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How long can you wear a KF94 or KN95? How to get a good face fit and more!
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- Опубліковано 6 сер 2024
- Using my mask test setup I attempt to answer the question of how long these can be used for. Also in this video I cover some ways to get a good face fit, the latest Danish Mask Study and more.
00:00 - Intro
1:45 - "How long do you recommend wearing a mask?"
2:20 - Used mask filtration efficiency test #1
4:28 - Test #1 data
5:53 - Worst case scenario mask test results
7:50 - "Do you recommend cleaning masks with isopropyl alcohol?"
9:18 - "What if my mask gets wet?"
9:57 - Used mask filtration efficiency test #2
11:05 - Test #2 data
14:09 - "Why does filtration efficiency decrease after use?"
16:28 - "What does a good face fit feel like?"
19:13 - "Why are my glasses still fogging up?"
21:07 - "What is the risk of contracting coronavirus from a mask?"
23:49 - "How do you recommend I handle and store my mask after use?"
27:11 - "Do you recommend cloth or surgical masks?"
29:20 - Upcoming test results
30:18 - "Why don't you test reusable masks?"
Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers
www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.73...
1:45 "How long do you recommend wearing a mask?"
2:20 Used mask filtration efficiency test #1
4:28 Test #1 data
5:53 Worst case scenario mask test results
7:50 "Do you recommend cleaning masks with isopropyl alcohol?"
9:18 "What if my mask gets wet?"
9:57 Used mask filtration efficiency test #2
11:05 Test #2 data
14:09 "Why does filtration efficiency decrease after use?"
16:28 "What does a good face fit feel like?"
19:13 "Why are my glasses still fogging up?"
21:07 "What is the risk of contracting coronavirus from a mask?"
23:49 "How do you recommend I handle and store my mask after use?"
27:11 "Do you recommend cloth or surgical masks?"
29:20 Upcoming test results
30:18 "Why don't you test reusable masks?"
Awesome work thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to do this!
Wow. That's amazing. Thanks!
😂😂😂
Thank you 🙃
I’ve been wearing BOTN mask everyday at work (I’m a physician). Because I’m seeing patients and do not necessarily know if they have Covid or not, I change it daily. Have to say, I really like it, feel more secure than most KN95s. Of course, if I’m working with someone who’s Covid positive, I’ll wear an N95. I have sent your videos to a couple of my colleagues as a reference. Thanks for doing these tests as it gives everyone more options and helps us as well be less wasteful...
@Bella Dama Otto said he changes it daily.
If I were in your line of work I would wear an n95 always. Seems too risky to wear kf94s because they simply do not seal as well as an n95.
@@ibrake4ants , 18 months into this pandemic, and probably more than a year using these kf94 masks, they have worked out really well for me.. even in my line of work.. but everyone does whatever they can to keep mental calmness and to protect themselves as well as their loved ones…
What did you mean by "of course" [...I'll wear an N95]. Do fit tests prove that everybody is better off with N95s? I find my N95 masks did not seal as well over the bridge of the nose. Given how many brands of masks there, is it proven that inter-type variation of fit (N95 vs KF94) is (statistically and consistently) far more than intra-type variation of fit between brands (e.g., Brand X and Y N95s surely both have better fits than Brand A and B KF94s)? I won't be buying tens of brands of masks to test, but I feel quite insecure hearing a doctor inform me that what for me seems obvious (the KF94 is a better fit) is OBVIOUSLY not the best choice. Or, was a single word - "obviously" - poorly chosen?
Genuinely appreciate the hours and hours you've spent here and are sharing with everyone. THANK YOU
Yes, definitely!
This is a man who is passionate about particles
what about micro water droplets that linger for hours that are main cause covid.... these are consider vapours or particles?
My wife and I are huge fans of your videos and appreciate the evidence you're providing! We both work in healthcare in the US and wanted to be safe and ethical about not taking away n95s from our heathcare system... and because of your videos have bought hundreds of kf94s and have been giving them out to friends, family, and vulnerable people in the community. I hope you realize you're helping save lives by putting out this info! 🙏
Coronavirus is a healing process taking place worldwide caused by solar activity ☀️ much love
You’re my hero - seriously - your videos have been incredibly helpful in not only choosing masks but feeling safer in the pandemic. As a fellow scientist I appreciate your detailed and Thoughtful approach to your studies :)
I agree 100%. Ok, well I'm not a scientist, but his videos are truly game changing. Kudos to the folks at reddit.com/r/masks4all. That's how I found these videos. 😷👍
My pleasure, and thanks for watching!
