Are moisture wicking masks less effective?
March 28, 2021 8:25 PM Subscribe
A lot of masks are made of moisture wicking fabric. That certainly makes them more comfortable to wear. But does it make them less effective?
My understanding is that moisture wicking fabric draws water along its fibers until the water evaporates. Wouldn't a moisture wicking mask pull your saliva to the outside of the mask? Could it release virus that way?
My understanding is that moisture wicking fabric draws water along its fibers until the water evaporates. Wouldn't a moisture wicking mask pull your saliva to the outside of the mask? Could it release virus that way?
the hydrophilic properties of a surgical mask are for trapping the droplets and germs to which they are attached from your breathing/talking. this explainer seems pretty good to me but im not an expert.
I think you are conflating "moisture wicking" as it is usually used to describe technical or athletic fabric properties and the moisture droplets from breath as they relate to medical mask functions. If the mask you are wearing gets wet (particularly common in cold weather) the cdc advises you to change out of it : A wet mask is harder to breathe through, is less efficient at preventing your respiratory droplets from reaching others, and allows for more respiratory droplets to escape around the edges of the mask. It is especially important to have one or more replacement masks during cold weather. If your reusable mask becomes wet, put it in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash it.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:43 AM on March 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think you are conflating "moisture wicking" as it is usually used to describe technical or athletic fabric properties and the moisture droplets from breath as they relate to medical mask functions. If the mask you are wearing gets wet (particularly common in cold weather) the cdc advises you to change out of it : A wet mask is harder to breathe through, is less efficient at preventing your respiratory droplets from reaching others, and allows for more respiratory droplets to escape around the edges of the mask. It is especially important to have one or more replacement masks during cold weather. If your reusable mask becomes wet, put it in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash it.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:43 AM on March 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Surgical masks don't claim to be made of moisture wicking fabric. To clarify, I'm asking about masks that are advertised as "moisture wicking". Ex: the Under Armour sports mask (at least one layer "wicks sweat"), or these Hanes masks, or all these Etsy results.
posted by henuani at 10:57 AM on March 29, 2021
posted by henuani at 10:57 AM on March 29, 2021
Sadly, all of those are likely to be much less effective than a high quality multilayered mask. Ideally you want a N95/KN95 mask or if you cannot find one a surgical mask.
Here is a good round up of some of the evidence: "Why Aren’t We Wearing Better Masks?
Cloth masks are better than nothing, but they were supposed to be a stopgap measure."
posted by vegetableagony at 9:19 AM on April 2, 2021
Here is a good round up of some of the evidence: "Why Aren’t We Wearing Better Masks?
Cloth masks are better than nothing, but they were supposed to be a stopgap measure."
posted by vegetableagony at 9:19 AM on April 2, 2021
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posted by henuani at 1:58 AM on March 29, 2021