Your questions, answered "How many times can I wear the same N95 mask? What happens to it with too many uses? How do I make it last as long as possible?" — Betsy in California There's no firm number on how many times you can safely wear the same N95 mask. Ideally, we'd all start each day with a fresh one, but that's prohibitively expensive for most people. A realistic approach is to simply check your mask before each use and switch to a new one as soon as you see any wear and tear. That can include dirt or grime accumulating on the mask, damage to the nose clip or straps, or tears in the fabric, according to health experts and the mask manufacturer 3M. You should throw out your N95 if it no longer fits snugly on your face or if it becomes harder to breathe through. Any mask that has been soaked with sweat or mucous should also be discarded, Michael G. Knight, an assistant professor of medicine at George Washington University, told The Post recently. The same goes for a mask that has been soaked with water or other fluids. Some moisture buildup is fine, Knight said, but saturation is a problem. How long your N95 actually lasts depends on what you're doing while wearing it. Again, there's no firm timeline here. Even a heavy-duty N95 might only last a couple days if you're working an intense job at, say, a restaurant or warehouse where you're doing lots of physical labor and you've got to mask up for hours at a time. If, on the other hand, you work at home and only wear your mask for errands and socializing, you can probably stretch it further. For health-care workers, the CDC recommends no more than five reuses or "donnings" per mask. So, for example, if a nurse wears an N95 while treating a patient, takes it off during a lunch break, then puts it back on to treat another patient, that counts as two donnings. Too much use makes your mask less protective. N95s have an electrostatic charge that helps them capture virus particles, and that charge weakens over time as moisture passes through the fabric. The elastic straps stretch and the nose clip warps with each use, gradually affecting the seal around your face. The same guidelines apply to Chinese-made KN95 masks. "If that fit is no longer tight and no longer forming a seal," Knight said, "then that mask is no longer as effective in filtering the air you're breathing." You can make your mask last longer by storing it in a dark, dry place where it can air out between uses. Experts recommend rotating between masks rather than going through them one at a time. And always wash your hands before handling a mask. For more on how to get the most out of your N95, check our full FAQ here. | 
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