With conversations continuing about face masks – here are some important considerations if you are making or purchasing reusable fabric masks.
Note: Never share your face mask with others.
Understanding and caring for a fabric face mask:
- Fabric masks may assist in creating a barrier between your mouth and nose and the environment around you. They can help to protect those around you but may not necessarily protect you from airborne particles.
- It is recommended that fabric masks have three layers, with at least one layer being made from synthetic fibres.
- Wash your fabric mask after each use, or when wet or dirty. Machine wash on a hot setting (60◦c) with laundry detergent and avoid the use of disinfectants. These may leave residue or produce harmful fumes that should not be inhaled. Alternatively, for those who are unable to machine wash, wash with laundry detergent in hot water and rinse thoroughly to remove all soap and residue.
- Before re-using, ensure that the fabric mask is completely dry.
- If not using straight away, store your dry, clean fabric mask in a sealed, disposable plastic bag. This will help to protect it from contamination.
- While reusable, fabric masks will need to be replaced particularly due to wear and tear. Replace your fabric mask if:
- it no longer fits snugly
- it doesn’t stay on your face easily – tends to, slide or fall off
- any holes appear (take particular note around seams)
- you need to regularly adjust the fit (once on, you want to reduce how often you need to touch it)
- the material has started to wear or fray.
Source and for more information on different types of masks, when to use them and more: WA Department of Health (Health WA)
Type of fabric:
The tightness of a fabric’s weave is important in ensuring the effectiveness of a face mask. To test this, hold the mask up to a light – if you can see the outline or any light sneaks through the fibres then it isn’t tight enough. The tighter the weave, the more it can block.
A recent study found that a high-thread-count (600 TPI) cotton fabric performed better than a moderate-thread-count of 80 TPI when testing aerosol filtration. Another study found that a face mask with multiple layers with one of those layers being cotton accompanied by layers of a different material also increase the masks effectiveness. Non-cotton, synthetic materials such as polyester are believed to provide good electrostatic filtering, drawing particles to the fibres and trapping them. The multi-layer hybrid masks were found to outperform other two- or three-layer single material masks in this study.
Source and for more information: MIT Medical
What to look for before buying and making a fabric face mask:
From the type of fabrics to use, to checking for weak points in the design, the WA Department of Health has a helpful resource to guide you.
View the COVID-19 Reusable fabric masks – buying and making guide
Source and for more information on different types of masks, when to use them and more: WA Department of Health (Health WA)
Looking for more resources?
The following resources may also be helpful to better understand asthma, COPD, COVID-19 and vaccinations.