Disinfection of masks: watch out for this dangerous trick that goes around social networks: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

"Fast and effective disinfection of masks", is the title of a post posted on April 29 on Facebook. This publication, shared 3200 times, explains how to sterilize your mask with a supposedly simple trick. "My husband is a Professor of Universities in Microbiogy and has worked, among other things, on the processes and parameters of destruction of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses …). To decontaminate your mask ANYONE (disposable surgical mask with folds) , FFP2 duckbill or DIY, fabric) just put a glass of water in a large pan (20 cm in diameter), bring the water to a boil (it's very fast), put the mask on with a fork, a wooden stick … at the bottom of the pan in the cloud of steam for at least 15 seconds. This allows the mask to be reused quickly after drying ", details the author in the caption of the publication.

As for the disinfection of cloth masks, the author indicates that it is "a clearly more rational and pragmatic protocol (speed, water and energy consumption) than washing at 60 ° for 30 minutes in a machine, to obtain the same destruction efficiency. It is less restrictive, less destructive for the mask (and at least 500 times more economical in water and energy). Steam at 100 ° denatures, destroys the virus ".

FAST AND EFFICIENT DISINFECTION OF MASKS. Protocol that we apply. My husband is a University Professor in …

Posted by Mireille Berrier on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Surgical masks and FFP2 are neither reusable nor washable

"A surgical mask is designed for single use. It must be changed as soon as it becomes wet and at least every 4 hours. A removed FFP mask must not be reused. The duration of use must comply with the instructions for use. 'use. In any case, it will be less than 8 hours on a single day ", specifies the National Institute of Research and Security (INRS) on its site. These two types of masks therefore do not meet the conditions for being washed or reused.

According to an opinion from the High Council for Public Health (HCSP) published on April 29, "FFP type respiratory protection masks cannot undergo a washing phase or an irradiation treatment before any sterilization process, because they lose their electrostatic properties on the external face, with loss of filtration performance. Only surgical masks can be washed before a disinfection phase but with a risk of loss of anti-projection filtration performance ". Conclusion: the protocol presented in this publication for cleaning medical masks or FFP2 is not effective in "decontaminating" his protective mask.

Steam does not disinfect your protective mask

"The vapor does not wash, on the contrary it fixes the residues on the surfaces", reported to AFP Tuesday, May 5, Sylvie Raspaud, head of the pharmacy service at the Kremlin-Bicêtre hospital. The protocol for disinfecting a mask is very specific: "we use supersaturated steam, that is to say under pressure, like in a pressure cooker. This is the only condition to guarantee the destruction of germs, she explained. The saying goes that we sterilize only what is clean. To eliminate any microorganism, including the virus, you must first clean it up ".

This exposure above a container of boiling water "poses a risk of burns. In addition, the procedure would only be renewable 5 times. Beyond that, the effectiveness of the mask is no longer guaranteed", warned the Association UFC-Que Choisir on its site. The association also warned that using a microwave oven, oven, bleach or alcohol does not disinfect the protective mask. Conversely, these methods can be dangerous and are therefore strongly discouraged.

How to properly clean your mask?

The French Association for Standardization (Afnor) recommends passing the fabric masks to the machine with normal detergent. The cycle must be at least 30 minutes, and the temperature 60 ° C in order to eliminate a maximum of bacteria. They must then be dried before reuse, either in the dryer or in the open air. Drying with a hair dryer or an iron is not recommended as it can damage the fibers and make the protection of masks ineffective.

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