The best way could be to simply use a scented detergent.
Let’s face it: your mask can get pretty sweaty. It can also end up pretty darn smelly. Wearing your mask to the grocery store once a week is one matter, but having to wear one for hours at a time every day can definitely cause unattractive odors to add up.
How can you tackle that fetid mess? There are a few approaches to try. From oils to detergents, here are some tips on keeping your mask as fresh as a field full of flowers, (or at least as close as could be possible).
Essential Oils?
Some media outlets are recommending that you dab a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto your mask to keep it from smelling like musty old coffee breath. This can be a good solution, but you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions before jumping in.
First, do you have sensitive skin? Not sure? Does costume jewelry irritate your ears?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, using essential oils on your mask could cause your skin to break out in an itchy rash. According to Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor at Yale who was speaking to Cosmopolitan.com, essential oils are a known skin irritant and also a known allergen. This is because true essential oils are a purified and highly concentrated version of the plant they come from. The oils’ strength makes them potentially dangerous.
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Diluting the oil in a carrier like coconut oil won’t take away this power, said Gohara, (although we often like to think it will). Diluting an essential oil and then placing it on or near your skin can be likened to “diluting” poison ivy. You are still likely to have a reaction to it.
It is also important to know that using too much of an essential oil can actually cause you to suffer from a painful and damaging chemical burn.
So, watch out. Not everyone’s skin reacts to essential oils, of course, but some can.
If you think you would like to try using the oils and that you won’t react, it’s recommended that you dilute one or two drops of your favourite scent in a tablespoon of oil, as mentioned above. Apply this minimally to the outside rim of your mask, and avoid placing the oils in contact with your face.
Scented Detergents
An easier and safer way to add fragrance to your reusable mask is to wash it in scented detergent. If you already know you have sensitive skin, sadly this isn’t an option. But if you can tolerate it, this is a great way to get a fresh scent locked into your mask. Go one step further and toss your mask in the dryer with a scented dryer sheet for longer-lasting freshness.
Keeping It Clean
Washing your reusable mask regularly keeps it from gathering too many oils from your face, which, in addition to bad breath, can also cause your mask to smell. Keeping things clean is one of the easiest ways to stay ahead of the game.
Experts recommend that you wash your face mask after each use. (Think ‘underwear’). Toss it in the laundry and use hot water, and then tumble dry on high.
When washing by hand, scrub your mask for a minimum of 20 seconds in soapy water. If you have access to a dryer, tumble dry on high. If not, leave your mask to dry in a safe place, away from other items and surfaces.
Wearing a mask can be annoying. It is one of the few steps you can take to help reduce your chances of catching and spreading COVID-19, however, and worth the effort.
photo credits: Mariia Boiko/Shutterstock.com