Aaron, thank you so much for taking the time to post these incredibly informative and helpful videos. They should be watched by everyone. I have ordered some KF94 masks from Korea based on your recommendations for myself and my family.
Yay!! I have been looking forward to a new video from you! And these topics are right on target! THANKS so much!!!
This is spectacular. I just found this as we are re-analyzing masking for Omicron and I was digging for data. Thank you so much for all your fantastic work!!
I know these videos are now quite old, but with Delta causing yet another wave, masks are becoming more relevant again and I expect more people will be watching and reading comments. Thank you for putting in the effort and producing these incredibly valuable, potentially life saving videos.
Regarding reusing masks, 3M performed an excellent analysis on this near the beginning of the pandemic. I don't know why but the report and the press release discussing it have both disappeared off the 3M website.
3M tested, not only 3M respirators (masks) but also competitor masks and I believe even a few KN95's.
What they found was the following:
- Too much moisture degraded the filtration due to reduced electrostatic charge. They recommended replacing masks every 4 hours or less and either hanging them to dry or placing them in a breathable paper bag.
- After 10 wearing sessions of 4 hours each (40 hours total) all of the masks were still filtering well.
- The filtration performance reduced by an average of approximately 1% within the first 10 to 20 hours and then continued to degrade very slowly.
- They suggested that for use in a healthcare environment that 40 hours was reasonable and that when used by the general public most likely 100 hours or more was likely reasonable (the 100 hour suggestion was actually in their blog to not the report).
- They noted that as long as the masks looked clean and in good condition, the masks continued to perform well.
- They did not recommend sterilizing the masks but noted another study that showed the virus broke down over several days in a dry environment. I can't recall exactly the number of days but they recommended allowing somewhere between 3 and 7 days between wearing sessions for the virus to become non-infectious.
- In another study they found that masks stored in sealed plastic bags could develop mould so they recommended either hanging them to dry or placing them in breathable paper bags between wears.
This is so helpful!! Thank you!
Hi @Slider68 "I know these videos are now quite old, but with Omicron causing yet another wave, masks are becoming more relevant again and I expect more people will be watching and reading comments" :-) Do you know what the name of that report was? Wondering if it is possible to find it archived somewhere on the Internet?...
@@marktaylor1527 I'm sorry but I've posted an answer 5 times and my posts keep getting deleted for some bizarre reason.
@@marktaylor1527 this is beyond ridiculous but I've now tried about a dozen times and there must be some word UA-cam doesn't like because my replies just keep getting deleted.
@@marktaylor1527 This is insanely frustrating. I'll try posting just a couple of words of the title in each reply and maybe you can use that to find the document.
Note this is not the original document but one with some similar information on the bottom of page 9 and on page 10
Thank you so much for your informative videos. Your expertise is so helpful during this dynamic time of uncertainty. You have taken the guesswork out of the difficult process of choosing high performing masks. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this and other videos. In my country, we got a very alarming situation with a record covid case pretty much being broken every day.
I always thank you for these useful informations during this pandemic. Two thumps way up for u Aaron.
Aaron, thank you so much for all the work you've put into creating these videos, executing these tests, and presenting this data to us. You're quite literally doing a great service for humanity and the planet (save lives while creating less waste!).
This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Oh my god thank you.
Thank you so much for all your work. You are truly helping save lives. I have given kf94s to co-workers, my parents, and at risk family members. Thank you again
Great info about the filtration efficiency with prolonged usage! I also appreciate the point about some water vapor escaping through the breathable material at the top of the mask. It might explain why I noticed that my lab goggles would slowly fog up over the course of the day even though I didn't notice any gross leaks during my user seal check or my glasses fogging up with normal breathing. Looking forward to future test s!
Thank you for creating these videos!
Very helpful for those of us working full days in the public sphere right now. Thanks for putting these out there.
You provided excellent Public service! Peace and Light to you and your family
Thank you so much for your research. Fantastic content and delivery.
Thank you so much for all the hard work you have put into making this video. I bought some KN95 masks and was throwing them out after one wear to the supermarket so I found it quite expensive because I cannot work due to health issues. I am ordering again today. You are saving lives and I very much appreciate your efforts.
Thanks for the video!!! I keep reading from many sources that masks should be used just one. I have KN95 masks and now have information on how long I can wear one as I work at home and limit my trips to no more than one "establishment" at a time with most under 20-30 minutes. Will have to spend this weekend catching up on all of Aaron's videos.
Outstanding video and information. Thanks man, you rock!
I’ve been using mask strap for the ear loop KF94s and they really improve the seal. Even with the adjustable ear strap masks. I throw one set of mask strings on the strap, and tighten the others and place them over the ears. Belt and “suspenders” as it were.
