How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?

The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says health care workers can wear N95 masks up to five times. But experts Say how often the average person can safely wear it depends on how it is used.

For example, using the same mask to walk to the grocery store is very different from wearing it to work all day.

Study author Richard Flanagan says how often a mask is worn is more important than how often it is worn mask and aerosols at the California Institute of Technology.

In general, he recommends limiting the use of N95 masks to around two or three days.

With every breath you inhale N95, the particles get deposited on the mask, says Flanagan. If too many particles are trapped in the mask it can make it difficult to breathe.

“They’re degrading the performance of the mask,” Flanagan says.

The elastic band on the mask may also wear out and not fit snugly around your face. It can be dirty or even wet, especially If you are using it while exercising.

If you see any of these changes in your mask, it’s time to stop using it—even if you’ve only used it for a few hours. And since N95 masks can’t be washed, they should be thrown away when you can’t use them.

This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed.