Can I re-wear my fabric masks? Should I reuse my mask? What if I have no choice but to reuse my mask?
Much has been said about reusing masks – Surgical Masks or Fabric Masks. Yes, not all masks offer the same protection. Certainly, not all masks can and should be re-used. Disposable Surgical Masks are what it is. One-time use. Especially for those in the medical line of work who are at higher risk of exposure and require the use of disposable and surgical-grade masks to keep them safe.
Then, what about us? The Average Joe, the Makcik Kiah and Pak Ali, Ah Lian out there? WHO has provided guidelines on who should wear what kind of masks here.
For those of us who are in a situation where we have no choice but to reuse disposable mask or chose to wear reusable masks for personal reasons, how do we then ensure we are safe too?
Firstly, for those who have to reuse or have access to only 1 piece of disposable surgical mask or fabric mask – opt to disinfect your mask with a non-alcohol base Antimicrobial Spray
Some people have tried to disinfect their masks with alcohol-based products to make them safe. But this actually does more harm than help with the situation.
Doing so compromises the waterproof function of the mask. For surgical masks, there is a layer of water and fluid-proof to defend against potential droplets and contaminants. But Alcohol is both lipophilic and hydrophilic. Meaning it will dissolve the water-proof coating, thus destroying the protective layer. Reference: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3893442
Vircast Medic’s Antimicrobial Spray is proven to be effective in killing 99.99% of germs and bacteria in as little as 5 seconds.
NOTE: Vircast Medic do not encourage you to reuse your disposable mask. Disposable masks should be discarded properly after each use.
Secondly, there are reusable masks that were specifically designed to maintain its efficacy after repeated washes.
Just like Vircast Medic’s Premium Reusable Fabric Face Masks that provides BACTERIA FILTRATION EFFICIENCY (BFE) > 99% (ASTM F2101-19) and PARTICULATE FILTRATION EFFICIENCY (PFE) 100% (ASTM F2299M-03) even after 30 washes.
