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The most popular face covering by far is the reusable mask, with 69%- nearly 7 out of 10 Britons choosing to wear a reusable, washable mask. When the UK government made mask wearing compulsory in shops, usage shot up from 38% to 69% in 3 weeks. This is great news for the environment and a positive step in the fight against Covid-19, but these masks need to be worn and stored correctly to get the full benefit.

The official recommendations are that facemasks are washed every time they are worn. Not only does this help reduce your risk of Covid-19, it also keeps your skin free from breakout-causing bacteria.

However, Just 13% of reusable mask wearers are washing them frequently enough, and in the correct way according to new data from YouGov. In fact, 1 in 7 people have never washed their masks! Men are also half as likely to wash their face mask as women.

Have more than one mask, so you can pop one in your washing and always have a clean one to hand. If you don’t have time for a machine wash, handwashing your mask is also effective. Pacamasks keep their silver ion protection for a year, so you can wash them regularly.

Storing your mask is also just as important- don’t just throw it in the bottom of your handbag or store it in a pocket, as this could cause germs to transfer to other items. Keep a clean bag handy to store it, or use a Pacamask case to keep your mask clean when you’re not wearing it.

How to Properly Use and Wear a Face Mask

Here are some tips to get the best protection from your mask:

How Face Masks Work

Face masks work to stop the spread of coronavirus by acting as a barrier to stop droplets from your mouth reaching someone else. They are not intended to be used by people who have the virus- you should still stay home and self-isolate. However, if you are asymptomatic and have the virus and don’t know it, a mask can stop you spreading it to others.

Now more than ever, we all need to make sure we are giving ourselves the best possible protection against Covid-19, so make sure you are using your mask correctly.