You've Worn That Homemade Mask, Here's How to Clean It

You’ve done your part for the day by wearing a homemade mask. Some cities are mandating it.
But, when you get home what’s the best way to clean it?

Related Story: Right Now, a Homemade Face Mask Is a Good Idea

Masks Mandatory in Certain Cities

The CDC recommends that face coverings be worn in places where social distancing can be difficult, such as the grocery store, especially in geographic areas with widespread transmission.
In Los Angeles, as of last Friday, all customers entering locations like grocery stores, pharmacies, hotels, taxis, and ride-hailing vehicles are required to wear a cloth mask. Businesses can refuse service to any resident who doesn’t comply with the mandate.

Related Story: No More Questions, LA Makes Masks Mandatory Starting Friday

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has directed all grocery stores and food markets in the city to require customers to wear face masks before entering.

Q&A on CDC Website About Mask Cleaning

Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering?

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization to Decontaminate Millions of N95 Respirators

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization that has the potential to decontaminate approximately 4 million N95 or N95-equivalent respirators per day in the U.S. for reuse by health care workers in hospital settings.

The FDA granted the EUA to Advanced Sterilization Products for the “STERRAD” Sterilization Cycles, which uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization. There are approximately 9,930 STERRAD Sterilization systems in approximately 6,300 hospitals across the U.S.
“Our nation’s health care workers are among the many heroes of this pandemic and we need to do everything we can to increase the availability of the critical medical devices they need, like N95 respirators,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D.
These vary in reprocessing times from 55 minutes, to 28 minutes, and 24 minutes. Each can reprocess approximately 480 respirators per day.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)