“Mask Mistakes You’re Making Now”

YOU DON’T WASH UP BEFORE (AND AFTER) MASKING UP: You likely have handwashing down pat. To keep germs at bay and help your mask do its job, wash your hands, or use 60%-alcohol hand sanitizer before putting it on and anytime you need to adjust it on your face. Handle your mask by the loops or ties -- don’t touch the front or your face. To take it off, grab the ear loops or untie the strings, bottom ties first. Then clean your hands again. 

YOU DON’T WASH A NEW MASK: It may be brand-new, but many things have touched your latest mask before you get it, especially if it’s handmade. So, wash it in hot water (160 F) with residue-free detergent or soap. Rinse it well with fresh water. Then hang to dry. Or soak your mask for 5 minutes in a quart of water with 2 tablespoons of bleach, or a gallon with a third of a cup of bleach.

YOU DON’T STORE IT RIGHT: It’s easy to toss your mask onto the dashboard or seat when you get in the car. But your mask needs a clean place to stay when it’s not on your face. If it isn’t wet or soiled, put it in a dry paper or mesh bag so it won’t mildew or sour. If you’re out to eat, you can stash it in a clean pocket or purse in a pinch -- but never on the table. After your meal, wash your hands and then put your mask back on with the same side facing out. 

YOU DON A DIRTY MASK: Masks are magnets for bacteria and viruses. They can let in infections if they’re worn against your face for a long time. After each wearing, toss your mask into regular laundry with hot (160 F) water. Or hand-wash it in steamy, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Tumble dry on high or air-dry in direct sunlight. Meanwhile, wear a clean spare.

YOUR MASK HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS: Maybe it’s specially monogrammed. Or it’s your favorite cat print. Still, if your mask has tears, holes, or is worn, sprung, or soiled beyond help, it’s time to retire it. To make your masks last longer, don’t let them get wet from saliva, sweat, makeup, or other stuff -- the fabric can get moldy if not washed ASAP. (Also, damp masks don’t work as well.) Stash dirty or damp masks in a plastic bag until you can wash them. 

YOU REUSE DISPOSABLE MASKS: Disposable masks are “one and done” deals. Make sure it fits right, just like a reusable one. It should cover your nose and mouth, with no big side gaps. The colored (usually blue) side should face out. Be sure to pack extras to go. When you’ve worn a disposable mask once, toss it safely into a trash can. If you take your mask off to eat, replace it with a fresh one when you’ve finished your meal.

YOU DON’T TWEAK YOUR MASK TO FIT: If your mask’s too big, don’t crisscross the ear loops behind your head. Instead, make a knot in each one to shorten it a bit. Put the knots behind your ears so the mask doesn’t cinch and gap at the sides. If the loops are too short, extend them with a string or a shoelace. If you wear a hijab, put the mask on over it and fasten the loops in back with a safety pin or paper clip. (This works if your mask puts pressure on your ears, too.) 

YOU USE A COFFEE FILTER: Sometimes, more is more. Adding a filter to your mask does protect you better. Look for filters rated PM (for “particulate matter”) 2.5. The tight weave blocks tiny droplets and particles. A paper coffee filter’s pores measure in at 20 micrometers -- too big for it to be an effective barrier. If your mask doesn’t have a filter pocket, use one with more than one fabric layer or wear two masks. 

YOU PULL IT FROM YOUR FACE TO TALK: It feels strange at first to talk with a mask on. So, it can be a natural reflex to touch or tug at your mask to make sure you’re heard. Others can understand you OK, though, if you wear your mask loosely enough to breathe freely and move your mouth and talk. 

YOU WEAR YOUR MASK BELOW YOUR NOSE: The reason you wear a mask is to make sure mucus and saliva don’t escape from your nose and mouth and spread to someone else. It also shields you from other people’s droplets that might infect you. If your glasses fog up, make your own nosepiece to keep warm breath from escaping the top of your mask. Twist a few wire twist ties together. Cut a small slit at the top band of your mask, insert the twist ties, and mold to fit your nose.

YOU WEAR YOUR MASK ABOVE YOUR CHIN: Your mask should fit snugly over the whole lower half of your face and chin. When your chin’s left uncovered, viruses can creep in and reach your mouth, nose, and eyes. They can also escape from your mouth and pass to others. It can also let your mask ride up on your face, which can fog your glasses or even block your vision.

YOU DON’T BABY YOUR FACE: To keep your face breakout- and rash-free, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Follow up with a moisturizer -- it adds an extra layer of protection. (If your skin is oily, use a gel.) Your dermatologist can help you choose a product with the best ingredients for your skin. For example, dimethicone can make a barrier that helps calm riled-up skin. And take a mask break every 4 hours for 15 minutes, when you can step away or outside. 

REVIEWED BY: Brunilda Nazario, MD, WebMD, on February 08, 2021

SOURCES:

Johns Hopkins: “Coronavirus: How to Care for Your Face Mask,” “How to Properly Wear a Face Mask: Infographic,” “Coronavirus Face Masks & Protection FAQs.”

