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I believe that microwaving a used mask could also be an effective way to sterilize the mask. (0) I found this information by following links from the CDC websi

I believe that microwaving a used mask could also be an effective way to sterilize the mask. (0) I found this information by following links from the CDC website a few weeks ago when I was exploring the possibility of buying masks for my family and found that they were already being hawked online at ridiculous prices. Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canning of food goods have a pressure cooker and are already familiar with usage and cleaning. The article posted suggests that this could be a viable method of home decontamination of used masks if I read it right. I also found an article that touched on use of a steamer to accomplish similar results. I can't find that article right now but if I do I will post it for review. Microwaving alone, without adding water to generate the steam should kill most water-based organisms. The article I read stated that microwave times from 30 seconds to 5 minutes were used. I need to find that article... What does everyone else think? I'd be interested in hearing. (0) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078131/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078131/

SirLuxuryYacht 7y ago
This[0] article goes over recommendations for extended use, reuse, and risks. It also has a healthy list of references, some of which are by Fisher et al., the author of the paper you linked. Most masks have a metal tab bending over the bridge of the nose, as well as metal staples for the elastic bands, which would prevent you from microwaving. Cartridge type filters would work though. [0]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373043/#!po=12.5000 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373043/#!po=12...
- doodlebugging 7y ago
  I had considered the metal parts of the mask to be a potential problem. In the worst case scenario it should be relatively simple for mask owners to remove the metal tab from the nose and the staples holding the elastic bands before microwaving. Once they are done in the microwave the bands could be stapled in place with your ordinary stapler and the band reattached with hot glue. Those who have a needle and thread could also stitch a sleeve onto the nose piece that is open at one end and just reinsert the metal nose piece once it is out of the microwave. The thin metal should withstand several bend cycles before needing to be replaced and it can be replaced with any thin aluminum strip which one could obtain from lots of places around the house or at the hardware store. The bands and straps could be washed in ordinary soap to sterilize them before reuse. Just thinking outside the box here. What do you think?
  - mattkrause 7y ago
    You probably want to avoid manipulating the mask a lot, both because it may be contaminated and to avoid punctures.
    - doodlebugging 7y ago
      I agree that the mask could be contaminated. In fact, I would hope that the person wearing the mask has a good reason to wear it, either someone in their household is sick and they are protecting themselves or they are sick and they are protecting everyone else who is home with them. I think it is a bad idea for everyone to wear a mask when there is no threat to their health. With people furloughed home it is likely that many of us can avoid contact with an infected person and therefore we don't need masks. But if the user has paid close enough attention these last few weeks, then they are probably already washing hands anyway so as long as they wash up after putting the mask in the microwave and before they touch their face they should be good. If the mask is punctured that creates a much larger path for droplets to get behind the mask or if the user is the infected one, to get past the mask into the clean air on the other side. To mitigate that situation, there is no reason that I can see where coating the puncture with elmer's glue, hot glue, etc doesn't solve that issue. Bending the mask will probably create permeability that could allow larger particles to pass anyway. The plastic filaments they talk about are not likely to hold up to much flexing and it is a decrease in the tortuosity of the path through the media that creates the risk. Therefore, breakage along clearly defined planes creates an easy path through the media even if the mask is perfectly fitted to spec. I think bending the mask is the easiest way to send it out of spec so like you say, manipulating the mask creates a situation where it may no longer be effective against the particles sizes that it should protect against.
      - paulmd 7y ago
        While I suppose it’s an interesting academic discussion, frankly the idea of being able to safely contain an aerosolized upper respiratory disease at home is ludicrous to begin with, so it doesn’t really matter. The simple truth of the matter is that if you are in a home or apartment with an infected person, and you remain present during their period of high viral shedding, you’re practically certain to contract it as well. You don’t have a negative pressure containment room, your home furnace is going to drag it all over the house. Normal airflow as you open the door will probably drag it out. It’s perfectly valid to stay and care for grandpa, just don’t have any illusions that you’re not going to get it as well. You 100% will. Doctors who are trained in cleanliness and with access to real, non-makeshift gear are getting it. That’s fine if you’re not a senior yourself. Severe reactions are fairly rare for anyone under 60 or so. And it can’t really be helped without abandoning grandpa.
- doodlebugging 7y ago
  BTW, I think you hit the mother lode on links about potential decontamination methods. I need to read some of this for future reference. Thanks!
- roel_v 7y ago
  "as well as metal staples for the elastic bands, which would prevent you from microwaving" My microwave works fine with metal inside. Would only be a problem for some people.
  - doodlebugging 7y ago
    Thanks for this information. Very useful.
Scoundreller 7y ago
> Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canning of food goods have a pressure cooker and are already familiar with usage and cleaning. A pressure cooker is overkill. It's used in canning because you need to kill fungal/bacterial spores that can be very hardy pre-germination. Viruses are amongst the easiest to "kill", and live bacteria somewhere in the middle. I wonder how effective full sunlight is for masks and viruses. Say, 6 hours on each side.
- doodlebugging 7y ago
  I know about the pressure canner for spores. We can a lot of things here around the house and insuring that we have sterilized everything up front to prevent any opportunity for botulism or other pathogen to ruin the food is at the top of the list. I didn't realize that viruses could be easier to kill though. I appreciate that nugget. Full sunlight, being UV-rich should be effective though like you I don't know how long one should plan to expose each side. I'd be interested in anyone's thoughts there.
  - Scoundreller 7y ago
    My comparisons for UV light have been SODIS for water (very effective for clear water).
zhte415 7y ago
Do not steam them. That breaks down the layers in the mask. Certainly do not pressure cook them.
- doodlebugging 7y ago
  The article that I linked specifically investigated the use of steamer bags in a microwave for purposes of sterilization. They showed it to be a viable method if I read it correctly.

