If you wash them in a washing machine, especially with other larger, coarser cloth items (we’re looking at you, towels), the masks may get damaged during the process. You can better protect your mask by hand-washing it.
So get a wash area ready for your cloth mask’s spa day. We recommend using a small tub or sink, but anything that’s able to hold several gallons of boiling water will work just fine. Sanitize your basin area with a bacteria- and virus-killing agent (such as Clorox or Lysol), then rinse the area out well with warm water.
Draw the Mask Bath
Next, add a few gallons of boiling water and some detergent of your choice. We recommend using one teaspoon of laundry detergent or one of these natural solutions:
– one tablespoon of borax and a few drops of your favorite essential oil, or
– one teaspoon of Castile liquid soap (if it’s scentless soap, feel free to add a few drops of essential oil to the basin for a little extra zing)
Mix your cleaning agent into the water well. If there are removable cloth filters in your mask, separate them from the masks, then drop all of the washable parts into the basin for a 30-minute soak, or until it’s cool enough for you to submerge your hands in the water comfortably.
Hand Wash Your Cloth Face Masks
Once the water has cooled down, add another small drop of soap directly to the cloth mask (we recommend using Castile or antibacterial hand soap to ensure the colors in the fabric are protected) and use the mask to scrub itself.
While you’re scrubbing it, make sure that every part of the mask has been carefully scrubbed, including the elastic bands. Allow the mask to soak for another 15 minutes, then rinse it off with cold, freshwater until there are no more suds on the mask and the water runs clear.
Let the Elements Do Their Work
The last step in the process is to dry the mask. The key to killing bacteria and viruses is heat, air, and Contact us today so we can discuss how to keep you happy and healthy.