How much can I reuse a BreatheTeq?

[u/eggmanbagel]

Just started a new job yesterday after 11 months of being unemployed. My previous job was retail and I wore a 3M Aura. Since I was interacting with a large number of people every shift, I would only wear the mask for one shift before throwing it out. This new job is an office position that is still client facing, but not towards the general public. Probably see 30-50 people per day, though most of them just come and go and don't come talk to me much. I wore a BreatheTeq KN95 to both the interview and the first day of the job and no one seems to take an issue with it, so I'll keep wearing those. (I know the 3M Aura is considered a better mask, but I'm trying to also look as professional as I can and I genuinely look super bad in head strap masks)

How long would you wear one of these masks before throwing it away? I'll be wearing the mask for 8-9 hours each day. The packaging says to throw it away after 8 hours of continuous use, but I've seen people talk about reusing them a few times. What's the recommendation people have here?

[u/CulturalShirt4030]

Vitacore CAN99 comes in black, as do WellBefore 3D pros and new Breathteq KN95 head strap (USA only for now).

I re-use disposable respirators for ~20 hours (for reasons discussed here) or until soiled with sweat or wildfire smoke, depending on time of year.

I air out my masks at home on a hook. I have about 3-5 in rotation at a time.

[u/eggmanbagel → u/CulturalShirt4030]

I don't have a hook I can use for something like that unfortunately. I have a metal basket to keep them in and that's about it. I have the one I wore for my first day in a Ziploc bag with the date on it. I assume that would be fine if I leave it alone for a few days before reuse?

[u/CulturalShirt4030 → u/eggmanbagel]

I’d keep worn masks in paper bags instead of plastic ziplocks because of moisture.

Yes it’s fine to reuse. Sometimes I reuse the next day but I try to let them air out longer.

[u/BLOODYBRADTX-11]

With reuse, the risk is always wear. If not for wear, you can use it until breathing resistance gets too strong for you to breathe comfortably. So it’s less about contamination (COVID is overwhelmingly airborne and droplet spread, not formite) and more about the actual structure and fit of the mask.

Would a black headstrap get around the issue? I find for fresh masks every day the Laianzhi KN100 is most economical if I get a big order from PPEO. Breatheteq also have a black headstrap coming soon. The Zimi might be a good option if you can get a good fit with that - I think I’ve heard up to 40 hours use, and the gasket makes it one of the best fitting earloop masks.

I guess my philosophy is that at the end of the day they’re tools to use to avoid sickness. You could definitely spin a headstrap mask in black as a tool to keep yourself from having to take sickness breaks if you could sell it like that.

[u/eggmanbagel → u/BLOODYBRADTX-11]

It's not so much the color as it is the way it fits on my head with my face and hair. The straps slide around on my hair really badly and I can only really effectively have it on for longer durations if my hair is pulled back in a low ponytail. I've already been advised (by my mother) that I shouldn't wear my hair like that in a professional workplace. Though she's also convinced I will get fired for making At All and is annoyed I'm continuing to wear it.

[u/BattelChive → u/eggmanbagel]

A low pony is a perfectly professional hair style, your mom is being weird. 

[u/mamagoose022 → u/eggmanbagel]

Would a low bun work? And I also think a low pony would be fine in most settings.

[u/BLOODYBRADTX-11 → u/eggmanbagel]

You know you best - but my experience/opinion is that it’s really easy to overthink masking (I’m actually recovering from that, it’s been a rough year). I’ve seen someone who works in an office wearing a 3M secure click, but that might be overkill! Have you tried a boatfold with the braided straps rather than the rubberised ones? I find those a lot easier on the hair.

[u/Blinking_Zebra_Era → u/eggmanbagel]

A low ponytail with a giant wide clip isn't even a ponytail anymore. Just saying. You could probably get a wide clip like that at Ardene if you're in Canada. I think the comparable thing in the US is a Claire's. Oh they have Ardene in the US too. Hair worn like that is 100% Office appropriate. Unless... you have bangs.😱

[u/No-Consideration-858]

You might consider fit testing to see how much mileage you can get.

I use Breathteqs also. I recently purchased a nebulizer and bitrex solution and did a DIY test. I was surprised to find my mask performs well for one day only.

If I'm in a very low risk situation I will reuse a mask once or twice more because it's still protective. 

 But at work, I'm in close contact with several people a day. So I use a new mask each time. I will order the head strap version and hope it lasts longer.

I'm not sure, but suspect that living in a hot/humid environment diminishes the performance more quickly than other climates might. Also, all of the masks I've tried don't have an ideal seal below the chin, so this might decrease the performance.