Masks are effective protection from airborne pollutants such as PM2.5, viruses, bacteria and allergens. In general, there are 2 common types of masks: surgical masks and respirators like N95 and N99 masks. DIY face masks can be used when surgical masks and respirators are not available. Read more to learn if masks actually work, how long masks can be used and how to wash them.
Just how long can you wear one surgical mask? How often you should replace your mask depends on who you ask. If you ask the WHO, they recommend surgical masks be changed every 4 hours. That could mean multiple masks a day. That’s a lot of masks and a lot … Read more
DIY cloth masks to protect against viruses sounds like a crazy idea. Data shows masks work incredibly well, and they’re also really cheap. Surgical masks cost a few pennies, and they’re capable of filtering out 80% of particles down to 0.007 microns (14 times smaller than COVID-19). However, the COVID-19 … Read more
COVID-19 has caused a surge in interest for all types of masks, including Japanese Pitta masks. Smart Air has received a flood of questions about how well they filter COVID-19 and other viruses. The Japanese Pitta masks are sleek and incredibly popular, but there’s little information available on how well … Read more
COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire again with the emergence of the Delta variant. Even after nearly two years and a vaccine, it is clear that vaccination alone is not enough for protection against the Delta variant. In this article, we share some important tips and knowledge for further protection against … Read more
Covid-19 and the Delta variant has led to a new surge in interest of how to clean and disinfect masks. Google searches for “wash N95 mask” and “wash KN95 mask” have sky-rocketed. Yet data-backed answers seem to be in short supply. The standard guidelines say to throw masks out and … Read more
Since COVID-19 started, there has been confusion on how to correctly where a surgical mask. But does wearing surgical masks the wrong way round affect their ability to capture viruses? Some online sources claim it doesn’t matter, like this one. Surgical masks are made up of 3 layers, and there … Read more
Mask standards can be confusing: N95, KN95, FFP1, P2, or surgical mask? This quick run-down of mask specifications covers mask types, mask ratings, and their effectiveness at filtering particles. First off, let’s start with mask types (or certification types). In general, there are 3 types of commonly used, disposable masks. … Read more
Wildfires create a serious amount of smoke and air pollution. Wildfire smoke can cause short and long-term health impacts. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke is a form of air pollution. It contains dangerous VOC gases and small particles (PM2.5) that … Read more
With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. What are KN95 masks, and are they the same as N95 masks? This handy chart explains the differences between N95 and KN95 masks (and all characteristics that are the same). N95 vs. KN95 … Read more
Surgical masks are designed to be worn in one direction only. However, it can be difficult to know which way round a medical face mask should go. Should the blue side face out, or in? Some surgical masks are white all over, which way round should these white face masks … Read more