Thanks for these videos! Information on masks are crucial in our time.
Thank you for all your research and info. You are definitely included among all the COVID heroes. This is such valuable information. Thanks for being one of the people that "get it" when it comes to a global pandemic. I hope blessings just absolutely flow into your life for sharing all of this.
Thank you *so very much* for this indispensable information and for the tremendous public service you've been doing in testing these masks. It's frankly outrageous that this far into the Covid pandemic (1/27/21) this isn't already common knowledge in the US and that we don't yet have a system for distributing high-filtration masks to the entire population. I learned about your work by sheer accident via a Twitter link from Dr. Abraar Khan. Thank you again!
Wow awesome, I am still new to Twitter but he is blasting out so much mask content its great! Thanks for watching and sharing how you got here!
Another confound of the Danish study is that the majority of spread is likely occurring in unmasked gatherings, such as restaurants or homes. Most people (including those that were in the mask group) would not wear a mask in this scenario regardless, and could have been infected then.
What you really want to know is if wearing a mask reduces the probability of getting COVID in a setting where it makes sense to wear a mask (e.g. supermarket, other public settings, etc...). You'd need complete contact tracing to determine what percentage of infections in the "mask" group occurred when they were wearing their masks.
It does look like they equipped the mask group with surgical masks, so they're OK masks for protecting the wearer, but not great.
The "Adherence" section is also problematic. It states: "Based on the lowest adherence reported in the mask group during follow-up, 46% of participants wore the mask as recommended, 47% predominantly as recommended, and 7% not as recommended".
This is simply based on self report, and doesn't dive deeper into *when* the participants wore masks, and when they didn't. In the Supplemental you can actually see the instructions for mask wearing and they are rather vague.
As a nurse, thank you. Your videos are amazing and I wish more of the public who didn’t believe in mask wearing would watch them. It’s disheartening to have people yell and scream about wearing one to protect others, knowing that if more people did wear something we would be better off. Thank you!
Always provide a potential life saver.. God bless.. love from Indonesia
You are saving lives!! Thank you!!
Fast forward to Feb 14 2022, no shortage at all of N95s, were a 3M Aura 9205+ and protect yourself.
Thank you! This is so helpful!
Thank you for your hard work. See you next time!
Great info! Thank you!
Just discovered your channel after reading article about you on Yahoo. What you do is terrific. I wear a mask about 6 hrs./day. So 30-40 hours is about 5-7 days max., though I don't think you recommend that long. But seems to be possible, based on your data.
I also use my car to store my masks. I put each used one in a paper bag. I have a system of using 3 big ventilated bags and recycling them in the car. I put the recently used masks (in their paper bags) into one bag. In the 2nd bag are those I wore in the previous week. And the 3rd bag contains the masks I wore 2 weeks before. This bag will be rotated next to the drivers seat and I will re wear those. This is working out well. Another thing I would like to suggest is to wear a strap around the back of your head, pulling the 2 ear loops from the masks together. This creates a very tight fit and it is comfortable (no sore ears).
I think HCWs should be using 3Ms full face or half face respirator with 6035 FFP3/HEPA filters. Those filters can last for months. Both the respirators and the filters are wildly available.
You are awesome!! I bought a few Dr. Puri masks and just started wearing them at my new office job. I did worry about the fit since my glasses always fogged up, but you clarified every concern I had! I think I’ll buy medical tape to prevent the fog. I really appreciate this video and all the hard work that went into it. Thank you!
I’ve tried medicsl tape but it always comes off rather quickly. Bandaids, however, have worked brilliantly! Flesh colored ones virtually disappear where it sticks on your face. (I just don’t use then right under my eyes). Hope this helps.
@@Person-mh6xq I’ll definitely try the band aids! thanks :-)
How is tape or bandaid used?
Most helpful mask videos on UA-cam, I do wonder though. How effective is a surgical mask at protecting yourself if you have a perfect seal? I can do that with a knot & tuck + a piece of medical tape across the nose
Aaron, I wish you could see my mask collection. I wear one for a couple of days. Then switch to a new one. And then a new one. So my desk is littered with all kinds of N95 masks and surgical masks. It's pretty funny. my favorite N95 is from Milwaulkee Tools. It has a rubber gasket on the inside and has a really nice close contact on my face. They have the valve so I have to wear a surgical mask on top of them.
This was so helpful, many thanks for doing this test, greatly appreciated🙂
Aaron, I have not been a fan of the adjustable ear loops on any of the KF94 masks that I have tried. I have gone to using cord locks for the ear loops, and as the ear loops stretch I simply adjust the cord lock to maintain the correct face fit.
