Masks > Care & Troubleshooting
3D Mask Care
Tips on washing, ironing, and small fixes to keep your mask looking great and feeling comfortable.
Washing and Drying
Masks should be washed frequently. I wash after every wear, no matter how brief. They can be machine washed (a mesh laundry bag is useful for this) but for best results, hand wash and reshape before air drying.
Hand wash in a sink or basin with a mild soap (I like a liquid Castile soap, either unscented or lavender) and rinse well. Reshape the mask while wet. First re-establish the horizontal creases by pulling taut from corner to corner on both the top and bottom of the mask. Then fold the mask in half and adjust the folds to the desired shape. Blot the reshaped mask in a towel, then hang by the earloops or lay flat to dry.
Ironing
I often like to iron my masks after washing to keep them crisp so they hold their shape away from the face. To do this, grasp the mask in the top corners in the folds to pull taut along the horizontal crease. Iron along the crease and all the way across the middle. Repeat on the other side. This resets the creases and also presses the center. If the sides are wrinkled, hang the middle of the mask off the corner of the ironing board and press. Do not iron the elastic.
Replacing adjusters
Pulled a little too hard on your slide adjuster? If you still have it, you can pull the elastic back through it by looping the elastic over a twist tie folded in half. Push the ends of the twist tie through the larger hole of the adjuster and pull the elastic through.
If you lost the adjuster, you could try the same technique with a craft bead instead, though it might not grip as well. Or simply tie an overhand knot in the elastic. Leave it loosely tied until you put on the mask, then tighten to the right fit.
Other fixes
Coming soon: tips on replacing wires or elastics if needed.