As simple as it sounds, washing your cloth masks with soap and water does the job in getting them sanitized.

“Warm water and any detergent you’re used to using at home should work great,” says Dr. Gabriela Andujar Vazquez, an infectious disease physician and associate hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center.

Cloth face masks can be hand-washed or tossed in a washer and dryer, depending on what you prefer or feel is most convenient. As for drying your cloth mask, it is perfectly okay to let it air-dry. Although, if prefer to be extra cautious, using a dryer on high heat can help to kill any potential residual bacteria or germs.

Important to note - like any other material, cloth masks can begin to break down with repeated use and washing. Be sure to look for any fraying or wear, as this can degrade the quality of the protective layer.