Forum home The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Covid-19

1449450452454455919

Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited February 2021
    The virus can't survive on fabric or paper for very long, but for peace of mind I would thoroughly iron them at a high temperature, and then leave on a radiator for several days. Would it not be better to use washable masks though? Perhaps you could keep the disposable ones as 'backup'
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Here’s something I don’t understand. The advice is to wash our hands in warm soapy water for 20 seconds. But when it comes to masks I constantly read they ought to be steamed or washed at a high temperature, then ironed and quarantined for good measure. Why is it so much more difficult to shed the virus from fabric compared to shedding it from your skin?
    Rutland, England
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Skin is very well designed to keep the outside world at bay and is easy to clean. Virus particles are orders of magnitude smaller than fabric fibres so are much harder to wash away. Fabric is like a gigantic forest for virus to hide in.
  • At long last the infection rate is coming down here.  The London news finally said the infection rate among a certain community in N London has been up to 60%. This is what we suspected,  but I think it was considered sensitive to say it out loud for fear of being accused of a form of racism. 
    AB Still learning

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    BenCotto said:
    Here’s something I don’t understand. The advice is to wash our hands in warm soapy water for 20 seconds. But when it comes to masks I constantly read they ought to be steamed or washed at a high temperature, then ironed and quarantined for good measure. Why is it so much more difficult to shed the virus from fabric compared to shedding it from your skin?
    I guess you don't really want to immerse your hands in boiling hot water several times a day! 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    We've been hanging our disposable masks to dry out and then re-using them since last March with no problems. We ditch them occaisonally and wear new ones. We haven't been in high risk areas though.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Just had a text from UCLH offering me a  vaccine.  Even if I was still waiting,  the last thing I would want to do is get on the Northern line and go there for it.
    AB Still learning

  • Are we still on lock down?I only ask as my 86 year old mother has taken her friend to a garden centre today.had such a lovely time.her friend had a bad reaction to the vaccine and came out in a rash and her eyes are still puffy.i didn't know what to say...i know they've both had the vaccine but...?!
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Yes we are still on lockdown so that really wasn't a good idea. It also takes around 3 weeks (possibly longer for the very old) before they will develop protective antibodies after vaccination so they should still be staying inside until at least 3 weeks after their second jab.
  • They had it 3 weeks ago this Friday.i was hoping she would at least wait until then.i didn't know what to say..
Sign In or Register to comment.