No since with kn95 it may reduce efficacy like n95 so they don’t recommend. I used to double mask with suspect surgical mask (prob dust, thin from hardware store) when i was saving n95s to rotate in early 2020. If you want save n95s to rotate/reuse maybe?

Haven’t tried with kf94 but doesn't the cloth smoosh the kf94 into your face? If no good seal on the kf94 better not.

google// check the FDA /CDC site. has a list of approved Mask , and independent test performance results .
see here ...that 90 % of china made mask FAIL BFE / Filtration Efficiency (%) test vs the claim KN95/N95 standard etc...

imagine .. if 50 % of our covid cases are due to substandard mask and 20 % due to leaky mask . assuming all mask wearing.
IS this why our covid cases are so high .

those cheaper mask around 1 RM /a pc . i really doubt their BFE performance ..
and i notice on shopee they are sold by the thousands .

do not trust what sellers are saying/marketing data on their adverts .. without seeing some reliable verified test data .
your life may depend on this


This post has been edited by Momo33: Aug 29 2021, 12:52 PM

I wrong.
If you soap/wash and dry it away then test, maybe not accurate, normally will leak.

I think can't wash a mask, only before throw KN 95, in dry situation put the water and see how, this more accurate.

Above I just copy and paste and see other last update approx. wrote is Respack 5 layers not leak, but for me I don't know. I also don't know this kind leak is normal and still safe? I still question it.

Take a KN 95 put under the lamp light, can you see translucent lines and dots(mask pattern)?

This KN 95 or N95 only for 8 hours? If you using less than 8 hours, you will reuse again and again?

You wash/store 1 month of the KN 95/N 95, then when you wear 3 ply mask, you will take it over a 3 ply mask?
This is mean reuse KN 95/N 95 instead fabric cloth mask.
I think old KN 95/N 95 still more tie, not really effective but their material maybe better than fabric cloth mask, eco, save money and convenience. Do you think reuse KN 95/N 95 over a 3 ply mask(Outside can see 3 ply mask edges) is a good idea?

I worry do a fool thing, hope you and others can give some advise.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what pattern or lines you're referring to. I tried googling but all I got is light (as in candle fire) test where you try to blow it off.

I avoid reusing N95 after visiting high risk places, and I certainly will never wash N95 respirators, especially 3M respirators that use electrostatic material to trap particulates.

As for whether it's safe to reuse, nobody can tell you yes or no. Imo, the most basic thing to be aware is whether the inner side is contaminated when you remove or store the respirator, hence always remove the mask after sanitizing your hands and sanitize the hands after removing the mask. There's no way to know whether the outer side is contaminated, so to reuse or not is personal decision.

Also, kf94, kn95 and n95 are not supposed to be used together with another mask.

True make no sense to wash the mask then test. As washing you changing that composition of what's coming from the factory. Tbh since buy from 3M i don't bother testing. Once come home i throw away in a bin outside the door. Even want to handle cut to open check layers don't really want. For now just buy from reputable sources then don't need try test at home.

It's probably dumb but the best test for me is if i can't smell anything at all, then the mask is good enough for me. Put on once step out of house then don't take off until at front door at home.

For now since n95 and kn95 are plentiful for healthcare workers plus public, no need reuse. Whenever go grocery shopping for example, I wear one then throw. My husband unfortunately has a huge head so he finds them all uncomfortable & hates the double band behind head (plus stubborn) ... so when he go work he only wears a 4-ply medicos surgical mask. I did force him to wear a 3M n95 9010 when he go to PPV but it was tough going lol That's why I keep hunting for new masks as want him to have more protection daily. But it needs to be comfy and easy so lots of 'testing' i.e. buy and try. That's why the kf94s are appealing. Top runners are kf94s and the new 3m advanced filtering/9513 with hook but still trying convince him. So keep the kf94 recommendations coming ...

Your husband reminds me of my MIL. Bought a face shield for her after asking if she's willing to wear, but she complains it makes her feel stuffy. I don't know where the stuffiness comes from, it's not as if she is wearing full chemical suit with breathing apparatus.

As for tight masks, you can try stretching the headloops especially if it's 3M respirators. It helps to make it more comfortable. Unless he has abnormal head size, I don't understand why 3M respirators don't suit him. One basic characteristic of PPE is it is never designed to make wearers feel comfortable at the expense of protection.

It can be reused if u know how to handle it, mainly bcz our hands and the outer surface of the mask is contaminated.

If u wanna reuse, make sure
- do not touch the inner surface
- keep it inside a safety box
- wash ur hands and disinfect ur phones, wallets, keys. And go take a bath.

It all depends on one's risk appetite. If you assume that the loops are also contaminated, storing it inside a safety box - whatever that is - may introduce virus to the inner surface if the loops touch the surface. This is after taking the steps I described before.

And when wearing it, one needs to assume both his hands are contaminated and need to be sanitized.

Yep its quite technique sensitive. For normal person better just don't reuse. Reuse only for those who have enuf knowledge and are very careful with handling masks.

Exactly. That's why I advise my older folks back home to discard after every use. Whether they listen to me or not is another matter. You know lah...

Same lah my parents keep reusing their surgical masks too.

I looking for answer too~

The filtering performance is similar enough not to matter. The advantage of KF94 is that the Korean govt is more stringent in certification and punishing companies making fakes.

See the post above from Mushigen, he is right that n95, KN95, KF94 designs are not supposed to worn with another mask.

Actually is quite simply to identify the real KF94 facemask, if the mask is not approved by KFDA or made in Korea, technically it not KF94 mask!

Another tips is KF94 mask should have print out the manufacturer name and the address at the back of the enveloper.

You know... at some point its going to be cheaper to just get an elastomeric respirator.

https://shopee.com.my/3M-6200-RESPIRATOR-3M...9305&position=3

The benefit is that you don't even need to change the filters very often (stuff that gets stuck on the outer layer will just stay there), just wash the inner plastic part.

https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/1...245-020-00296-8

This post has been edited by Tachikoma: Sep 1 2021, 10:42 PM

Won't that be like "heavy" well bulky at minimum.

The half face one is alright, bulky yes, but not too heavy.

I use a full face mask XD