American Academy of Dermatology: “9 Ways To Prevent Face Mask Skin Problems.”

Hackensack Meridian Health: “5 Mask Mistakes People Make.” 

CDC: “How to Store and Wash Masks,” “Considerations for Wearing Masks,” “Your Guide to Masks.” 

Nebraska Medicine: “15 Mask Hacks to Make Your Mask Fit Better.” 

Consumer Reports: “Your Most Pressing Questions About Masks, Answered by CR's Chief Scientist.” 

University of Utah Health: “Face Mask Cover Guidelines.” 

Cedars-Sinai: “COVID-19 Update: Should You Wear a Mask?” 

NHS Oxford University Hospitals: “COVID-19 Staff FAQs: Wearing Face Masks In Our Hospitals.

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.
 
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.  

“How to Disinfect Your Laundry When Someone’s Sick”

FIRST, GRAB YOUR GLOVES: Before you touch a sick person’s laundry, pull on a pair of disposable gloves. Once the clothes and linens are in the washing machine, take the gloves off, put them in the trash, and wash your hands again right away. Wash your hands again and put on a fresh pair before you move the clean items to the dryer or hang them to dry so that you don’t reinfect them.

SANITIZE STORAGE: You’ll want to disinfect every surface that the sick person’s laundry has touched, such as shelves, counters, or hampers. The sick person should have their own dirty clothes bin. If the hamper is made of hard materials, apply soap and water to cut dirt and germs. Then wipe or spritz with disinfectant to kill any microbes left over. Place a washable or disposable bag liner in the hamper to keep germs at bay from the inside.

CLEAN + DISINFECT = TWO STEPS: Cleaning and disinfecting are a one-two punch. After the soap and water, use store-bought disinfectant wipes on surfaces. Or apply an EPA-registered household disinfectant directly. (To find out if a product is registered, look for “EPA Reg. No.” followed by numbers on the label). Carefully follow the directions, and know how long you should leave the area wet before you wipe it dry, or if it’s OK to just let the disinfectant evaporate.

REACH FOR BLEACH: Household bleach also can sanitize your laundry area. Make sure that it’s intended as a disinfectant and that it’s not past its expiration date. Some types, such as the kind made to brighten or whiten clothes, might not work for this task. Add ⅓ cup, or 5 tablespoons, of bleach per gallon of water. Or use 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart. You also can use a ready-made solution that has at least 70% alcohol. Don’t forget your gloves!

DO NOT SHAKE: You might be tempted to give the hamper or clothes basket a little jiggle to help settle the contents. Don’t shake or shift soiled laundry any more than necessary. When dirty clothes are riled up, viral particles can get tossed into the air.

MIX AND MINGLE: It’s OK to toss in other household laundry items with the sick person’s load. If you’re going through the steps correctly, you don’t have to separate it. Just follow the washing instructions as usual. If your hamper bag is fabric, toss it in too. Tip: Do wash heavier items like towels separately. This will help preserve finer fabrics and help your loads dry more evenly.

HOT WATER ALONE WON’T CUT IT: Whether it be mold, a virus, or something else, whatever triggered the illness can likely survive a hot wash cycle. A disinfectant, such as chlorine bleach, added to your load does a much better job getting rid of pathogens. Still, hot water can’t hurt. Use the warmest water setting the items can take, and wash them according to the maker’s instructions.

HOW TO USE CHLORINE BLEACH: First, check the symbols on laundry items to see if it’s OK to use bleach in your load. An empty triangle means go for it. An “X” marked through means “don’t.” And a triangle with diagonal stripes means you should use oxygen, or “color-safe,” bleach. Use ¾ cup of chlorine bleach for a regular-sized load with an average amount of soil. Use 1¼ cups of chlorine bleach if your load is extra-large or heavily soiled.

DON’T OVERLOAD: Laundry items need room to tumble and swish around through the water to get clean. This can’t happen if your washer is overloaded. Though you may be tempted to stuff it all into one load and get it over with, it’s worth it to take time to divide it and run two. Don’t forget to remove your gloves and wash your hands after you load the washer.

CLEAN YOUR WASHER: Did you know you need to wash your washer? It’s especially important if you have a sick person in your home. It’s easy if your machine has a “clean washer” cycle. If it doesn’t, do this:

1. Set the temperature on hot, and select “extra rinse.”
2. Add ½ cup regular bleach -- it’s 6% strength -- to the bleach dispenser, or fill it to “max-fill.”
3. Run the cycle with the washer empty.

DRYER POWER: What’s better than using chlorine bleach in your wash cycle? Following it up with heat. This isn’t the time to use energy-efficient settings, which use lower temperatures that don’t sanitize. Set your dryer load for at least 28 minutes of high heat to finish disinfecting it.

HANG IT OUT TO DRY: If you don’t have a dryer, or you like to line-dry, rest assured that hanging laundry outside in direct sunlight is an excellent way to help sanitize: The ultraviolet rays from the sun bring disinfecting superpowers to your laundry. Make sure you’ve wiped down the baskets or containers you’ll use to collect the fresh clothing. Wash your hands one last time before you put everything away.

