With all the misinformation floating around, you may wonder what is the right way to clean those cloth face masks that are so important for keeping us all safe and healthy. Here's what you need to know about how and when to clean them.

We’ve likely read many of the same articles you have, and we’re still confused. Which is why we chose to turn to the science experts for some definitive advice on how to properly clean face masks. Apparently, it’s not all that complicated!

Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start dousing your face masks with every disinfectant you can find.

How often should you wash your face mask?
Your washing machine might not approve, but here's the thing: Cloth masks need to be cleaned pretty regularly—as in, almost every time they're worn. While taking a solo walk to the mailbox might not qualify, any activity that brings you out in public or around other people should be cause enough to wash it.

0:18 - What you need to know about hand-washing your mask
Luckily for your washing machine, it's not the only way to clean a mask. In fact, while it might not be the most convenient, the experts agree: Hand-washing your homemade DIY mask is best. Although machine washing will also work to disinfect a mask between uses, hand-washing is better for one simple reason: It helps your mask last longer.

Be sure to remove any filter in your mask before washing it, and don’t worry about making the water as hot as possible. Although hot water does help to kill microbes, using detergent to wash your mask thoroughly is sufficient.

0:43 - What you need to know about machine-washing your mask
Depending on how many mask-wearers you have in your household, you might be tempted to machine-wash your masks. And while hand-washing preserves masks longer, sometimes it's our own sanity that needs preserving. If that’s the case, here are a few things to keep in mind to give your masks the best possible chance of surviving the laundry machine.

Only machine-wash basic cotton masks: If your mask has any sort of nose piece or component other than a piece of cotton fabric and elastic ear bands, do yourself a favor and keep it out of the washing machine.
Use a laundry bag: Since even the simplest of cotton masks tend to have some sort of elastic band, it’s best to wash them in a protective laundry bag separately from other clothes.

1:03 - Be careful with bleach and hot water: Speaking of warped, you might be tempted to crank up the heat (or chemicals) when machine-washing your masks—but you’re better off keeping temperature and extra disinfectants to a minimum. Hot water has a tendency to shrink cotton and polyester masks, which may make them unwearable. The same goes for pouring lots of bleach in the batch. Bleach may help disinfect the mask, but it is also hard on fabric, and it may also destroy any color patterns on your mask. Spend some time looking at your mask and understanding how it's made before you toss it in the laundry machine, and this will give you the best chance of still having functional face protection postwash.

1:22 - Drying your mask
Since the novel coronavirus is deactivated by washing it, how you dry your mask is really just a matter of personal preference. Air-drying it in the sun is a great option, though machine drying works just as well.

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