Key Takeaways
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that we wear face masks to help slow and prevent the spread ofCOVID-19. If you’ve invested in reusable cloth face masks, keeping them clean is just as important as remembering to put it on and ensuring the fit is right for you.
Catherine Clase, a nephrologist and associate professor of medicine at McMaster University, tells Verywell that in terms of which face mask hygiene practices are most effective, the evidence is lacking.
That said, there are a few things we do know about keeping face masks clean.
Wearing and Caring for COVID-19 Face Masks
When to Wash Your Mask
Before you askhowto wash your mask, you’ll probably want to knowhow oftenyou should wash it. Clase says that reusable face masks need to be washed every day.
If you are wearing a mask continuously for several hours, you might need a second mask to get through the day because of the moisture build-up.
Raina MacIntyre, PhD, an epidemiologist attheUniversity of New South Wales, agrees that people should wash their reusable face masks daily.
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How to Wash Your Mask
No specific data exists on whether it’s better to toss your mask in the washing machine or hand-wash it. What’s more important is the water temperature.
“Health Canada specifically suggests a hot cycle whereas the CDC says the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth and for the mask,” MacIntyre says. Health Canada also recognizes hand-washing masks with soap and warm or hot water as a possible method for cleaning your face mask.
“In general, we would expect there will be a lower amount of virus surviving at higher temperatures, with longer exposure times—time in the wash—and with higher concentrations of soap and detergents," MacIntyre says. “But we don’t have good specific information on this forSARS-CoV-2at present.”
Still, we have some information. MacIntyre conducted a study published in theBMJthat found healthcare workers in Vietnam who hand-washed their face masks had double the risk of getting infected with respiratory viruses than the workers whose masks were cleaned in the hospital laundry.
MacIntyre points out that the main problem with hand-washing your mask is that the exposure time (how long it’s in contact with the water and detergent) is shorter than it would be if you put it in the washing machine.
If you do want to hand-wash your mask, MacIntyre suggests letting it soak in hot water with detergent, agitate it, then rinse thoroughly.
While a washing machine cycle might be more effective than hand-washing because it offers longer exposure, Clase says that if hand-washing is combined with a hot soak with detergent orbleach, it could be as effective.
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“We don’t know what the threshold is; it’s possible that virus might be inactivated in minutes in warm soapy water," Clase says. “But in the absence of direct evidence, recommendations are framed to be as safe as possible.”
It would make sense that the heat of a tumble dryer would inactivate the virus, but it’s not known whether this is needed after a good wash. While both Health Canada and the CDC stress the importance of thorough drying, neither specifies a method.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends washing face masks in water that is at least 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit).While a washing machine can reach that temperature, you’re not likely to get there with your sink. “These high temperatures cannot be achieved with hand-washing—you would burn your hands,” MacIntyre says.
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Mask Material Matters
Clase recommends two- to four-layered cotton masks. Based on her review of evidence published inMayo Clinic Proceedings, Clase believes that a mask with at least 100 threads per inch [TPI] is adequate.
You should not wash disposable masks and N95s.
Other research indicates cotton with a high thread count may not be breathable, while another study found that three of the five best performing materials included woven cotton with high to moderate thread counts.
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“Other materials, including synthetics, may also work well, but we have less information on them at the moment," Clase says. “And when we are thinking about washing, the advantage of cotton is that they can be washed hot and in a machine.
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The Right (and Wrong) Way to Wear a Mask
Clase says one thing that many of us are doing wrong is touching our faces while we wear our masks—something we often do without realizing it. When you touch your face or mask, it increases the risk of cross-contamination.
“It’s very hard for us not to touch our faces frequently,” Clase says. “With practice and effort, we can improve. If you realize you’ve touched your face or mask, wash your hands,” she says.
The other challenge for mask-wearers is trying to figure out what you should do with it in the moments when you don’t need it. “Wearing it under your chin, off one ear, or on the forehead, all create the risk of contaminating your nose and mouth with the outer surfaces," Clase says.
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Ideally, take your mask off and put it in a paper bag before you pop it into your purse or pocket. It’s also important to wash your hands before you put your mask on and after you take it off.
“The best solution is probably what we do in health care—just keep it on, even if you are briefly in an area where you don’t need it, rather than putting it on and taking it off repeatedly," Clase says.
Stash Extra MasksKeep an extra mask on hand—reusable, disposable, or both. If the one that you’re wearing gets damp from excessive moisture, you sneeze into it, or it gets contaminated in another way, you might not have the means to clean it properly. Having a spare stashed in your car or bag will ensure you can protect yourself until you can get home and clean your mask properly.
Stash Extra Masks
Keep an extra mask on hand—reusable, disposable, or both. If the one that you’re wearing gets damp from excessive moisture, you sneeze into it, or it gets contaminated in another way, you might not have the means to clean it properly. Having a spare stashed in your car or bag will ensure you can protect yourself until you can get home and clean your mask properly.
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When Can You Take Your Mask Off?
Clase says that when you’re running errands, it’s okay to remove your mask and put it back on while you’re driving. “Most of these errands will be each quite low-risk,” she says. “Put the mask on with the same side towards you each time. Store it in a paper bag between uses.”
If there is a high-risk use, such as visiting someone in a long-term care facility or you were near someone sneezing or coughing, it’s probably better to use a new mask.
Discontinue using a mask right away if you drop it on the ground in a supermarket or other public indoor area.
What This Means For YouIf you wear a reusable face mask, make sure that you wash it every day—either in the washing machine or with hot water and detergent in your sink. If you wear disposable or N95 masks, do not wash them or reuse them.It can help to store some extra masks—reusable, disposable, or both—in your car or bag in case the one you’re wearing gets contaminated and you aren’t able to properly clean it.
What This Means For You
If you wear a reusable face mask, make sure that you wash it every day—either in the washing machine or with hot water and detergent in your sink. If you wear disposable or N95 masks, do not wash them or reuse them.It can help to store some extra masks—reusable, disposable, or both—in your car or bag in case the one you’re wearing gets contaminated and you aren’t able to properly clean it.
If you wear a reusable face mask, make sure that you wash it every day—either in the washing machine or with hot water and detergent in your sink. If you wear disposable or N95 masks, do not wash them or reuse them.
It can help to store some extra masks—reusable, disposable, or both—in your car or bag in case the one you’re wearing gets contaminated and you aren’t able to properly clean it.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How to select, wear, and clean your mask.
Public Health Agency of Canada.COVID-19 non-medical masks and face coverings: How to put on, remove, and clean.
MacIntyre CR, Dung TC, Chughtai AA, Seale H, Rahman B.Contamination and washing of cloth masks and risk of infection among hospital health workers in Vietnam: a post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.BMJ Open. 2020;10(9):e042045. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042045
World Health Organization (WHO).WHO updated guidance on the use of masks.
Clase CM, Fu EL, Ashur A, et al.Forgotten technology in the covid-19 pandemic: filtration properties of cloth and cloth masks—a narrative review.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2020;95(10):2204-2224. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.07.020
Konda A, Prakash A, Moss GA, Schmoldt M, Grant GD, Guha S.Response to letters to the editor on aerosol filtration efficiency of common fabrics used in respiratory cloth masks: revised and expanded results.ACS Nano. 2020;14(9):10764-10770. doi:10.1021/acsnano.0c04897
Ozog DM, Sexton JZ, Narla S, et al.The effect of ultraviolet C radiation against different N95 respirators inoculated with SARS-CoV-2.International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020;100:224-229. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.08.077
Signs.com.Mask hygiene.
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