Based on current evidence, the COVID19 virus can survive on the outer surface of a facemask for more than 7 days. It is important to disinfect (with alcohol sanitizer or soap and water) your hands every time you touch the facemask (especially the outer surface) and every time before and after wearing and taking off your mask.
Ideally you should sterilize your reusable mask after each use or at least at the end of each day.
Halyard Masks
The best way to sterilize a facemask made with the Halyard sterilization wrapping without degrading its filtration efficiency is to place it in a dry heat environment for 30 minutes at 70C (eg. dehydrator or convection oven). Research from Stanford and Hong Kong demonstrate that dry heat at 70C inactivates the Covid 19 virus as well as bacteria like E. Coli. New research from France caution that for a highly contaminated mask, higher temperature sterilization of 92C for 15 minutes is preferred. Be careful of using higher temperatures > 100C as this may damage the filtering efficiency of the medical fabric.
If your mask is visibly soiled or if a smell develops after repeated use, you can clean the mask by gently scrubbing and soaking it in soapy water (use soap or a mild detergent) for 15 minutes. Please rinse off the soapy water and leave the mask to air dry. Alternatively, you can place the face mask in a laundry bag to launder the mask in the washer and dryer with the high heat option.
Cloth Masks with filter
The best way to sterilize your cloth mask is to place the entire mask with filter and nose piece in a laundry bag to launder the mask in the washer and dryer with the high heat option. Alternatively, if you do not have access to a washer and dryer, you can clean the mask by gently scrubbing and soaking it in soapy water (use soap or a mild detergent) for 15 minutes. Please rinse off the soapy water and leave the mask to air dry.
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