Yes you can reuse "disposable" masks.

[motodraconis]

Useful info thread... you can re use "disposable" masks. I have been doing so, but I am now going to really reuse them and rotate, as the environmental aspect of throwing them away had been bugging me

Comments

[kurikuribebi]

I was reusing for a while, but it started doing heavy damage to my skin. Unless I wear them for only a short time, I toss them out after. Most of my masks now, save for the ones mandated by my hospital, are cloth though.

[motodraconis]

Humidity might be a factor where you are perhaps? It's pretty dry in climate where I am and I can dry out and rotate to keep bacteria and mould at bay.

[kurikuribebi]

Maybe. I'll look in to it! Have to admit I've never heard of humid winters though, lol.

[beauty_forashes]

I always rotate and re-use mine, have all along.

[meathiel]

I re-use mine as well when I've only worn them a short time ... which usually is the case, when I just pop into a store or something.
Cloth masks haven't been allowed in Germany since last spring anyway. (*cries* All my fun cloth masks! Some I've not even worn!!!)

[giggly_teapot]

It is a shame about the German laws, nearly all of material masks have a pocket for filters but the filters are now quite hard to get hold of, but fortunately I have a couple of packets.

[dadi]

I do throw away the ones I use during my shifts at the vaccine clinic but yes, those I wear for shopping and other shorter uses are always kept for a longer time!

[luxmarina]

During this entire pandemic, I have never used a disposable mask only once. The first masks I ever bought were cloth masks, but it was summer and I noticed I got really hot in them. I find it also easier to breathe with those disposable surgical masks, as they are lighter.
There was a study already the other year, that proved that disposable masks are as protective and effective up to 10 washes! However, I've noticed that the wire tends to slip out after a few washes in the washing machine so I haven't even got them to last up to 10 washes (I've got tired of boiling them in a pan and rinsing by hand, so I just toss them in a laundry bag in the washing machine and run the 95° cycle with bedding and/or towels...)