Wearing a face mask inside your car can help to limit the spread of coronavirus, especially when you are travelling with others. It’s always a good idea to keep a few extra masks in your car as a backup. But you must store face masks in a sanitary way. So, how should you store face masks in your car?
The best way to store a face mask in a car is to put it in a tightly sealed back in the glove compartment. Spraying products such as Glen20 in the bag will keep your mask protected from germs while it is stored away. You can use storage this method for both clean and used masks in two separate bags.
Let’s talk more about face masks in your car.
How to store clean masks in the car
Having spare clean face masks in your car is a great idea in case you ever need one. You should be sure to store them properly to stop germs from contaminating them before they are even worn. To do this, store face masks in a sealed container or bag in the car. We recommend using a tightly sealed bag and keeping this in your glove compartment. This way, the bag doesn’t take up much space in the car and you can keep your face masks clean. It also helps to know exactly where the face masks are in your car so you don’t have to go fishing around for them.
You can also use products such as Glen20 to give your masks an extra coat of protection. Glen20 has been found to help prevent the spread of lots of germs, including coronavirus. You can spray the clean masks with this before putting them in a sealed bag. When you go to use these masks that you stored in your car, they will still be fresh from the Glen20.
Remember to not store clean masks with worn masks in your car. This will cause contamination of the clean masks. Instead, you can keep two sealable bags in your car: one for new/clean masks and one for dirty/worn masks. You should label them so that you can easily recognize which is which. This helps you keep more germs at bay and clean face masks stored in your car.
How to store dirty masks in your car
It’s best not to store dirty masks in your car, otherwise, you could spread germs everywhere. People have a tendency to pace their used masks on the dashboard, in the glove compartment, or in the cupholder. Others hang used masks on their rearview mirror. This can spread viruses and bacteria to surfaces in your car where they linger. Soon enough, the bacteria will infect your body and you can become sick even after trying to avoid it by wearing a mask.
If you are taking a dirty mask off in the car, put it in a sealable bag and take them out of the car as soon as you can. If you are using disposable masks, throw them away according to sanitary guidelines. If you buy reusable masks, you should wear them, store them in a sealable bag until you get home, then take them straight to the wash. You want to have used masks in your car for as little time as possible to continue to protect your health.
How not to store face masks in a car
Keeping your used face mask on a surface of the car can increase the risk of contamination. If your face mask has been contaminated with coronavirus, it will also spread to the surfaces of the car. This causes the germs to ultimately reach you as you drive around. This is why you need to store both new and used masks in the correct way. Always make sure to avoid these storing methods:
- Tucking your face mask into the glove compartment
- Keeping your face mask under your car seat
- Hanging your face mask in the rearview mirror
- Keeping your face mask on the dashboard
Some people claim that placing face masks on the dashboard can expose them to sunlight, which will kill germs on them. But this is not a reliable way to clean face masks. For sunlight to kill the virus, you need a temperature of 55°C for at least 30 minutes. There is no guarantee that the temperature in your vehicle will reach 55°C or that sunlight will touch all areas of the masks.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what type of face mask you have, you shouldn’t store used face masks in your car. This helps to further protect you from germs and diseases. Definitely do not store clean face masks and used face masks together in a car.
Protecting yourself from coronavirus in your car
Here is our best advice to keep yourself protected from coronavirus while travelling in a car:
- Always clean your car thoroughly after each journey, using disinfectants, and wearing protective gloves. Focus on common touchpoints (steering wheel, door handles, dashboard, seat belts, etc.)
- Remember to wear a face mask whenever you are travelling with other people.
- At fuel pumps, wear a mask and protective gloves. If you are refuelling, make sure to disinfect the fuel pump before you touch it and clean your fuel port with disinfectants.
- When you’re travelling with others, keep your windows open, at least just a bit, to facilitate the flow of air.
- When you are using air conditioning inside the vehicle, make sure that it’s not in the recirculating air mode.
- Always wash your hands after the trip.
Do you have to wear a mask in the car?
If you are driving alone, you don’t need to wear a face mask in the car. When you’re travelling with others that you live with, you also don’t have to worry about wearing a mask. If you’re in a car with people that you don’t see often, or that you don’t really know, you might want to wear a mask. This is just a precaution to protect yourself from any germs they may be carrying.
The regulations on masks in cars are different in all areas and continue to change. The best thing you can do is whatever makes you feel comfortable. If you feel safer wearing a mask in the car, then go ahead. If someone asks you to pop a mask on, do it to keep everyone safe and stress-free.
When to wear a mask in your car
Here we have some instances where you might consider wearing a face mask in the car:
- When you’re giving someone a lift.
- When you are carpooling or ride-sharing.
- When you are rolling down your window at a drive-through.
- When you’re making deliveries and several stops in one trip.
It’s tempting to remove your face mask when you are in the car. As we explained before, it’s all right to be without your face mask when you are travelling alone. But always keep a few extra masks in your car for emergencies. You never know when you have to make a stop or give someone a lift on the way. You should also remember to store your worn mask in the correct way. All of this is a way to help protect yourself against germs, especially during cold and flu season.
Looking to stock up on face masks? Check out our range of quality face masks at Paragon Tools. We have KN95 masks available, as well as reusable cloth masks for adults and reusable masks for children.
