Your N95 respirator guide: The right way to wear and reuse
This guidance is not for use in health care settings. See resources on using N95 respirators in a health care setting.
The federal government is sending free N95 respirators for adults to pharmacies across the country. If you're new to N95 masks, we've got guidance for using and reusing N95 masks effectively.
An N95 respirator offers the best protection compared to cloth masks and surgical masks. "Surgical masks have a much lower filtering ability than respirators, followed closely by high-quality cloth masks," explains James Lawler, MD, MPH. "Fit is the most important factor in a mask's ability to protect yourself and those around you."
Ensure your N95 fits well (and gets a good seal) by following these steps.
How to wear an N95 mask
- Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands
- Grasp the mask by the bands
- Place over face, avoid touching the front of the mask
- One band should sit at the crown of the head; one at the nape of the neck. The bands should not cross
- Press the nose piece to mold your face. Check for a tight fit
- Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands
How to remove your N95
- Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands
- Remove the mask by handling the bands
- First, move the band at the nape of the neck to the front
- Then move the band at the crown of the head to the front
- Don't touch the mask
Reusing N95 masks
How long can you reuse your N95 respirator? It depends:
- If it remains clean, you can wear continuously for one week
- If wearing for errands, the mask can be worn for longer than a week
- Discard the N95 when it becomes visibly wet, overly damp, torn or soiled with secretions
Keep your mask clean for reuse
- Place on a clean paper towel, exterior side facing down
- You can also store it in a paper sack. Make sure the front of the mask is always placed on the same side of the bag
- Do not store your mask in a purse, backpack, glove box or airtight container
- Do not wash, rinse or disinfect your N95
Where to get your free N95
The free N95 respirators for adults are available through the federal retail pharmacy program. Some pharmacies have already received their shipment of N95 masks, while others will in the coming weeks. The program offers up to three N95 masks per person for free.
Local participating pharmacies include:
- Baker's
- Costco
- CVS
- Hy-Vee
- Walgreens
- Walmart
See a one-page N95 respirator guide, perfect to share with friends and family. You can also print and display it for reference.
