Cloth face coverings are acceptable to wear in most research and teaching laboratories at ASU. However, wearing a face cover in some laboratories may present an added hazard. Always follow the safety plan for each laboratory. When used correctly, cloth face coverings used in laboratories will not be contaminated with any laboratory materials since they are worn on the face and not in direct contact with lab equipment or materials. If hazardous materials are known to have made contact with the cloth face covering — e.g., an accidental splash on the face — then follow regular accident procedures and discard the face covering as hazardous waste and replace as necessary.
As an additional precaution, it is recommended that cloth face coverings worn in labs are washed separately from other laundry or that a pre-wash step is included. Several options for washing separately or including a pre-wash steps are listed below.
- Wash cloth face coverings separately from regular laundry. Wash with hot water and soap, or add bleach.
- Remove cloth face coverings in the lab after removing PPE and washing hands. Place them on a Ziploc bag. Pre-wash them by adding 1-2 teaspoons of soap, seal the Ziploc bag and rub the Ziploc bag from the outside to pre-launder the cloth face covering. Rinse with water and keep the cloth face covering in the Ziploc bag. Finish laundering them at home following the CDC instructions listed in the previous answer for hand washing or machine washing.
- Remove cloth face coverings in the lab after removing PPE and washing hands. Store them in a plastic bag. Hand wash them at home following the CDC instructions listed in the previous answer.
- Remove cloth face coverings in the lab after removing PPE and washing hands. Store them in a plastic bag. Soak them with bleach at home for 5 minutes following the CDC instructions listed in the previous answer. Wash them with regular laundry.
