What are you doing to improve your chance of good outcome with covid-19?

[horsepower]

I found it on google search pretty easily
Fastcompany.com
@How to decontaminate an N95 mask in 3 minutes. “
Other Harvard study references as well.

 

[bojangle]

I thought that realistically the virus was unlikely to survive (in a state where it could produce an infection) beyond a few hours, especially if in direct sunlight. All the sterilization talks seems like overkill

I've been reusing N95s for work. Most of the time, while in public outside, or even to pick up food, I'm just wearing a cloth mask. I'll wear an N95 for higher exposure activities, such as when someone is in custody in the car, at the hospital, or in the jail. Also try to use it when going into residences, especially if it's to deal with a volatile situation. So I'm not wearing them all day long. Sometimes it's not at all. Sometimes it's just one, or several short times per day. Sometimes it's prolonged for a few hours.

As far as trying to keep safe while reusing them, I am rotating 3 masks in 3 paper bags. If I wear a mask at all during a shift, the following day it goes to the back of the line and I select the next one. That way there's a minimum of 60 hours before I will use the mask again on a separate day (though some days I don and dof it several times). It's usually going to be longer than that between uses. I'm hoping this will make it relatively safe to reuse masks for a period of time. The question is also, how long before discarding? With the first batch, I did 2 months of rotating before discarding them and getting three new ones.

 

[Climber]

I've been reusing N95s for work. Most of the time, while in public outside, or even to pick up food, I'm just wearing a cloth mask. I'll wear an N95 for higher exposure activities, such as when someone is in custody in the car, at the hospital, or in the jail. Also try to use it when going into residences, especially if it's to deal with a volatile situation. So I'm not wearing them all day long. Sometimes it's not at all. Sometimes it's just one, or several short times per day. Sometimes it's prolonged for a few hours.

As far as trying to keep safe while reusing them, I am rotating 3 masks in 3 paper bags. If I wear a mask at all during a shift, the following day it goes to the back of the line and I select the next one. That way there's a minimum of 60 hours before I will use the mask again on a separate day (though some days I don and dof it several times). It's usually going to be longer than that between uses. I'm hoping this will make it relatively safe to reuse masks for a period of time. The question is also, how long before discarding? With the first batch, I did 2 months of rotating before discarding them and getting three new ones.

If you put it into a sealed plastic bag on your dashboard, it will get up to a high temp that should kill off the virus much quicker. You probably already knew that, but thought I'd mention it for others as well.

 

[bojangle]

If you put it into a sealed plastic bag on your dashboard, it will get up to a high temp that should kill off the virus much quicker. You probably already knew that, but thought I'd mention it for others as well.

I probably didn't already know this.

1) Would temps get high enough to kill the virus?

2) It won't breathe. Is that an issue?

From what I recall reading, it seems time will kill it. It also seems letting the mask dry out was beneficial and would help kill it as well. Antibacterial/antimicrobial sprays should not be used as they will degrade the electrostatic charge placed on the N95 filters that help capture particles.

 

[Blankpage]

Just diluted my 2.5 litres of 99% alcohol to 70%.
Seems 99% is all I can get in my hood. That in addition to the few bottles of 70% I had already should tie me over for a while.

I carry that shit in the car and on the bike for hand washing after gas pumps and such public contact objects.

 

[Climber]

I probably didn't already know this.

1) Would temps get high enough to kill the virus?

2) It won't breathe. Is that an issue?

From what I recall reading, it seems time will kill it. It also seems letting the mask dry out was beneficial and would help kill it as well. Antibacterial/antimicrobial sprays should not be used as they will degrade the electrostatic charge placed on the N95 filters that help capture particles.

What may work even better would be one of those plastic black containers that frozen lasagna comes in (or smaller, but black plastic), I used to dry my mint leaves in a window in those, took about a day to dry the leaves, and that was with a vertical window. Drying out the virus is the key and something in those containers will definitely heat up well beyond what the rest of the car will.
Maybe there is an opportunity for an enterprising individual to make mask boxes for putting on the dash of your car with a black base and a plastic top with some vents to allow the moisture to escape.

 

[CDONA]

Working with N95 charcoal filtered, I bought back during a Ca. fire couple years ago.
Using 120 Everclear as a spritz, I lightly spritz the filter both sides, let dry.
The electrostatic treatment for dust particles? I'm worried about droplets, and a dry mask.
The alcohol really freshens up the filter smell thru the charcoal.
& hiding out in southern Humbolt, 4 known cases.

 

[horsepower]

Working with N95 charcoal filtered, I bought back during a Ca. fire couple years ago.
Using 120 Everclear as a spritz, I lightly spritz the filter both sides, let dry.
The electrostatic treatment for dust particles? I'm worried about droplets, and a dry mask.
The alcohol really freshens up the filter smell thru the charcoal.
& hiding out in southern Humbolt, 4 known cases.

I think charcoal filtered masks are R 95s?

 

[CDONA]

Upon inspection, you are correct, R95