Cloth Masks Aren’t Everlasting: Learn When to Replace Them
Cloth face masks have many important
benefits: they’re kinder to the environment, more cost-effective than
disposable face masks, and convenient. But they, too, are unfortunately
not everlasting. Knowing when it’s time to replace a cloth mask is quite
important, as an old face mask is less effective at protecting you from
germs. These are the 5 main signs that tell you it’s time to replace a
cloth face mask.
1. The elastic ear loops are stretched out
The elastic ear loops are usually the first
part of a face mask to be stretched out and misshapen. This may seem
like it’s not a big deal, but in reality, it may really be rendering
your mask useless, as a face mask is only effective at filtering out
germs when it hugs the face closely and all the air you inhale or exhale
passes through the fabric. When the elastic loops are stretched out,
the mask may become too loose on the sides, and as a result, air will
escape and enter through the sides of the mask.
As Hannah Yokoji, director of The Laundress, told HuffPost, “If these
ties become loose or stretched, you need to stop using it straight away
because if the mask isn’t fitted properly to your face, you could be
putting yourself and others in danger of COVID-19.” If the mask is
really new and the loops became stretched out after you put the mask in
the dryer, for example, an alternative you could try is shortening those
loops by trying them in a knot in a pre-measured place. We mentioned
several other tricks that will make your face mask fit better and be
more comfortable.
2. The fabric is wearing thin
It’s not only the elastics that are
susceptible to wear and tear. The fabric itself is also becoming less
tightly-knit and dense over time, especially if you’re washing your
cloth face mask often, which you absolutely should do. To see if your
cloth mask has started to wear thin and needs replacing, hold up the
mask against light and see if there are any sparse spots or visible
fading that are more see-through than the rest of the fabric. If so,
then it’s definitely time to replace that mask.
3. The mask doesn’t fit closely anymore
When to Replace Cloth Masks boy wearing face mask
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Different fabrics react differently to washing and drying, and over
time, some fabrics tend to become more stretched out and misshapen than
others. If you notice that a face mask has lost its shape the last time
you’ve washed it and doesn’t fit as well around the nose, the chin, or
the sides, it’s best to get rid of the mask.
After all, the last thing you’d want is to go through all the trouble of
wearing a face mask only to find out that it’s completely ineffective.
4. It has holes and stains
We might be stating the obvious here, but a face mask that has apparent
holes and loose seams should be discarded, and the novel coronavirus
will be able to pass through those gaps and holes with ease. It’s also
wise to replace a mask with stains from coffee or makeup that do not go
away after a wash. “A stained mask has probably been overused and needs
replacing,” said physician Leann Poston in a statement to HuffPost.
5. You’ve washed them over 30 times
If you were searching for a specific time
limit after which you should definitely throw away the mask, 30 washes
is a good benchmark according to health experts. Thorough washing
damages the fibers of the face mask and makes it easier for the virus to
travel through the face mask. Even if your mask is made out of
high-quality fabric, it’s not going to be effective enough to protect
you from the virus after dozens of washes, so make sure to replace it on
a regular basis.