REVIEWED BY: Carmelita Swiner, MD on May 15, 2020

REFERENCES:

CDC: “Interim Recommendations for U.S. Households with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),”  “Cleaning Your Home.”

Consumer Reports: “How to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 While Doing Laundry.”

Epa.gov: “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.”

Tide.com: “Your Comprehensive Guide on How to Do Laundry.”

United Health Services: “Tips for Disinfecting Your Clothes During COVID-19.”

Chemical & Engineering News: “A Chemist’s Guide to Disinfectants.”

Water Quality & Health Council: “How To Clean and Sanitize Your Laundry to Help Prevent The Spread of Pathogens at Home.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.  

“7 Things You Should Sanitize to Avoid Getting Sick”

Besides all of the usual telltale signs of cold and flu season—the hacking coughs and sniffly noses are everywhere—the novel coronavirus has made us even more cautious about getting sick. To keep you and your family healthy during this time, there are certain key areas in your home that it pays to disinfect. While this is important every cold and flu season, it's even more essential this year. The CDC has rolled out its own guidelines for how to clean to help prevent the spread of this specific virus, and we have highlighted just a few key places below.



It's also worth noting that not all disinfecting cleaners are capable of killing this specific virus, so you'll want to check the CDC’s list of approved cleaning products, which are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. When cleaning, focus first on the items and spots you tend to touch most often (think cell phones, doorknobs, computer keyboards), so you can make even quick cleaning sessions as effective as possible.



Deep-Clean Your Germy Cell Phone: You touch your cell phone many times throughout the day—and you may even be holding it as you read this. So even if you're diligently washing your hands properly, if you aren't also disinfecting your phone, the second you check a text, you're spreading germs back onto your hands. Considering how often we reach for our phones, it’s no surprise that a 2012 study by the University of Arizona found that cell phones have more germs than toilet seats. Yuck! To deep-clean your phone without risking water damage, follow our instructions from a pro. Keep your hands clean, wipe down the surface with an antibacterial microfiber cloth, and spray cleansers onto a cloth rather than directly onto the screen to prevent damage. Remove the case and wipe it with a clean cloth dipped in 70-percent isopropyl alcohol, then let dry.









Disinfect Your Keyboard: It’s full of nooks and crannies, and you likely click away at it for hours a day. Your computer keyboard is a germ collector, and all of those crevices make it difficult to keep clean. To clean it quickly, first put down the work for a minute and fully unplug it. Turn it upside down and use compressed air to remove any crumbs and dust. To disinfect, wipe the surface with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, being careful that liquid doesn't drip down into the keyboard.



Don’t Forget Doorknobs and Light Switch Plates: You may think that getting sick from germy doorknobs is an old wives' tale, but according to Chuck Gerba, a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, it’s very possible. Germs last longer on surfaces than you might think. To disinfect the doorknobs and light switch plates around your house (focus on high-traffic spots, like the bathroom door), cleanse them with a germ-destroying product, such as CDC-recommended Clorox Disinfecting Wipes ($6, target.com). When cleaning light switch plates, be careful that liquid doesn't drip into the outlet. To make sure any cleaning product is as effective as possible, now's the time to read the fine print and check the manufacturer's directions. You may be surprised to learn how long you have to keep a product on a surface in order for it to really kill germs and bacteria.



Clean the Kitchen Counter (and Faucets): You likely try to keep your kitchen counter clean year-round, but it becomes particularly important during cold and flu season. Since this is the spot where family gathers, the counter and faucet get touched often by germy hands. To keep this area bacteria-free, spritz porous stone (like granite), as well as faucets and handles, with a disinfecting spray, following the manufacturer's guidelines for contact time.



Disinfect Stuffed Animals and Blankets: If your little one has been sick, make sure their favorite furry companion isn’t holding onto their germs. Check the tag on stuffed animals to see if it can go in the washing machine, and if so, follow these washing instructions by using the hottest water setting possible, along with a laundry sanitizer, and then dry completely.

De-germ Your Desk: With more and more of us working from home during this time, it's important to clean our at-home work zones. No matter if that's a complete home office or your kitchen counter-turned-makeshift-cubicle, be sure to use a disinfecting spray or wipe on the surface and chair. Again, make note of the surfaces you touch often (drawer handles, file organizers, etc.) and disinfect those specific spots first.

 

Sanitize the Indispensable TV Remote: One thing's for certain: spending more time at home means more time on Netflix (and YouTube and HBO and Hulu). To de-germ your TV remote control, first remove the batteries. Then use a clean cloth dipped in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol to wipe down the remote and use a Q-Tip to carefully clean the buttons. Make sure the remote is completely dry before replacing the batteries and turning on your favorite feel-good movie or tv show.

 

By Katie Holdefehr

The contents of the Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by Health Magazine, Health Magazine employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of Health Magazine, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk. 



Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)