Great info, I've got everyone in my family and pretty much everyone I know using these KF94 masks. Thanks.
Bill thanks for sharing that, that's a good idea. Thanks for sharing and stay safe and hopefully will catch you in the park again for a beer soon(assuming this is the Bill Nelson I think it is judging by the picture)!
@@coll0412 Yep, it is me! Looking forward to catching up again in the park.
Here's a link to the cord locks that I've been using:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FDNWJT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fpw=alm
Thank you for all your work to keep us safe and informed. We were only wearing homemade cloth masks and when it got more dangerous I made my husband wear two when shopping. Currently he is not going out except to pick up curbside. Seeing your videos gave me hope and a sense of security. I have ordered some KF94 masks you recommended. I now feel safe for my 70 year old to go to Costco or our local grocery store. However, I’m unsure how long we can use one mask. You refer to a “clean office environment “ for how long you can wear a mask how does that compare to a grocery store setting? Thanks again!
A grocery store would also fit in that category. Reality is even if you wore it longer or in a dirty/dusty conditions you are still going to get way better protection than a cloth mask. Thanks for watching!
Very informative I been throwing them out after 24 hours of use, now i can safety stretch it another day.
Thank you!
Aaron:
Thanks very much for your information.
Re fogging glasses: You said moist air coming through nose piece fogging the lenses. Might it be possible to make that limited area impermeable to air. I suspect a piece of clear packing tape across the nose piece would accomplish this.
Thanks again
Aaron, great content. If you edit your video descriptions and add a 0:00 timestamp directly above the "1:45 "How long do you recommend wearing a mask?"" time stamp it will automatically update your video progress bar to segregate by chapters. Make sure to save the edit.
Finally, I was waiting for another video by Aaron Collins! You have helped me more than you know, thank you. BTW, can you do a 3M N95 vs the KF94 and KN95?
Please tell me my comment was a decision maker on your new video lol
It was all you... and about 50 other people who emailed me, but you were part of it!
@@coll0412 I knew it was me 🤣😂, thanks to you I have my whole family wearing BOTN masks, appreciate it always.
Thank you, Aaron! Did you end up making that video on the fogging eyeglasses problem and tips & tricks to fix it? It's been a constant problem to me despite what feels like a good seal. Help!
I haven't, but a good reminder for me to look at it again.
When you dropped that you're from Minnesota I was utterly shocked
You're awesome!!!
I’ve been using the KF94 for about 4 weeks total, when new will use them in high risk cases indoors then as they age will use them in less risky situations.
Hi Aaron, Your videos are literally lifesaving. Thank you for everything you do!
I have one question.
What mask do you recommend for children? Around 12 years old
I would recommend either the Bluna kids face mask, or the Blue 3D masks depending on the face shape. The Blue Kids 3d(with a tiger on it) will likely be too small.
I hope at some point you may be able to add the new CE FFP2 certified Air Queen Breeze to your roster of masks you're testing. I'll be interested to see if Toptec have fixed their subpar nano filtration in their new CE certified mask.
Answer will come soon, just got my hands on some
good report
Aaron.. I love your nerdy detail... but cannot imagine sending your videos to others who just want the bottom line
Therefore I suggest that you make a video that is intentionally brief as possible
Mat
Maybe suggesting a specific mask available on Amazon. For convenience and availability
And then the demonstration of how to wear it
Then a review of how long to wear, rotate etc
You can refer viewers to other videos if they want more detail or a defense of your recommendations
Just give people the absolute basics in this video
Thanks for these videos! You have such a fantastic, relatable approach. I'm curious if you have any opinions on double masking, though I realize testing efficacy would present a challenge. I'm considering layering my linen/silk/600tc cotton behind the head masks over the botn kf94 for cleanliness and even better face fit. (Currently layering 4 layer astm 3 surgical+cloth) I work in a fairly public, high risk setting and I'm often exposed to indoor, unmasked conversation, hence the layers upon layers and wanting to protect myself. Even if this is out of your realm, thank you again for the info and great explanations!
My recommendation is one mask that fits well with no leaks, adding more masks doesn't necessarily make it better. The surgical under a cloth masks is just a way to improve protection of a surgical alone, but it's far from ideal. Will cover it in my next video. If you are around unmasked people and less than 6ft I would also recommend a face shield.
@@coll0412 thank you! I really appreciate your perspective and advice here.
Hi Aaron,
Thank you for all the great information! Your videos have been so helpful. I wear a kn95 Powecom. Do you think moisture from talking loudly decreases efficiency?
No, it will have no appreciable effect. They filtration media was designed specifically for this application. Thanks for watching!
