“Good news for the wallet and the planet”, announcement on his site shoppers affiliation UFC-What to Choose, the surgical masks “retain very good filtration capacities after 10 machine washes at 60 °”.
These masks are usually meant to be discarded after 4 hours of use or as quickly as they get moist. In the top, even after a number of machine cycles, they continue to be “well above the minimum requirements for fabric masks” Afnor licensed, notes theUFC-What to Choose.
To attain these conclusions, assessments have been carried out on “three models bought in supermarkets and drugstores”. Each masks was washed, then tumble dried and ironed at low warmth. On the criterion of filtration, the three fashions “have been maintained at a level sufficient for general public use”, signifies the affiliation.
At the top of the take a look at we carried out, the masks have been utterly intact. The rubber bands maintain up.
Anne-Sophie Stamane, well being journalist at “Que Choisir”France Inter
To present a barrier to particles and viruses, washed surgical masks are “more efficient than the fabric mask carrying the Afnor / DGA guarantee”.
For the opposite criterion studied by this take a look at, that of breathability, disposable machine-passed masks come shut sufficient to the consolation of cloth fashions for “comfortable use during calm activities”. Two out of three fashions “are far beyond the minimum required”, signifies theUFC-What to Choose. “All the criteria are met to be able to reuse them for up to 10 washes”, assures Anne-Sophie Stamane.
Some medical doctors have been campaigning for the reason that spring for the recycling of masks, corresponding to Professor Daniel Garin, occupational doctor, who notes, nevertheless, that washing disposable masks in hospitals is sophisticated: (*10*).
And moreover the ecological facet, washing surgical masks additionally saves cash. “Even if the price of masks has tended to decrease since the start of the crisis, it is still much higher than what was practiced before this gigantic health crisis”, recalled Franck Attia, editor-in-chief ofUFC-What to Choose, on franceinfo. “Despite this drop in prices, it remains a considerable budget. I remind you that surgical masks must be used for a maximum of four hours. Imagine the sum that this can represent for a household with several children. From an economic point of view, we can save a lot of money using about ten times his mask. “
– to www.francetvinfo.fr
