Days after the Government recommended the use of masks to all people who have to use public transport to go to work or who go to places where it is difficult to maintain the minimum safety distance, now the Ministry of Health has published recommendations for washing and disinfecting reusable hygienic masks .
The Ministry of Health gives several options to safely wash and disinfect reusable hygienic masks:
– Machine wash with the usual detergent at 60-90 degrees .
– Immerse for 30 minutes in a dilution containing one part of bleach to 50 parts of warm water. Wash with soap and water and rinse well so that no bleach remains.
– Use disinfectant products with virucidal activity authorized by the Ministry of Health for PT2 (environmental use and surface cleaning), which have passed Standard 14476 on virucidal activity and which are registered for use by the general public. Again, they will be washed with soap and water and rinsed well so that no product remains.
Whichever option you choose, after washing you have to let the masks dry completely.
The hygienic masks are intended for adults and children from 3 years of age without symptoms , who are not susceptible to using surgical masks or filtering masks for protection against particles, according to the measures established in the technical document “Prevention and control of infection in the management of patients with COVID-19 ”published by the Ministry of Health.
The Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), which published the requirements that reusable hygienic masks had to meet with respect to materials, preparation, marking and use (UNE 0065 specification), offers more recommendations to add to the previous ones. They are as follows:
– Avoid contact between a dirty mask (to be washed) and clean clothes . In addition, the person who is going to be in charge of the washing must protect themselves to handle the dirty masks.
– Do not use products that may degrade or damage the materials with which the mask is made , as its protective capacity may be reduced.
– It is recommended that the mask dry completely within 2 hours after washing.
– The mask should not be dried or sanitized in the microwave .
– Both during drying and subsequent storage of the mask, environments in which the mask can become contaminated again should be avoided.
– After each wash cycle, a visual inspection must be carried out (with protective gloves or washed hands). If any damage to the mask is found (less fit, warping, wear, etc.), the mask should be discarded.
– To reduce risks, once the maximum number of washes, which is five, has been exceeded, the mask should be discarded. It is recommended to deposit in a double bag, to preserve the contents of the first bag in case of tearing of the outer bag. It can also be deposited in the bins for biological waste.
We remember that the maximum use of the hygienic mask is 4 hours and if it gets wet or deteriorates before, it will have to be replaced with another.
The mask should be washed whenever it gets dirty, wet, or cannot be properly placed on the face. The mask should not be used if it is dirty or wet. In the event that it is to be temporarily stored, contact with any surface should be avoided.
Many leave the mask on their forehead or under their chin while they are wearing it and after using it, it is a mistake.
And finally, the use of a mask, whatever the type, does not exempt from complying with the general recommendations to avoid the spread of coronavirus, this is to maintain the minimum safety distance and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or gel. hydroalcoholic.
