Disinfecting Face Masks
This post is about staying safe and about disinfecting face masks. A while back I shared a post on my Instagram @the.repurposing.life a tutorial for making your own DIY reusable face masks. I also share it here on my blog.
Soak face masks for at least 30 minutes in a solution of 1 g of 100% natural scallop shell powder and 1 L of hot water. Scallop shell powder makes for a strong alkaline pH balance, making this solution ideal for use as a disinfectant. After soaking, rinse thoroughly with plenty of water, and hang to air dry.
Scallop shell powder is effective in deodorizing, sanitizing, and removing bacteria from the surface of the fabric. Moreover, it’s a clever way to reduce (scallop shell) waste.
Note: scallop shell powder is a potent substance, you’ll need to be careful to remove all traces of it from the fabric, since your face mask will lay directly over your nose and mouth. Aspirating it could be harmful to small children as well as people with seafood or shellfish allergies.
In the absence of scallop shell powder (I’ve only seen it available in Asia and Australia), one could substitute white distilled vinegar, or (in extreme cases) bleach at a ratio of 1:1.