How to Effectively Clean and Store Your Cloth Face Mask

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, advice from experts primarily focused on handwashing and maintaining physical distance. However, as understanding of the virus spread grew, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization began recommending mask-wearing in public. While face masks are not a substitute for social distancing, they help reduce the transmission of the virus.

Despite growing evidence supporting mask-wearing, not everyone has adopted this practice yet. Research shows that face coverings can trap exhaled particles, preventing them from contaminating the air. This is crucial, especially since many COVID-19 carriers might not show symptoms. Wearing a mask is considered an "altruistic act," meaning it's meant to protect others, as highlighted in a late April 2020 editorial in the Journal of Breath Research.

Wearing a mask can be uncomfortable and may even lead to breakouts (commonly known as maskne), but selecting the right one could help make it more tolerable. N95 masks are currently reserved for healthcare professionals, so for most people, a face mask will either be a homemade cloth option or one purchased online. The CDC also provides straightforward guidelines on how to make a mask from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams.

If you use disposable masks, like those commonly worn by doctors, you can simply discard them after each use. But if you have several cloth masks, what’s the best way to clean and store them safely?

Regardless of the type of mask you use, when removing it, avoid touching your face. The CDC recommends removing the mask by its straps or ear loops, ensuring you only touch those parts and never the mask itself. If your mask has a filter, remove and discard it. Afterward, fold the mask so the front sides meet, and immediately wash your hands after handling it.

If you're wearing a cloth face mask, it’s important to wash it after every use. Simply add it to your regular laundry with detergent, using the warmest water setting suitable for the fabric your mask is made of.

Alternatively, you can wash it by hand. The CDC suggests using a mixture of household bleach and water, ensuring the bleach is a disinfectant, not the color-safe variety. Soak your mask in the solution for five minutes and rinse it thoroughly.

Once washed, you can dry your mask either in a high-heat dryer or by laying it out in direct sunlight.

For mask storage, Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at The Johns Hopkins Health System, advises that you should keep them in a clean place when not in use. A zip-lock bag works perfectly for this purpose.

Since you’ll need to wash and dry your mask after every use, it’s a good idea to have more than one on hand.