How to wear and handle a mask
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cloth face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.
At NIC, masks or face coverings must be worn indoors AND 6 feet of physical distancing must be maintained in all college facilities when two or more people are present.
Masks must be worn outdoors at NIC whenever 6 feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Most of Idaho’s community colleges, state colleges, and universities have mask policies in place that are similar to NIC's.
Wear your face covering/mask correctly for maximum protection
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering.
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
- Make sure you can breathe easily.
- Don’t pull the mask below your nose.
- Don’t put the face covering/mask around your neck or on your forehead.
- Don’t touch the face covering, and if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect.
Take off your cloth face covering/mask carefully
- Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops.
- Handle only by the ear loops or ties.
- Fold the outside corners together.
- Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands or use hand sanitizer immediately after removing.
- The CDC recommends placing the used mask directly into the washing machine. Some experts suggest placing used masks in a paper bag until they can be washed.
How often should masks be cleaned?
Experts recommend wearing cloth masks made with multiple layers of tight-weave fabric to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
The CDC says cloth masks "should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use." The health experts at Mayo Clinic recommend cloth face coverings be washed after every day of use.
Dr. Lisa Margarakis, the senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Hospital and health system, agrees that cloth face coverings should be cleaned frequently, and she says it's a good idea to have at least two masks.
"This way, you will have a fresh mask if one is in the wash," she said.
Single-use masks should be thrown away after each use, and should be discarded sooner if they become visibly soiled or damaged.
Reusable, cloth face coverings that become worn after frequent wearing and washing should also be tossed.
Use common sense, as you do with wear and tear of other clothing items or personal protection. When in doubt, throw it out.
How do I clean my cloth face mask?
The CDC, the Mayo Clinic and other health experts say cloth masks made of fabric can be washed in your regular laundry using hot water.
If a cloth mask has a filter, check the manufacturer's guidance for washing the mask, but filters should generally be removed before cleaning.
"You can also hand wash your mask, using hot, soapy water. Scrub the masks for at least 20 seconds, and dry them on high heat in the dryer," says Margarakis.
The CDC suggests using a solution of bleach diluted with water to hand wash masks: 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of household bleach (not color-safe bleach, which may not be suitable for disinfection) per gallon of room temperature water, or 4 teaspoons of household bleach per quart of room temperature water.
Make sure to completely dry your cloth face covering after washing it.
- Dryer - Use the highest heat setting and leave in the dryer until completely dry.
- Air dry - Lay flat and allow to completely dry. If possible, place the cloth face covering in direct sunlight.
More reading
A user's guide to masks: What's best at protecting others (and yourself) – NPR, July 1, 2020
Chughtai AA, Seale H, Macintyre CR. (2020). Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 26, Early Release.
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2610.200948
Considerations for wearing cloth face coverings – CDC, July 16, 2020
Coronavirus: How to care for your face mask – Johns Hopkins, July 2, 2020
How to wash masks – CDC, May 22, 2020