First, how not to clean your N95 mask
To maintain the effectiveness of the mask, never use these methods:
- Spraying or wetting with aerosol or liquid alcohol.
- Washing in soapy water.
These methods can break down the inherent electrostatic charge that is key to the way an N95 filters small particles. They can reduce a mask's effectiveness by a third to a half.
How to clean your N95 mask
Steaming or boiling
Submerging an N95 in 125C/260F degree steam or boiling water for 3 minutes will disinfect the mask without significantly reducing its filtration efficiency (FE). Don't excessively stir the mask if you boil it, use only enough manipulation to keep it submerged. If your mask has paper outer and inner layers, neither the steam or boiling methods are advisable as they will disintegrate those paper layers that hold the filter medium between them.
