A face mask has become an important component of your life due to the coronavirus pandemic. You need it in your daily life to keep yourself and others safe from transferring the virus.
There are different face masks on the market today such as the N95 Mask and cloth masks. But do you know how to maintain your mask and keep it safe?
There are ways through which you can use your mask safely to avoid contaminating it as it might increase your chances of getting infected. Following are the simple ways of proper face mask maintenance you need to know:
1. Clean Your Hands Before Touching the Mask
You have to first sanitize or wash your hands before touching the mask to get rid of any bacteria or virus that might be in your hands. The environment is full of harmful bacteria like the surfaces you touch so it is better to first wash them off your hands to prevent contaminating your face mask.
When you touch your face mask with contaminated hands, you pass on the bacteria to it and when you wear it, they are easily transferred into your body. This fails its purpose of protecting you.
2. Replace it Over Time
If your mask becomes dirty or wet, it is recommended to get another one. You don’t have to put on the same mask now and then as it becomes dangerous to your health.
Your maskcan accumulate bacteria from the environment over time and if you keep on wearing the same face task then you have higher chances of infections from the accumulated bacteria.
3. Wash Cloth Masks Regularly
You have to regularly wash your face masks either by hand or machine and dry them well. This helps in getting rid of any accumulated bacteria in your mask.
Moreover, you can also iron it to ensure that all the bacteria in the face mask are killed. You can also soak it in warm water if you can because all these procedures are essential in the successful disinfection of your face mask.
4. Avoid Touching the Mask When Wearing It
You shouldn’t touch your mask when wearing it as you can contaminate it. In your daily busy schedule, you touch many surfaces and items in public places.
Remember public places are used by many people and have high risks of viruses and bacteria so it is better and safe not to touch your mask.
You might have touched on the stair rails, balcony, doors which all have higher chances of infection which you might transfer to your mask.
So, try as much as possible to control the habit of touching your face mask when wearing it. If it is inevitable then you can first sanitize your hands and touch them.
Keep Your Face Mask Safe
An ideal face mask like an N95 maskis key to keeping you safe from virus infections but you must also be in a position to keep it safe from contamination.
