We also aimed to cover a range of prices, widely available products in high street retailers, and some high-profile online-only brands. Why test reusable masks?

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See our face covering usage guide for advice on wearing and washing your mask properly. Glasses compatibility But measuring bacterial filtration efficiency allows us to get an idea of how well face coverings provide a barrier for particles.

Seven masks (results listed in the table above) failed our tests. We shared our results with the manufacturers or retailers, and these were their responses. Every time I walk in my home, the first thing I do is… wash my hands and then wash my glasses,” Horn said. Use soap and water to clean glasses

Does Wearing Glasses Protect You From Coronavirus? Does Wearing Glasses Protect You From Coronavirus?

It's available in kids, small/medium and large to suit different face sizes, and two colour options. The mix of cotton, polyester and a touch of elastane (spandex) means this face covering is soft, comfortable and a little stretchy. Our tests revealed that some reusable face coverings can do a good job of filtering particles, while being easy to breathe through. But others struggle to get the balance right. This can lead to your face covering becoming damp, which reduces the filtration efficiency. This is why we only gave top scores to face coverings which got the balance right. Our tests revealed significant differences in effectiveness between reusable masks. The best can be as effective as a disposable version, but the worst are nearly useless. In our second round of tests (May 2021), we included newer-style 'semi-reusable' face coverings, and ones with higher-spec filtration claims and antimicrobial properties.

Ultimately, glasses and masks don't mix - so none of the options are a magic solution for spectacle-wearers. But some are much better than others. Make sure to clean the nose pads, which touch the face constantly and can get dirty, and the edge where the lens meets the frame: “Lots of dust and debris can get trapped in that little space,” Horn said. We all want face coverings that can filter out as many germs as possible, but breathability is crucial too. Filtration efficiency is measured based on the percentage of colony-forming units of bacteria that were able to pass through the face covering.

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As well as core performance on filtration and breathability, we assessed how comfortable and well-fitting the masks were, and how they stood up to repeated use and washing.

Always rinse the lenses first with water to avoid grinding any particles that may be on the surface into the glasses and scratching them, Horn advised.

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The Big Silk and Superdrug were our two Best Buys that were least likely to steam up. The Big Silk, Airpop and Superdrug were the Best Buys that were rated 5/5 for comfort while wearing glasses. How we selected face coverings to test Another reason: People can actually go blind from rubbing their eyes because they can break down the front layer of the cornea, Horn warned. Bottom line: Maskari said its mask has been tested by Swiss labs, revealing good filtration results, and has been approved as a community mask in Switzerland, so were surprised by our results. It noted that its masks are treated with antimicrobial substance, that Which? tests do not take into account. A nose wire allows you to create a snug fit, but the adjustable ear loops can be a bit fiddly to get right. They're able to filter 93.8% of tiny particles when new and this doesn’t diminish after five washes.Reusable masks aren’t required to conform to specific standards like disposable masks are, although there is a voluntary standard in place, which is why we tested them during 2020/2021, when they were being recommended as a community health measure. We looked to include a range of face coverings made of different materials, numbers of layers and designs (eg pleated, molded, with filter, kids sizes available), to see which were most effective and comfortable. Many people use their breath to steam up the lenses to try to clean them. “Especially right now, you don’t want to breathe on your glasses,” Horn said, to avoid putting any germs on them. Don’t use rubbing alcohol or bleach to clean glasses Three people with different head shapes and sizes put each of the coverings on and then took them off again 80 times to simulate a month’s worth of wear, looking for signs of damage. The largest improvement was an increase from 7% filtration to 27%, but most only improved marginally. However, bear in mind that over a longer period of time it's possible the fabric will wear and become slightly less effective. So if your mask is starting to look worn out it's time to replace it.