I work at a public elementary school (the kids are in session, in person full time) and I am being told by the nurse to wear my KN95 mask for 2 weeks before they’ll give me a new one.
It will still likely provide fairly good protection over that time frame, but I would recommend thinking about augmenting with small supply of your own.
Hey Colin big fan. I am on Mask4All a lot so thats where i learned about you. My question is what do you feel about Ear Savers? I find when i use an ear saver it makes the fit of the mask much tighter. Is that something people can use when the fit on the ears become loose?
Sorry for the slow reply, had missed a bunch of messages due to a UA-cam setting. So yeah you can use an ear saver to help keep the mask tight if its comfortable for you.
Would you we willing to test a couple of cloth masks made with a non-woven filter layer? Also, have you considered using ozone to clean masks?
I have been making ear savers to ear with FLTR95 masks I got. I've noticed the elastic stretching issue and I suspect these will help with that. I've never had a good seal around my nose with a mask. I have no bridge. I'm hoping this will help.
Just wondering if you’ve done any testing on Filti masks and their mask inserts.
Great video. Thanks!
I tested the Filti NF95 awhile back, it didn't perform too well.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M0mdNLpTWEGcluK6hh5LjjcFixwmOG853Ff45d3O-L0/edit?usp=sharing
@@coll0412 oh bummer. Thanks so much for the reply. I just ordered a box of them yesterday 😂 Oops!
Here are a few from Amazon that I am trying: Suncoo kn95 (typical Chinese manufacturing- seems a bit inconsistent.
Zerobay kf94- very nicely made, fits like a kn95 but goes under chin
Accumed 95% headband style. Much like a kn95 but with a headband.
Overall fairly impressed with what I can source on Amazon. None of these seem to be counterfeit
It's always hard to say with Amazon, for mask nerds they can figure out the fakes but for a lot of people they don't know any difference. I wish we had a good central authority on this, not some guy in his bathroom testing masks every weekend :)
@@coll0412 I sincerely agree, but as we don't I am super thankful for that dude in the bathroom!
Last year on the cruise ship that was stuck in japan, many on board died of covid, the aircon was circulating it. After everyone left the ship, the went into the cabins after 3 week and still had virus in the cabins. Never underestimate the virus.
It's important to distinguish between viable virus, and finding viral RNA. What we care about is if the virus is still viable, ie. alive. Think of this the same as finding the bones of a animal 3 weeks after, sure it was present and was certainly there, but it's no longer alive. What we care about is how long does the virus stay viable, which depends on a lot of factors, but roughly 3-5 days on most surfaces and a massive fraction of it is dead. Also fomite spreading is not really an issue, the virus needs a direct route to cells with ACE2 receptors so this means inhalation is the primary mechanism. This is why the CDC has come out to say that fomite transmission is very rare.
Actually a lot of the cases appeared to be during the process of leaving the ship. They should have staggered it better.
Great videos Aaron. Quick question ! Does the 30-40 hours apply to a setting like Walmart?? Or would you recommend using a new mask every day to work for that setting?
Yes this would apply to Walmart too. Basically anything that's not a construction type environment. Thanks for watching!
I agree that KF94s are great, but if we're talking about a solution that can genuinely scale to meet global demand, we need to talk about sealing flat surgical masks to users faces rather than assembling and forming these masks with complex shapes. KF94/N95/KN95s waste 20-40% of the material used to make them compared to surgical masks which have nominal material waste. What's more, surgical masks are less than half the price per unit. When combined with a re-usable mask fitter - you have a solution that can really scale.
Your degradation results are really surprisingly good - I would have expected the electrostatic charge to degrade much faster. Could you repeat your methods for a surgical mask? From our tests, masks with similar density melt blown fabric, but different electrostatic charges showed closer to a 40% reduction when tested to the NIOSH standard at 85 L/min compared to your 10% reduction. Do you think the difference here is that there is something special with KF94s, or that at low flow rates the differences aren't that apparent?
Totally agree with your analysis of the Danish Mask study. The quality of the source control is critical.
Totally agree with your stance on reusable masks as well - cost is prohibitive for the majority of the world, with nominal environmental impact benefit.
Thanks for putting out this content!
In regards to the degradation, my test is nowhere near the NIOSH spec of 200mg of NaCl since I am just breathing in ambient air in an office for 40hrs which will consistent of a lot of different materials. Most electrostatic media have a hard time with NaCl aerosols and static charge loss. Assuming a 14 breaths/minute, 0.5L tidal volume, and say 20 µg/m^3 office concentration, in 40hours we are talking 360 µg of mass collected so nearly 1/500th the amount of mass collected compared to the NIOSH spec,so I was not surprised that it still performed well. THe NIOSH standard is really meant for industrial use, which is why the mass collection requirement is so high. Probably doesn't make sense as a standard for a general population mask. The media used in KF94/FPP2/KN95/N95 masks is also better, and this is a by product the test requirements. The surgical mask requirements are much less stringent than KF94/FPP2/KN95/N95
In regards to the discussion of cost and meltblown usage, I would agree that a surgical mask is cheaper and uses less material, but also has much lower performance characteristics compared to KF94/FP2/KN94/N95 masks. We are about to get a flood of KN95's into the US so I am not sure that getting meltblown material is a really the constraint as much as it was in the spring.
Thanks for watching!
Have you tested cloth masks properly fitted with a non-woven filter layer made of oly-fun (polypropylene) or Halyard H600 Surgical Sheeting?
I am so glad I found your videos! We've been using surgical and cloth masks, in spite of the fact that I've had some nagging doubts about them, because of the fit issue. It's good to know there is an alternative to the N95s that need to be reserved for the heroes staffing our medical facilities. I do have one question. Having learned that doubling up surgical masks, or wearing a cloth mask over a surgical does not increase the effectiveness of either, I am wondering - is it safe to wear a cloth mask over one of the KF94s? I know my cloth masks aren't terribly effective, but they are pretty. >.
Thanks for watching! If wearing a cloth mask over the KF94/KN95 does not compromise the seal then its fine, but won't provide any extra protection. Mostly just for a fashion perspective.
Any other common vapour/fumes that would reduce the filtration/electrostatic? Just thinking about how much 70% ethanol and acetone vapour I'm exposed to at work.
How about easy flow usa personal air purifier attached to masks?
Thank you, this was very helpful. Can you recommend some brands that are smaller, for women?
Top Picks for Small Faces here-->ua-cam.com/video/Gu0GkjOpOj0/v-deo.html
Thanks for watching!
I love the BOTN kf94 mask in size medium. I'm a fairly petite woman. It's also highly adjustable! :)
Would be VERY interested in data regarding cleaning the masks in a solution of oxidative laundry detergent, or other cleaners (e.g., hydrogen peroxide/water solution of verious concentrations). Please?
To be frank I probably won't have time, I want to focus on keeping the supply chains fat with masks right now.
Is there a video of how a wearer's sneeze or cough (like my allergen-sensitive kid) affects the life of such masks? I think prior guidance was just to toss the mask after the wearer sneezes or coughs into masks.
I would love to know how many total hours one can wear the same N95 mask? I see articles saying 1 time, 3 times, 5 times, but wearing a mask in and out to pick up food is very different than hours indoors at work. Have you tested this? Is it the same as a KF94 in this regard (30-40 hours total before a decrease in filtration efficiency)? Thanks! You rock!!!
Thanks, this was great. You mentioned that there was tape you could use to try to seal around the nose/cheek to prevent eye-glass fogging. Do you have any suggestions for what type?
I have tried a few double sided medical tape and its way too sticky, it hurt to peel off. I haven't done much more searching, something I will keep me eye on to see if there is something a little less sticky.
@@coll0412 thanks
Please discuss electrostatic charge/ relevance to reusability. Reputable sources indicate that the charge strongly contributes to the effectiveness of the media to trap and suspend virus size particles.
According to the same sources, the static charge depreciates rapidly over a 24-hour use cycle and that alcohol washes in particular destroy the charge. I am not aware of anyone testing the process of static charge over time/use cycles.
So if the static charge degrades, and also the effectiveness of the filtration media over time, what does this effectively mean for overall safety, particularly on the subject of mask reuse?
Your thoughts?
From one nerd to another, I thank you for all of your efforts and your wonderful information which I'm sure has reduced illness and perhaps even deaths.
You should watch this whole video, it literally covers this exact discussion.
I’ve gone back into clinical work and feel that the surgical masks provided are not quite enough protection. Has anyone determined the best kf94 or kn95 masks that are an affordable price? Like $1.00 or less per mask?
What about for a barber? Thanks!
Is it possible to use a UVC box to effectively disinfect a kf94 mask instead of leaving them for 4 days?
Thanks for making this helpful video. I teach at a college in a regular classroom (not a lecture hall), and I think I will start using a KN95 and cycling through them until I am eligible for a booster. Is there information on whether sound will be muffled/inaudible with a KN95 compared to a surgical mask? I tried double masking with a cloth mask on top of surgical and that definitely muffles the sound a lot. Thanks!
No direct measurements, but yes masks that doesn't touch your lips and mouth don't muffle your speech. A big reason why KF94/KN95/N95's are so nice.
Thanks! I didn't know that, but it makes sense.
My family and I only buy mask from your recommendations. Thanks for the help! Would you happen to have a name for the Korean mask that doesn’t have the breathable nose interface? I’m turning into a mask nerd... 😃
If I ever run into again I will be sure to get it. I was deep into a KF94 search using Google Translate and have not been able to find it again as it was an all Korean text name. Will let you know if I do.
@Aaron Collins Have you tested the effect of a mask soiled with makeup (like foundation that has rubbed onto the mask from the face?) or from a drippy nose? Have you tested it while wet, and then again after the mask is to removed and dried?
TSC sells Tommie Copper reusable masks - assuming we have a good seal, are they good?
You should try a KF94 mask (a genuine KF94 is made in South Korea and certified by the KFDA) it's widely considered to be one of best type of mask in terms of protection and comfort because the mask is largely designed not to touch your mouth due to it's design which leaves a large pocket of open air in the middle of the mask.
I've been using mask extenders to tie the ear loops of my masks behind my head. This makes it more comfortable to wear my masks for long periods of time and also makes it easier for me to maintain a proper face fit. I guess mask extenders for ear loop masks might be a rough substitute for masks/respirators with headbands. However, I've never seen studies or experiments on how much (if any) improvement mask extenders have on ear loop masks (cloth, surgical, kn95, kf94, etc). Have you looked into this?
If you get a better face fit then you will improve the mask performance. The media of almost all KF94 masks is 99.8+%, so the dominant mechanism is leakage around the mask. If you reduce leakage you improve performance.
About a month after this video, the journal of JAMA Internal Medicine looked at how making modifications to cloth and surgical masks improved their filtration. They compared them to N95s. It included extending loops to back of head. The article is entitled "Evaluation of Cloth Masks and Modified Procedure Masks
as Personal Protective Equipment for the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic'". I would post the link but YT deletes any comment I have that posts links.
@@MrWebster helpful, thanks! Although it looks like even with modifications, neither cloth masks nor surgical masks are really that effective. They improve, but they're nothing like the kf94s. I have pretty much stopped using other masks and just reuse my BOTN masks! (Up to 40ish hours, of course).
Thanks for the great info, do you notice a difference in breathing efficiency/difficulty with extended mask use?
Thanks for putting the time into making these videos, they have been a big help. I was wearing N95's at work and reusing them/disinfecting them with UVC or heating them as per the data I have read. Switched to the BOTN and they are much more comfortable and affordable enough that I can use clean masks. Based on your data, I guess I should start cycling and reusing them and cut down the waste a bit.
I didn't do any pressure drop measurements but to be honest its certainly not noticeable after 40hrs, feels the same to me.
@@coll0412 Thanks, thats great, I will start cycling the masks!
What are your thoughts on dry heat decontamination? This is the first of your channel I've seen, so maybe you've discussed it, but there's been videos showing people sticking their N95's in their Instant Pots (in a nest of towels so the mask doesn't contact a heated surface) - The rule of thumb I heard was 100 degrees C for 50 minutes.
What I've been doing is wearing my Powecom one day at work, and then, because I notice after even a full day of wear the ear loops seem like they're not keeping the mask as snug, I tie a knot near the end of each loop to shorten it a bit, and at the end of the week when I have a handful of them in "used" condition, I Instant-Pot them.
I found my powecoms tended to leak at the nose bridge no matter how carefully I adjusted them, so I do add a foam adhesive strip to the inside of the mask on the nose-wire area, much like you'd see on some N95's and that seems tor really help the fit for my face. I re-wear it once and then trash it after the second wearing.
Here's a link to one publication that talks about the dry heat decontamination: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00534
Thanks for the channel, I'll be checking out some of your other videos!
From my perspective I just don't see the need to sterilize the masks, the virus dies on its own over 3-4 days, so simply letting the masks sit around for that amount of time is sufficient. I think all the different techniques(Dry Heat, H2O2, Microwave) all have impacts on the masks, even if small, and add a lot of complexity and if done wrong damage the masks. That's my perspective at least.
based on studies and studies on studies DRY HEAT at 165 degrees F for 35 minutes is ample for disinfection and importantly maintains fit for many cycles.
Been wearing the blunt black face fit! Quick question Aaron, I notice some KF94 masks other than bluna say “do not reuse, single use only” should that be alarming ? The bluna black is all Korean language so I can’t find that disclaimer, but should I be concerned or just wear a new mask everyday ?
