How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?
NEW YORK — How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?
It depends, but you should be able to use N95s and KN95s a few times.
The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says healthcare workers can wear an N95 mask up to five times if necessary. But experts say how often the average person can safely wear one will vary depending on how it’s used.
Using the same mask to run to the grocery store, for example, is very different than wearing it all day at work.
On Wednesday, state health officials lifted a requirement that all residents age 2 and older wear masks in most indoor public spaces.
The amount of time a mask is worn is more important than how frequently it’s worn, said Richard Flagan, who studies masks and aerosols at Caltech.
In general, he recommends limiting the use of an N95 mask to about two or three days.
With every breath you take in an N95, particles accumulate on the mask, Flagan said. That could make it more difficult to breathe if the mask has trapped a lot of particles.
“They are degrading the performance of the mask,” he said.
The elastic band on the mask could also get worn out and not fit around your face as snugly. It might also get dirty or wet, especially if you’re using it while exercising.
If you notice any of these changes to your mask, it’s time to stop using it — even if you’ve only used it a few hours. And since N95 masks can’t be washed, they should be thrown away once you can no longer use them.
