health
Is it time to replace your face mask? Here’s what you need to know
While you're supposed to wash your cloth face mask after every use, the wear and tear from daily use on these masks has many people wondering whether or not they should just replace them.
Since the basic principle of masks works by blocking the distance droplets travel, cloth masks will become less effective the more they get washed as they become more threadbare.
Should you replace your cloth face mask?
You should think of them like a pair of underwear.
Obviously the single cleaning aspect is important, but the other piece is that if it starts to tatter or there are holes, it might be time to replace it.
While there's no exact timeline for how long before a cloth mask will need to be replaced, the quality of the mask and the harshness of your washing machine are the main factors in deterioration.
We recommend having several face masks - this way, you won't need to do laundry as frequently.
This is really important especially if you're going out every day or tend to sweat more, as moisture can impact the integrity of the mask.
To see if your mask needs to be replaced, experts says to hold the mask up to a light and check for any visible fading or see-through spots.
You can also check if your mask is still effective by going outside and seeing how far your breath travels through your mask.
If your breath is seen further than an inch or so, that's a good sign it's time to replace it.