How to make N95 masks last longer – 5 steps
The shortage of personal protective equipment during the pandemic has caused people to reuse their masks. But is this extended use safe? Do N95 masks work well if used and reused over time. Well, a simple answer to that is, “yes they do” provided that you clean them appropriately employing the expert-suggested practices for mask re-use.
N95s are the most trusted mask types across the world, especially American made N95 masks. However, they were primarily designed for one-time use only. But owing to the PPE shortage amidst the pandemic, scientists and researchers have come forward with some creative solutions for the decontamination of N95 masks so that their potential use could be extended for some time.
This article brings you five scientifically proven methods that can help you with reusing your N95 face masks. Note, these techniques have been acknowledged by CDC and NIOSH and can be life-saving in times of scarcity. The only condition is to follow the instruction provided under each method strictly. Any negligence can render your mask useless which can be life-threatening.
Here are those 5 magical steps to re-use N95 masks!
1. Rotate your mask every day
Get a set number of N95 masks made in USA and rotate them daily. Get at least 5 of them so that your week goes by easily. Allow your masks to dry for a significantly long time so that the viral load is no more viable. A suggested time for mask drying is 72 hours and above. While the mask is being dried, store it properly. You can either hang it or keep it in a clean, breathable paper bag. Make sure your masks don't touch each other and nobody else uses them. Before using the mask, check if its user seal is intact yet. Don't use it in case of a broken seal.
If you feel like simple drying may not work, you can decontaminate your mask. For that, we've 4 tested ways described below.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide Vaporization
Decontamination using Hydrogen Peroxide Vapors has been proven in many pilot studies to preserve the function of N95 masks while allowing its multiple cycle processing. The FDA has also approved it as an emergency method for decontaminating N95 masks. However, the method only works for N95 masks containing no cellulose.
3. UV treatment
UV treatment inactivates the viral particles stuck within the mask with minimum mask degradation. However, proper treatment with UV requires standard dosing protocols and proper illumination of the full mask surface area. Owing to the extent of care and precision required, this method is not recommended at home. Many hospitals in the United States are implementing the process and it is quite successful.
4. Moist Heat
Heating your mask at 60-70°C with 80-85% relative humidity has been found effective against the killing/inactivation of flu viruses. Therefore, moist heat is another popular method for decontaminating face masks. But there is very limited data available on what temperature and humidity will work for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 completely. Scientists also think that high temperature and humidity may affect the filtering efficiency of N95 masks made in USA. Therefore, they recommend using this method if any other isn’t available.
5. Dry Heat
Last but not the least, dry heat presents another popular method for decontaminating masks for extended use. In this method, the masks are heated at 70 degrees for almost 30 minutes. The method is likely to kill viruses without damaging the integrity of the mask. Researchers are still working to determine optimal parameters for the method like temperature and duration, therefore, this is not yet recommended by the CDC.
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