How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?

How many times can I reuse my N95 mask? Depends, but you should be able to wear the N95s and KN95s a few times.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says healthcare workers can wear the same N95 mask up to five times. But experts say how often an average person can put it on depends on how they use it.

Using the same mask to go to the supermarket, for example, is very different from doing it for an entire working day.

The amount of time a mask is worn is more important than how often it’s used, said Richard Flagan, who studies masks and sprays at the California Institute of Technology.

In general, he recommends limiting the use of an N95 to about two or three days.

Every time you breathe into one of these masks, particles build up on it, Flagan explained, adding that this could make it harder to breathe if you’ve already trapped a lot of particles. “They are degrading the performance of the mask,” Flagan said.

Also, the elastic band could wear out and not fit as well on your face, or it could get dirty or wet, especially if worn while exercising.

If you notice any of these changes in your mask, it’s time to stop using it, even if you’ve only been using it for a few hours. And since N95s can’t be washed, they should be thrown away once they’re unfit for use.