How Often Should You Change Your Face Mask?
| We are in the midst the COVID-19 pandemic. By now, you are probably already aware of the importance of face masks. But just how often should you change your face mask? We were asked this question several times so decided to look into it. Here, we look into the scientific evidence and compile a guide to help you out. Hope you find it useful. Let’s get into the details or jump to the section you are interested in the contents below. |
Contents
Before we begin
The boring but important stuff. The guide on how often you should change your face mask is informational only in nature. It is looking at wearing masks for the general public only. Certain situations, locations and occupations will require a completely different set of rules. For example, healthcare workers or aged care workers, among many others. We also do not take into account availability of masks or local conditions. Any writing here is not intended to replace in any way your local public health, laws or medical advice.
No guarantees are made to the accuracy and advice and evidence may change at any time. We take no responsibility for this. HowOftenShould.com will not be liable in any way to any adverse event, illness or any damages to the visitor to the site or to any third party for that may arise related to the use of the content provided by howoftenshould.com. Follow your regional laws and health advice at all times. If you have any respiratory infection symptoms, for example a cough, a fever, a runny nose, a sore throat or a loss of your sense of taste or smell, get tested and seek medical help as per local advice.
Please ensure you understand and agree with this before proceeding.
With that out of the way, let’s get into it.
Why wear a face mask?
Wearing a face mask or covering helps you to protect yourself and others from the spread of viruses including COVID-19.
This is what happens when a person sneezes:
Viruses live and spread via the droplets when we sneeze, speak or cough even in someone who is infected but feels healthy.
By wearing a mask, you are limiting this spread as the droplets are blocked.
Looking at the picture above. Simply, with a mask, a lot less droplets would go beyond the mask and also travel less far. Numerous studies back this up (1, 2).
As well as social distancing, hand hygiene and sneezing into your elbow, a face mask provides an important extra layer of protection.
Masks are not only great at limiting spread to others. They have been shown to protect the wearer as well by stopping exposure to viruses.
This is useful for you, your family as well as the community.
Do I have to wear a mask?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a lot of varying official advice on whether masks should be mandatory in public as well as certain indoor areas.
The benefits of wearing masks and face coverings are clear if used properly and at the right times. I would encourage you to wear them whenever there is any risk of virus exposure.
Many regions in the world have made masks mandatory. The exact rules are beyond the scope of this article. You should follow local government laws.
Before we can say how often you should change your face mask, we need to find out more about the types of masks there are.
Types of face masks and coverings
There are several types of masks and this will of course influence how often they need to be replaced.
Broadly, we can divide them into:
Cloth masks
A very common, recommended and easy to use type of face mask.
Cheap to buy and can also easily be made at home.
Cloth masks should have at least 2 fabric layers to make them effective. It should be comfortable to wear, covering the nose and mouth snuggly.
The material should not allow droplets to pass through the mask but at the same time allow the wearer to breathe well.
Valves and filters are generally not recommended according to the CDC.
Cloth face masks can generally be washed.
It is recommended to wash your cloth mask with regular laundry. Use a good quality standard laundry powder or liquid and pick one of the warmer settings on your machine.
Dry your face mask thoroughly before use. Ideally, leave to air dry in the sun.
Disposable surgical masks
The blue or green disposable single use masks provide a decent level of protection.
They are generally used by health care workers in less risky/non COVID-19 patient interactions. Their supply is understandably crucial to hospitals.
The surgical masks cannot be washed.
They should be disposed of into a rubbish bin after every use.
Therefore, being single use, they are more expensive than cloth masks.
Face shields
A face shield is made of a see-through rigid section of plastic with an elastic headband.
It will cover your face completely extending from above your forehead to below your chin.
Face shields can be washed as often as desired.
Are face shields a good replacements for face masks?
We still do not know the exact level of protection that face shields offer in protecting from virus spread, with studies under way comparing the protective effect between the two.
For now, the short answer is that they are not as good and official advice remains that they can be used in addition to a face mask underneath for a better level of protection.
More will be known about this in the coming months.
Professional Respirators
Professional respirators like the N95 respirator are specialised medical masks specifically made to prevent the passing of small droplets form the air. They need to be fitted for best results.
These are still in short supply and until more available, probably not needed for the general public unless in high risk situations.
