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Demonstration of a Home Laundering Method for Cloth Facepieces to Achieve Hygienic and Sustainable Reuse
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This study tested four home laundering methods for reusable cloth face masks, finding that most wash cycles at 40°C or higher achieved the required 99.99% bacterial reduction. The results support domestic machine washing as an effective way to decontaminate reusable masks, reducing reliance on single-use plastic alternatives.
Mask shortages during COVID-19 led to the adoption of reusable textile masks; research into their performance and optimal washing conditions can guide domestic laundering to encourage their use, decreasing plastic pollution. The study tested four washing methods for cleaning artificially contaminated facepieces. These conditions included nonbiological detergent at 30°C, Reference Detergent 3 (RD3) at 40°C and 60°C, and fortified RD3 (sodium perborate + tetraacetylethylenediamine) at 40°C. After washing, the facepieces were tumble- or air-dried. The effectiveness was determined by measuring bacteria reduction by standard plate count, achieving a target reduction of ≥99.99% and a benchmark cleanliness requirement (for surgical masks) of ≤ 30 CFU/g (EN 14683: 2019). All met the benchmark except 30°C nonbiological detergent washes with air drying. Oxidative bleach reduced RD3 performance. This research demonstrates that heavily contaminated reusable masks can be effectively decontaminated using domestic machines on a normal wash cycle (40 degrees).
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Researchers evaluated copper- and silver-based antibacterial treatments on polypropylene fabric for reusable filter masks, comparing their efficacy against commercial products to address the environmental burden of disposable face masks.
The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.
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Reusable fabric face masks and single-use surgical masks were compared for filtration efficiency and particle shedding, with single-use masks providing better protection against airborne pathogens but generating more plastic waste, while reusable cotton masks reduced waste but required proper washing protocols to maintain effectiveness.
The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.
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This study compared the filtration effectiveness and environmental impact of single-use versus reusable face masks during COVID-19, finding that reusable masks can be comparable in protection while significantly reducing plastic waste. Billions of disposable masks ended up in the environment during the pandemic, releasing microplastic fibers and fragments as they degraded.
Reliable quantification of microplastic release from the domestic laundry of textile fabrics
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This study identified major sources of variation in methods used to quantify microplastic fiber release from textile laundry, recommending a standardized testing protocol to enable reliable comparisons across fabrics, machines, and washing conditions.
Recycling of disposable single-use face masks to mitigate microfiber pollution
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Researchers mechanically recycled discarded disposable face masks into polypropylene-cotton blended fabrics, demonstrating an 83% reduction in microfiber release across the product lifecycle compared to masks, though complete elimination of fiber shedding was not achievable due to the inherent properties of textile materials.
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