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+--- Thread: Wash or nuke your mask? (/showthread.php?tid=21702)
Wash or nuke your mask? - 1voyager1 - 04-12-2020
Ran across these while checking into the Advanced Electret Media (AEM) supposed to be used in P100 and N95 3M masks:
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/washing-masks-effective-virus/
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/microwaving-masks-disinfect-covid-virus/
I don't find any other info that seems as reliable.
But then, they are on the i-net.
More B.S. than truth on the i-net.
Who knows how accurate they are.
Was looking into AEM because my N95 are possibly as much as 10 years old, even though kept in the box and placitc bag.
The only description I find is calling them "quasi semi permanent".
It acts as if it might last a long time?
Not very reassuring.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Was a Democrat until gun control became a knee jerk, then a Republican until the crazies took over, nothing left.
RE: Wash or nuke your mask? - ironyak - 04-13-2020
Best practices I've seen for disinfecting N95s is 30 minutes at 160 deg F, or 10 minutes steam treatment. Definitely do not use alcohol or bleach to clean them as it removes the static charge needed to trap particles and while microwaves can produce enough heat to disinfect, they also require you to remove essential metal fittings, can melt the mask, or start a fire.
https://m.box.com/shared_item/https%3A%2F%2Fstanfordmedicine.box.com%2Fv%2Fcovid19-PPE-1-1 (see page 5)
As for them aging, as long as they were stored properly (dark, cool place), N95s tend to loose very little filtration over the years and are still far better than most other masks. Do be sure to check their elastic straps as those tend to get brittle and be more prone for breaking. They're not as good as in their prime, but what ever is really?
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/release-stockpiled-N95.html
RE: Wash or nuke your mask? - Obie - 04-13-2020
REUTERS FACT CHEC KAPRIL 9, 2020 / 5:58 AM / 4 DAYS AGO
True claim: Face masks catch fire if microwaved.
https://tinyurl.com/wyw8phb
RE: Wash or nuke your mask? - terracore - 04-13-2020
A person in the know told me that the expiration date of the N95 masks was based on the expected lifespan of the elastic and had little to do with the ability of the medium in the mask to filter. If the elastic loses it's ability to pull tightly the mask is ineffective. After the elastic weakens it will eventually become brittle and could break. If using an expired mask if the elastic is weak it can be tied off to make it shorter and restore effectiveness so long as it doesn't break. It's not as good as an unexpired mask but it's better than nothing.
ETA: As for re-using masks, I've been setting mine on the dashboard of my truck. The virus has a lifespan of only a few days or weeks depending on who you believe but degrades more quickly in high temperatures and my truck is basically an oven when the sun hits it. When I've exhausted my supply of masks I'll grab the oldest one from the truck oven and cycle through them again.