The outbreak of the coronavirus led to a surge in interest in how to disinfect masks, as well as Google searches for “wash N95 mask” and “clean N95 mask.” Yet answers to this question are in short supply. The standard guidelines say to throw masks out and use new ones. But the standard guidelines are […]
Category: Masks
Is Washing Masks Effective After Virus Exposure?
With the shortage of masks during the coronavirus outbreak, many people are wondering if washing masks is an effective way of cleaning them, to let you re-use them. There are companies that claim to have washable anti-pollution masks. This company in India claims their mask is washable and can capture air pollution, bacteria, and “germs.” […]
Comparison of Mask Standards, Ratings, and Filtration Effectiveness
Mask standards can be confusing: N95, FFP1, P2, or surgical mask? This quick run-down 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 (or sometimes 4) types of commonly used, disposable masks. They are single-use face masks, surgical […]
DIY Masks: Is Paper Towel Effective at Blocking Viruses?
In a recent study, researchers tested household materials that could be used to make DIY masks, but they left out one common material—paper towel (also called “kitchen paper”). Could paper towel be an effective material for making homemade masks in times of crisis and shortages? Smart Air Engineer Paddy tested its effectiveness in the Smart Air […]
What Are The Best Materials for Making DIY Masks?
With masks sold out during the coronavirus outbreak, many people will have to make do with what some scientists have called “the last resort”: the DIY mask. Data shows that DIY and homemade masks are effective at capturing viruses. But if forced to make our own mask, what material is best suited to make a […]
Can DIY Masks Protect Us from Coronavirus?
DIY masks to protect against from 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 the coronavirus). However, the coronavirus outbreak brought with it […]
N95 Masks vs. Surgical Masks: Which Is Better at Preventing The Coronavirus?
Scientists have actually randomized people to wear N95 or regular surgical masks, then tracked how many people got infected with colds and flus similar to the coronavirus. This data can tell us whether N95 or surgical masks are more effective at preventing transmission of viruses. The results surprised me. Coronavirus & Mask Livestream Wondering whether […]
Can Masks Protect People from The Coronavirus?
With the outbreak of the coronavirus in China in early 2020, millions of people have to become experts masks overnight. Yet masks are complicated. Which masks can protect me from viruses? Do surgical masks filter the coronavirus? Do I have to use an N95 mask to protect me from viruses like the coronavirus? Fortunately, scientists […]
Can Japanese Pitta masks protect against Coronavirus?
With the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, interest has surged in Japanese Pitta masks. Smart Air has received a flood of questions about how well they filter the coronavirus and other viruses. The Japanese Pitta masks are sleek and incredibly popular, but there’s little information available on how well they filter out tiny […]
How Long Do Pollution Masks Last? | New Data
Scientific tests have found that simple pollution masks are incredibly effective, but how long do masks last? Most tests are done with brand new masks, so there’s very little data on used ones. And in that data vacuum, people have wildly different ideas about how masks remain effective. I’ve seen several people say they only […]
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