Cloth Masks Aren’t as Safe as You Think — Here’s What to Use Instead

Photo by @hypenurse

Face masks are undoubtedly one of the most widely discussed topics of the year (and what a year it’s been). From shortages to mandatory-mask protests to the debate over the upcoming school year and everything in between, it’s become increasingly obvious that face masks are here to stay.  

With that in mind, what type of face masks are the best to use? Which are the most sanitary? With your personal health on the line, this is big question to ask, one you might have searched extensively for online.  

Are Cloth Face Masks Safe?  

One of the most common mask types are cloth masks. They’re typically much easier to find than medical-grade and N95 masks, are breathable, and extremely affordable. But are they safe?  

While cloth masks are approved for protection during the pandemic, it is recommended they are washed frequently to keep them sanitary. COVID-19 can stay on fabric for up to three days. That means any exposure to the virus while wearing a cloth mask can be a hazard for several days if you do not wash it. On top of that, after washing your mask, it needs to dry. So if you only have a few masks handy, you are less likely to keep them as clean as needed to stay safe!  

Additionally, the CDC does not recommend the use of cloth masks if they have an exhalation valve or vent. Masks with one-way valves or vents allow exhaled air to be expelled out through holes in the material.  This can allow exhaled respiratory droplets to reach others and potentially spread the COVID-19 virus. 

What Is a Safer Alternative to Cloth Face Masks?  

Of course, medical-grade face masks and N95 masks are at the top when it comes to level of protection. Due to their limited supply, cloth masks might seem like one of the only alternatives. But that’s not true.  

A new silicone-based face mask from CastleGrade is available that is much safer. Because it’s made of silicone, it is washable by hand, so you can safely wash and sanitize after every use without having to wait for it to dry. The G-Series Mask is a reusable, FDA-registered respirator mask that lasts for two years.

The mask is paired with a replaceable 4-ply filter that can be used for up to 32 hours of direct use or one week, whichever comes first. It’s the very first FDA-registered, reusable, medical-grade silicone respirator. It’s very likely that none of the cloth masks you have used during the pandemic were even reviewed by the FDA, let alone approved.  

These masks have proven so successful that CastleGrade recently announced the launch of their G7 Kids Mask. They’re specifically made for children ages 7 to 11, providing the ideal protection for sending your kids back to school.

What makes the CastleGrade masks stand out the most (and there are a lot of things that make them stand out) is how breathable they are. Cloth masks sit right on top of your mouth and nose, leaving no room for air flow. Masks with valves leave your mouth and nose too unprotected. The G-Series Masks from CastleGrade create a pocket of air over your mouth and nose that make them both comfortable and breathable. Even Martha Stewart, who posted the CastleGrade masks on Instagram last month, seems to think so.  

Here are a few other things that make CastleGrade’s G-Series Masks so much better than cloth masks:  

• The packaging it comes in is entirely plastic free, made from CastleGrade’s 100% biodegradeable stone bags — they degrade into pebbles!  
• They don’t fog up your glasses.
• They’re crafted in European-owned factories.  
• They do not use vents or valves, which the CDC now deems unsafe.
• They were approved by leading FDA attorney Mark Sanchez Esq.  

Want to learn more about or order your own G-Series masks? Check out the CastleGrade website right here!  

 

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