Now that we know about the types of face masks, let’s see how often you should change and wash them.
How often should you change your cloth face mask?
Depending on the material and their quality of course, we find cloth masks are quite durable so you will not need to replace them too often.
Cloth masks don’t really have an “expiry date”or a specific time they need to be changed. Especially given the variety of cloth masks available.
Having said this, if you find the mask no longer fits well on your face (for example, it feels loose), there are tears or holes in the cloth or if the material of the mask or straps is thinning, it is probably a good time to change your cloth face mask.
We recommend washing them each day and in addition, after each use. So it is a good idea to have several in rotation.
See our top mask wearing tips below.
How often should you change your surgical face mask?
Surgical masks are single use only and should be disposed and replaced each time they are worn.
For example, for a doctor, they need to be replaced following each exposure to a patient or new environment.
As we said above, they cannot be washed so chuck them out safely after use.
How often should you change your face shield?
Face shields are durable and should last a good while if you buy a good one. Keep in mind, the headband may need to be replaced if it gets worn or dirty which actually may prompt the buying of a new shield itself and how often they are replaced.
Face shields must be washed after every use. For extra protection, they should be combined with a face mask underneath.
Face mask wearing tips
In addition to how often you replace and wash your face mask, here are a few tips to help you get the most protection out of your face covering.
Putting your face mask on properly
- Before putting a face mask on, wash your hands well using antimicrobial soap
- Place the mask firstly over your nose and then mouth and extend to under the chin
- Attach the ear pieces/head band
- Ensure it fits comfortably and you can breath. This is to minimise any further touching of your mask or face later.
Do not put the mask only around your neck, under or only on the nose or up on your forehead.
Do not touch your face, head or your mask while wearing. If you do touch your mask or intend to, clean your hands by washing them or using sanitiser.
If a mask gets wet or dirty, take it off and change to a new one.
How to remove a face mask
- Wash your hands before
- Remove the strap from behind your ears
- Grabbing the strap only, remove the mask
- Fold the corners together
- Dispose of the mask safely or follow wash instructions as above
- Avoid touching your face
- Wash your hands after removing the mask
How should I stop your glasses fogging up when you wear a face mask?
For people that wear glasses, wearing a face mask presents an extra challenge, glasses fogging up.
This can be very very frustrating! Believe me.
We find it also means people change their face masks more often because of this.
Why do glasses fog up with a mask?
When you take a breathe out, the warm breath bounces off and leaks out at the top of the mask.
When this warm air gets in contact with the glasses, it condenses and creates the annoying fogging.
You can try the following to help out:
- The first thing that can help is to find a good mask that fits well over your nose and face.
- Some masks have a wire insert to help it mould around the shape of your nose.
- Tighten the mask straps – a tighter fit can often help the air not leak out at the top
- Try to put your mask slightly higher and rest the glasses over the mask, the extra weight can sometimes help
- Wash your glasses with soap prior to use. The residual soap can help block the fog somewhat. Have a look at a study that looks into this.
- Attaching the mask more closely to the nose with some tape. Use one suitable for your skin.
- Consider contact lenses if suitable for you
- If all of the above fails, consider a face shield as a (somewhat) decent substitute
How often do you change your face mask? Or do you have any tips on how to wear them or even make them?
Let us know in the comments below.
References
- Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks, Nancy H. L. Leung, Daniel K. W. Chu et al, Nat Med 26, 676–680 (2020).
- Visualizing Speech-Generated Oral Fluid Droplets with Laser Light Scattering N Engl J Med 2020; 382:2061-2063
- Masks Do More Than Protect Others During COVID-19: Reducing the Inoculum of SARS-CoV-2 to Protect the Wearer, Gandhi, M., Beyrer, C. & Goosby, E. J Gen Intern Med (2020).
- COVID-19, World Health Organisation, accessed September 2020, link here
- How to Select, Wear and Clean Your Mask, CDC, accessed August 2020, link here
- A simple method to prevent spectacle lenses misting up on wearing a face mask, Malik SS, Malik SS. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2011;93(2):168.
Cover Image Courtesy
Face mask image by ArtJane as accessed from Pixabay in September 2020
About the author
Written by Dr Dan – BSc, MBBS, FRACGP. Medical Doctor from Victoria, Australia.
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