How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask

by Staff October 4, 2020

written by Staff October 4, 2020 0 comments

ATLANTA, GA-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives guidelines for selecting and wearing a mask:

CDC recommends that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.

Wear a mask correctly and consistently for the best protection. Be sure to wash your hands before putting on a mask and do not touch the mask when wearing it. Make sure the mask covers your nose and mouth and fits securely under your chin and against the sides of your face.

DO choose masks that

Have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
Completely cover your nose and mouth
Fit snugly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps

How to Select

When selecting a mask, there are many choices. Here are some do’s and don’ts.

DO choose masks that: have 2 or more layers of washable, breathable fabric; completely cover your nose and mouth; fit snugly against the sides of your face and don't have gaps.

DO NOT choose masks that: are made of fabric that makes it hard to breath, for example, vinyl; have exhalation valves or vents which allow virus particles to escape; are intended for healthcare workers, including N95 respirators or surgical masks.

How to Wear

Wear a mask correctly and consistently for the best protection.

Be sure to wash your hands before putting on a mask
Do NOT touch the mask when wearing it

Do wear a mask that

Covers your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Fits snugly against the sides of your face

For more information, visit our How to Wear Masks web page.

Do NOT wear a mask

How to take off a mask

How to take off mask: Carefully, untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops; Handle only by the ear loops or ties; Fold outside corners together; Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing.

How to Clean

Masks should be washed regularly. Always remove masks correctly and wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask.

Include your mask with your regular laundry
Use regular laundry detergent and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth used to make the mask
Use the highest heat setting and leave in the dryer until completely dry

For more information, visit our How to Wash Masks web page.

Media Release/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention