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In reply to the discussion: Making Masks Active with Soap to Protect Against Coronavirus [View all]frazzled
(18,402 posts)61. My understanding
of the efficacy of soap, at least with respect to hand washing, is that the soap does loosen the casing of the virus, but it is the rubbing (remember the 20 second rule) that dislodges the virus particles so that they then can be RINSED away.
Leaving soap in your mask without scrubbing or rinsing sounds useless and dangerous. We have 3M fabric masks that specifically instruct you to immerse in neutral soapy water and rub the surfaces together and rinse thoroughly. Thats what I do and will continue to do.
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That makes sense. I think I will start not rinsing mine as well as I have been.
cayugafalls
May 2020
#3
Soapy wipes are great for replacement disinfecting wipes when no other option exists.
cayugafalls
May 2020
#40
Old teeshirts, old blouses, old jeans, slacks, shorts, even cotton underwear will work just fine. nt
Blue_true
May 2020
#56
Or soaking the middle layer in soapy solution and letting it dry, then stitching it in.
cayugafalls
May 2020
#7
I think you are right. The researchers seem to be focusing on a middle layer
cayugafalls
May 2020
#38
Am I right in thinking that a "deodorant" type soap, rather than a facial soap,....
EarnestPutz
May 2020
#13
I said "may be marginally more effective", referred to the process by which soap...
EarnestPutz
May 2020
#34
So.....what if you just spray the outside of the mask with the same cleaner you use on countertops ?
Bayard
May 2020
#14
I spray mine with alcohol and let it dry. I have 3 N95 masks. Typically, a mask dries
Blue_true
May 2020
#52
I sure hope they do toxicology studies regarding inhalation of soap molecules before this idea
diva77
May 2020
#16
I've probably ingested a crap load of soap in my youth, seems I had a potty mouth.
cayugafalls
May 2020
#24
A front-line worker wears a mask directly over nose & mouth for hours at a time - so the exposure to
diva77
May 2020
#25
I'm wondering if the water vapor from breathing might provide the moisture needed.
Hugin
May 2020
#20
Rinsing, even in a washing machine, doesn't always get all the soap out of wash loads, anyway
eleny
May 2020
#49
The lungs function by adsorbing oxygen via surfactant - so I hope whatever this soapy mask idea is,
diva77
May 2020
#23
Please do not ingest soap or think that making a SOAPY mask is the intent of this OP, it is not.
cayugafalls
May 2020
#36