Top tips for handling, washing & maintaining your face covering

This year we’ve all had to get used to wearing face coverings more regularly as we try our best to slow the spread of COVID-19.

With masks and coverings of all shapes and sizes hitting the market, it’s perhaps unsurprisingly triggered a tsunami of questions.  

One thing we get askeda lotby our customers is; How do I use & look after my face covering to make it as effective as possible for as long as possible? 

And it’s a good question. Wearing a face covering when social distancing is clearly important but if you don’t handle, wash and maintain it, you may inadvertently increase the risk of infecting yourself or others.

With that in mind, we've put together some of our top tips for handling, washing and maintaining your face coverings.  So without further ado...

Top tips for handling and maintaining your face covering

1. Make sure your hands are clean every time you need to handle your face cover. That means washing them with warm water and soap or using hand sanitiser if you’re out and about (you’ve got some of that right?!). 
2. When handling your face cover try to minimise touching the face cover itself. Use the straps to pick it up and adjustable ear toggles (if you have them) to fasten and secure the fit.
3. If using a reusable face covering, check it regularly to make sure there are no tears, holes or loss of shape (resulting in a poor fit).  If you notice any of these, consider it may be time for a replacement.
4. Reusable masks reduce waste but they need to be kept clean! Wash your face covering dailyor after each time you wear it.  Frequent washing helps to keep your covering hygienic and bacteria free. 
5. Keep your face covering in a clean bag or container in between uses (not crumpled up in your pocket with your loose change). This will keep it hygienic and lower the risk of contaminating any other items. A zip seal bag, like the one Ally covers come in, works well ;)
6. Don’t forget to also clean your container in between uses.  A quick wash with hot water and soap at the same time as cleaning your cover is ideal.
7. It’s important to make sure your face cover is fully dry before wearing it. We recommend leaving your covering to air dry overnight ready for the next day. Owning a few coverings so you never get caught short is a smart move!
8. If you use a single-use face mask, remember these shouldn’t be washed, cleaned or reused. The clue’s in the name! Make sure to dispose of them correctly and seriously consider a reusable option, it’s better for the environment.
9. Sounds obvious but don’t share face coverings between multiple people or touch other people’s face coverings without properly washing/sanitising your hands before and after.
10. Lastly, and crucially, remember using face coverings or masks alone is not sufficient. Practicing social distancing and excellent hand hygiene (along with wearing a face covering) is the best way to protect those around you.