![\"\"](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Throw-Masks-Away-CDC.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBut the standard guidelines aren’t helpful when surgical masks and N95 masks are in short supply. In this post, we look at the right way to wash, clean, and disinfect a mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are N95 and KN95 Masks Reusable? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Research<\/a> shows that N95 respirators can be decontaminated and reused, but the integrity of the seal and respirator fit must be maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3M, a manufacturer of N95s, recently provided guidelines<\/a> on reusing its masks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The simplest suggestion we’ve seen is to wash masks with soap and water. However, test data shows washing N95\/KN95 masks with water reduces their filtration effectiveness<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n Maybe alcohol disinfection is better than washing with water because it doesn’t require rubbing the mask? Unfortunately, tests found<\/a> that dipping N95 masks in rubbing alcohol reduced particle capture by 37%.<\/p>\n\n\n If washing with water and alcohol doesn’t work, then we’re in need of a more effective way to clean a mask, without harming performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In times of panic, we often want to take action, yet one of the simplest ways to disinfect masks is to do nothing! Simply allowing masks to dry will kill viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the critical question healthcare workers need to know is how long we need to dry masks before they’re safe. The question of viability is particularly important<\/a> because many studies measure whether viruses are “detectable.”<\/p>\n\n\n Viruses can remain detectable for long periods, leading to incredible-sounding headlines about how long viruses last. But “detectable” is very different from “viable.” Viable is more important for mask users because “viable” means it’s still able to infect someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDC<\/a> states the risk of COVID-19 transmission is minor after 72 hours of the virus being on a surface. Over 99% of COVID-19 virus particles die within that time. Therefore one of the safest ways to sanitize a mask from COVID-19 is to dry the mask for 72 hours in a COVID-free environment. <\/p>\n\n\n The study above is for H1N1 (influenza A), not the coronavirus. The researchers said results should be similar for other influenza A viruses, but they stopped short of saying they\u2019re valid for all flu viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n There\u2019s little data on how long COVID-19 remains viable. The CDC says that the coronavirus may<\/a> remain viable for hours to even days<\/a>. A recent study<\/a> (that has not been formally published yet) tested the viability of the new coronavirus (HCoV-19) and the “old” coronavirus, SARS (SARS-CoV-1). They sprayed the two viruses on plastic, stainless steel, copper, and cardboard.<\/p>\n\n\n They did not test cloth, but the closest material to a mask was cardboard. It took 48 hours for COVID-19 to be completely non-viable on cardboard. On stainless steel, a tiny amount of viable coronavirus remained at 72 hours, That’s 7 times longer than the earlier study found for H1N1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on these two studies, leaving a mask to dry for 48 hours should be enough to kill COVID-19, SARS, and influenza A viruses. Leaving masks for 72 hours would be even more conservative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it is important to remember that virus survival time is not a universal constant like the speed of light. Several factors will influence how long viruses survive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drying out a mask is more likely to kill the virus. One US hospital is telling its nurses to keep their masks in plastic bags<\/a>, yet this would prevent the mask from drying and thus allow the virus to live longer.<\/p>\n\n\n If in a rush to disinfect a mask, heating masks in the oven at 70\u00b0C (158\u00b0F) can be a decent option. Research<\/a> shows that as long as the masks are 6 inches from the burner, there is minimal reduction in mask effectiveness. Even after heating for 24 hours, the masks retained 98.5% effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n Leaving masks out to dry should disinfect them from COVID-19, SARS, and influenza A in under 48 hours. 72 hours would be even more conservative. <\/div> Along with wearing masks, air purifiers with HEPA filters are also one of the best ways to stay safe from a variety of pollutants in our air including viruses and dangerous PM2.5. A recent CDC study confirmed significantly lower COVID-19 infection rates in schools<\/a> that used HEPA air purifiers. HEPA filters can significantly lower the risk of a variety of deadly diseases<\/strong> including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3M N95 Guidance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Can N95 Masks Be Washed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Disinfect](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Washing-N95-Mask-Water-Soap-Effectiveness-Virus.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nUsing Alcohol to Disinfect Masks: Reduces Effectiveness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Disinfect](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Dipping-in-Rubbing-Alcohol-Decreases-Mask-Effectiveness-EN.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nA Reliable Way to Clean N95\/KN95 Masks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Viability](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Viability-of-viruses-vs-decteable-viruses-coronavirus-influenza.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nHow Long Will COVID and Viruses Live on a Mask?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/How-long-is-COVID-19-detectable-on-surfaces-1.png\")
Will Drying Masks Work for COVID-19?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Coronavirus](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-Different-viable-lifespan-compared-to-influenza.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Coronavirus](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-Viability-Time-For-Cardboard-Copper-Steel-and-Plastic-Surfaces.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Nurses](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Nurses-Told-to-Keep-Masks-in-Bags-dry-out-disinfect.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nHeating Masks for 60 mins at 70\u00b0C (158\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"heating](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-14-at-2.16.07-PM.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWHAT NEXT?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/CLEAN-AIR.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n