Can re-use them with no issue. It's a requirement from their government to make them list it as single use only, plus it reduces liability on their end as well so lot of reasons for them to do it, but my tests have shown 40hrs with only limited change(in a clean office type environment).
God bless your soul
hi ! i lke your videos ! you are the best!!!!!! i would recomend you to check the laianzhi mask the model klt01 i read a report of cdc that those are 99 porcent! and that mask are just ffp2 , Laianzhi have a ffp3 model i would like to know the ffp2 ( klt01) and the ffp3 , this brand is so easy to find in aliexpress, so it is easy to buy for us in latinoamerica and i want to know if those mask are safe to buy in aliexpress and the batch are safe enough. thankyouuu!!!!!!!!!!!
No problem, could you share the aliepxress link you used? I have been trying to chase down a good vendor for these. I can't seem to get a good contact at them to see if they have a list of official distributors so that's where I have been hung up.
Hi Aaron-- Not sure if you're still checkin the comments on this. First of all: thank you for all of your mask videos-- they have done so much to help other people. I had a question about expiration dates: I received a bunch of masks recently with expiration dates that are about to pass. If the expiration date passes and the masks have been unopened in their packaging, does that affect their filtration efficiency (i.e., does the electrostatic media degrade)? If so, do you have a ballpark (or scientific) sense of what sorts of efficiency losses would occur within which time periods? Thank you again for what you do.
If they are in a sealed package I would have no worries about it. There have been studies to show no change to the filter media, it's really just the rubber in the ear loops that goes bad and that takes like 5+ years.
@@coll0412 Oh. Great! Thank you, Aaron!
Hi! Thank you for these videos! I'm wondering if there's a certain amount of time, no matter how little you've worn the mask, after which you should stop wearing the mask (like would the electrostatic media degrade)? For example, if I have mask that I use for grocery store trips, doctor's appts, etc., and I haven't hit the forty hour mark yet after say six months, can I still keep wearing it, or is a 40hrs OR x amount of months type of situation?
Let's say 6 months to be safe, but in general no they can last a really long time.
@@coll0412 Thank you!
Por favor poner subtítulos en español! 🙏
Thank you for your videos! I've been wearing 2 ply low thread count cotton masks on my bike rides in the park. It's outdoors, but I ride past joggers and cyclists, some of whom are not wearing masks. I feel the mask is well designed and has a good fit. Do you think that is enough protection? Also, what fo you think of using an ozone generator to cleanse masks?
I think that as long as you are maintaining some distance when passing you don't really need a mask at all in theory. So you wearing a well fitting cloth masks should provide you enough protection in this low risk situation, plus you are also providing great protection to others too. Plus its a good reminder to others that a pandemic is still going on(some people seem to have forgotten).
@@coll0412 that's very reassuring. Thank you for your prompt and thoughtful response. Keep up the good work!
Does UV-C light decrease the filtration level of the KF94?
I'm considering getting a UV-C sanitation box (fits things like keys, wallets or masks). But i have no idea if UV-C light has an effect on the electrostatic charge of the mask. Any thoughts on that?
Not sure to be honest, I find the cycling mask on a 4 day basis the easiest option.
Hi, I'm thinking about cycling the BOTN masks to reduce cost, what if I work at a job where I take the mask off and put back on about 4-5 times a day(retail job), can I still use it for 40 hours, that's about 20-25 times taking it on and off, I read on the CDC website for reusing N95s they only recommend about 5 times taking it on or off since the elastic wears off
With adjustable earloops you can adjust the tension over the life of the mask, so I see no issue with using it 40 hrs but taking it on and off many times. Will be fine
Is it ok to hang the mask on a coat rack or door knob or does it have to be stored in a bag? Would the ambient airflow in the room degrade the filtration media?
Nope should be just fine to do that. Thanks for watching!
The only time I've ever had a good seal is with with my Gerson half face respirator and the 3M 8214 I have at work (that we can't get more of). My nose is narrow and transitions into my face at too tight of an angle for a normal mask to seal. On top of that I wear glasses. Are there any options that are actually available to buy that will fit a shape like I have? Or should I just wear my half face respirator everywhere?
You have identified the biggest issues with face masks, that everyone has a different face. If I am understanding your description correctly you might want to consider either the Arun external nose bridge KN95, or the LG Airwasher Basic as both have very stiff nose clips that help seal around people with more "sharp" facial features
What about the issue of mildew growth from the super humid and hot environment from a full day of breathing in the masks?
I didn't notice anything from my masks after having worn many for 40+hrs each. I think since you can't really eat or drink with them on it really helps keep down the nastiness.
YESS both KF94 and KN95 can be worn up to 36hrs .in normal casual condition 👌👌👌