[imagesource: Peter Hamlin/ AP]

From the start of the lockdown we have been told, over and over again, that we have to wear a face mask when leaving the house.

The instruction has come from the World Health Organisation (eventually), medical experts, epidemiologists, and our own government, and yet somehow it has passed some people by.

Now, regulation 5, which governs the wearing of masks, has been changed to force South Africans to wear them, including in open spaces.

It isn’t, however, enough to wear a mask.

You have to wear it properly, and you have to disinfect it after you use it.

Here’s Rolling Stone on how to do that:

Bleach and Water Solution

It might be tempting to spend a large sum of money on one of those fancy disinfectant sprays doing the rounds on social media, but bleach works just as well and you’ll find it in just about every cleaning supplies cupboard.

Mix five tablespoons of household bleach with three litres of warm water. Pour it into a bowl and let your mask soak in the solution for at least five minutes. Rinse thoroughly, and let dry in direct sunlight.

Just keep in mind that bleach can be a respiratory irritant, so if you feel like you’re having trouble breathing when wearing your mask, switch to warm soapy water.

Warm Soapy Water

Put a dash of laundry soap into a bowl with a bit of warm water. Wash your mask in it by giving it a good scrub, and then leave it to soak for a while. Rinse and leave to dry in direct sunlight.

Washing Machine

Machine washing is sufficient to clean your mask, following which, you should put it in the dryer on a hot setting.

UV Sanitiser

UV (Ultraviolet) light can be used to disinfect your phones and accessories, along with your mask. The UV rays only disinfect what they come in contact with, so be mindful of the fact that folds and creases in your mask could prevent spots from being sanitised.

Lastly, be sure to wash your hands after handling your mask (and constantly throughout the day), and if your mask gets damaged or wears thin, throw it away.

Take care of your PPE, and others.

[source:rollingstone]