Mask Know-How

Mask Know-How

By D. S. Mitchell

The Rights & Safety of the Community Come First

I am amazed to hear all the screaming and hollering about the rights of the individual; as if the community had no meaning, or importance. Besides vaccines the 3 most effective things we can do to protect ourselves, our family and our society, against disease is to 1) wear a mask, 2) wash your hands, and 3) give yourself some distance, at least six feet.  These behaviors save lives.

The Reasons

The reason you wear a mask is to prevent mucus and saliva from escaping your nose and mouth,  when you speak, eat, cough, sneeze and breathe. When that mask is in place it is a barrier to the spread of diseases like COVID-19 is slowed dramatically. Conversely, a mask  shields you from other people’s droplets. If your glasses fog up, make your own nosepiece to keep warm breath from escaping the top of your mask. A small piece of tape works great, and you can use tape with both the reusable and the disposable masks. Your mask should fit snugly over the whole lower half of your face and chin. When your chin’s left uncovered, germs and viruses can creep in and reach your mouth, nose, and eyes. They can also escape from your mouth and pass to others. It can also let your mask ride up on your face, which can fog your glasses or even block your vision.

Clean Hands, Clean Mask

I’m sure in this pandemic you have increased your handwashing schedule. No less than 10 x’s or more each day is my new normal. That handwashing is important for your mask, too. To stay safe from germs and help your mask do its job, wash your hands, or use 60%-alcohol hand sanitizer before putting on the mask and anytime you need to adjust it on your face. Handle your mask by the loops or ties — don’t touch the front or your face. To take it off, grab the ear loops or untie the strings, bottom ties first. Then clean your hands again.

Before You Wear

Your mask may be brand-new, but all kinds of things have come in contact with that new mask before you got it, especially if it is handmade. So, wash it in hot water (160 F) with residue-free detergent or soap. Rinse it well with fresh water. Then hang to dry. Or, this is what I usually do, I soak my mask for 5 minutes in a quart of water with 2 tablespoons of bleach, or a gallon of water with a third of a cup of bleach.

Store It Right

It’s easy to toss your mask on the dashboard or the seat of your car, sadly those are bad choices. Your mask needs more respect, it’s working hard to keep you and others safe. Take a minute and find a safe, clean place for the mask to hangout when it’s not on your face. If it isn’t wet or soiled, put it in a dry paper or mesh bag so it won’t mildew or sour. If you’re out to eat, you can stash it in a clean pocket or purse in a pinch — but never, ever, ever, on the table. After your meal, wash your hands and then put your mask back on.

Hot and Steamy

Masks are magnets for bacteria and viruses. They can let in infections if they’re worn against your face for a long time or infrequently washed. After each wearing, toss your mask into regular laundry with hot (160 F) water. Or hand-wash it in steamy, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Tumble dry on high, or air-dry in direct sunlight. Meanwhile, keep a spare to wear while the other is in the wash.

Retirement Required

It probably has a special monogram or detailing, or it’s your favorite color. Or, maybe  it’s your favorite cat print. Still, if your mask has tears, holes, or is worn, or soiled beyond help, it’s time to put it to rest. Throw it away. To make your masks last longer, don’t let them get wet from saliva, sweat, makeup, or other stuff — the fabric can get moldy if not washed ASAP. (Also, damp masks don’t work as well.) Stash dirty or damp masks in a plastic bag until you can wash them.

One and Done

Disposable masks are “one and done.” Essential with this type of mask is making  sure you have a correct fit, just like with a reusable one. The mask should cover your nose and mouth, with no big side gaps. The blue or colored side should face out. Remember to pack extras, store them in the glove box of your rig. When you’ve worn a disposable mask once, toss it safely into a trash can. Please don’t just toss them on the ground, that is littering. If you take your disposable mask off, say to eat or drink, replace it with a fresh one when you’ve finished your meal or your beer.

No Crisscrossing

If your mask’s too big, do not crisscross the ear loops behind your head. Instead, tie a knot in each one to shorten it a bit. Put the knots behind your ears so the mask doesn’t cinch and gap at the sides. If instead of too big, the loops are too short, extend them with a piece of string or a shoelace. If you wear a hijab, put the mask on over it and fasten the loops in back with a safety pin.  You can also do this if your mask irritates your ears.

Double Up

Sometimes, more is just more. Adding a filter to your mask does protect you better. Look for filters rated PM (for “particulate matter”) 2.5. The tight weave blocks tiny droplets and particles. I heard that in China they frequently use a paper towel doubled on itself and that seems to provide an effective barrier. If your mask doesn’t have a filter pocket, use one with more than one fabric layer or wear two masks.

A Natural Reflex

It feels strange at first to talk with a mask on. So it can be a natural reflex to touch or tug at your mask to make sure you’re heard. Others can understand you OK, though, if you wear your mask loosely enough to breathe freely and move your mouth and talk.

A Mask Break

To keep your face breakout- and rash-free, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Follow up with moisturizer — it adds an extra layer of protection. (If your skin is oily, use a gel.) Your dermatologist can help you choose a product with the best ingredients for your skin. For example, Dimethicone can make a barrier that helps calm riled-up skin. Also, take a mask break every 4 hours for 15 minutes, when you can step away from other people or are outside.