With the apparent waning of the COVID pandemic, people may be wondering what to do with the masks they've acquired over the past 2 years, including cloth masks, which for many months have not been recommended to prevent transmission of the COVID-causing virus.
Because it is certainly possible that another variant will arise, clinicians should advise patients (and family and friends) to keep any unused, high-quality masks (eg, N95 or KN95) and store them in a dry, cool, safe place. Those masks will certainly be good to have if someone develops an immunosuppressing condition that puts them at higher risk for any sort of respiratory infection.
For the rest of those masks, rather than tossing them in the trash, here are some suggestions.
DO:
Use them when doing things in dusty/musty unfinished basements, attics, or garages. Dust, fungi, or other things that might be floating around such places — or stirred up by cleaning or moving things stored there — are much bigger than the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, those old, used, or less protective masks will be of benefit and can help prevent triggering allergies, asthma, or other respiratory ailments.
Use them when gardening or mowing the lawn if you have allergies or asthma triggered by pollen, etc.