SirLuxuryYacht 7y ago

This[0] article goes over recommendations for extended use, reuse, and risks. It also has a healthy list of references, some of which are by Fisher et al., the author of the paper you linked. Most masks have a metal tab bending over the bridge of the nose, as well as metal staples for the elastic bands, which would prevent you from microwaving. Cartridge type filters would work though. [0]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373043/#!po=12.5000 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373043/#!po=12...

doodlebugging 7y ago
I had considered the metal parts of the mask to be a potential problem. In the worst case scenario it should be relatively simple for mask owners to remove the metal tab from the nose and the staples holding the elastic bands before microwaving. Once they are done in the microwave the bands could be stapled in place with your ordinary stapler and the band reattached with hot glue. Those who have a needle and thread could also stitch a sleeve onto the nose piece that is open at one end and just reinsert the metal nose piece once it is out of the microwave. The thin metal should withstand several bend cycles before needing to be replaced and it can be replaced with any thin aluminum strip which one could obtain from lots of places around the house or at the hardware store. The bands and straps could be washed in ordinary soap to sterilize them before reuse. Just thinking outside the box here. What do you think?
- mattkrause 7y ago
  You probably want to avoid manipulating the mask a lot, both because it may be contaminated and to avoid punctures.
  - doodlebugging 7y ago
    I agree that the mask could be contaminated. In fact, I would hope that the person wearing the mask has a good reason to wear it, either someone in their household is sick and they are protecting themselves or they are sick and they are protecting everyone else who is home with them. I think it is a bad idea for everyone to wear a mask when there is no threat to their health. With people furloughed home it is likely that many of us can avoid contact with an infected person and therefore we don't need masks. But if the user has paid close enough attention these last few weeks, then they are probably already washing hands anyway so as long as they wash up after putting the mask in the microwave and before they touch their face they should be good. If the mask is punctured that creates a much larger path for droplets to get behind the mask or if the user is the infected one, to get past the mask into the clean air on the other side. To mitigate that situation, there is no reason that I can see where coating the puncture with elmer's glue, hot glue, etc doesn't solve that issue. Bending the mask will probably create permeability that could allow larger particles to pass anyway. The plastic filaments they talk about are not likely to hold up to much flexing and it is a decrease in the tortuosity of the path through the media that creates the risk. Therefore, breakage along clearly defined planes creates an easy path through the media even if the mask is perfectly fitted to spec. I think bending the mask is the easiest way to send it out of spec so like you say, manipulating the mask creates a situation where it may no longer be effective against the particles sizes that it should protect against.
    - paulmd 7y ago
      While I suppose it’s an interesting academic discussion, frankly the idea of being able to safely contain an aerosolized upper respiratory disease at home is ludicrous to begin with, so it doesn’t really matter. The simple truth of the matter is that if you are in a home or apartment with an infected person, and you remain present during their period of high viral shedding, you’re practically certain to contract it as well. You don’t have a negative pressure containment room, your home furnace is going to drag it all over the house. Normal airflow as you open the door will probably drag it out. It’s perfectly valid to stay and care for grandpa, just don’t have any illusions that you’re not going to get it as well. You 100% will. Doctors who are trained in cleanliness and with access to real, non-makeshift gear are getting it. That’s fine if you’re not a senior yourself. Severe reactions are fairly rare for anyone under 60 or so. And it can’t really be helped without abandoning grandpa.
doodlebugging 7y ago
BTW, I think you hit the mother lode on links about potential decontamination methods. I need to read some of this for future reference. Thanks!
roel_v 7y ago
"as well as metal staples for the elastic bands, which would prevent you from microwaving" My microwave works fine with metal inside. Would only be a problem for some people.
- doodlebugging 7y ago
  Thanks for this information. Very useful.

Scoundreller 7y ago

> Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canning of food goods have a pressure cooker and are already familiar with usage and cleaning. A pressure cooker is overkill. It's used in canning because you need to kill fungal/bacterial spores that can be very hardy pre-germination. Viruses are amongst the easiest to "kill", and live bacteria somewhere in the middle. I wonder how effective full sunlight is for masks and viruses. Say, 6 hours on each side.

doodlebugging 7y ago
I know about the pressure canner for spores. We can a lot of things here around the house and insuring that we have sterilized everything up front to prevent any opportunity for botulism or other pathogen to ruin the food is at the top of the list. I didn't realize that viruses could be easier to kill though. I appreciate that nugget. Full sunlight, being UV-rich should be effective though like you I don't know how long one should plan to expose each side. I'd be interested in anyone's thoughts there.
- Scoundreller 7y ago
  My comparisons for UV light have been SODIS for water (very effective for clear water).

zhte415 7y ago

Do not steam them. That breaks down the layers in the mask. Certainly do not pressure cook them.

doodlebugging 7y ago
The article that I linked specifically investigated the use of steamer bags in a microwave for purposes of sterilization. They showed it to be a viable method if I read it correctly.