It’s Time to Switch to Medical-Grade Masks – Here’s Why

Face masks have kept us safe through the last two years, but with Covid’s Omicron variant spreading rapidly worldwide, you may need a face mask upgrade.

Wearing a mask creates a physical barrier that intercepts and stops droplets from spreading further into the air surrounding them as they usually would. A medical mask also works to protect any germs from your body spreading to other individuals and reduces hand-to-face contact.

According to health experts, the evidence is clear that masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and with more people wearing masks, the better. For example, a study in a Boston hospital showed that a mask-wearing policy dramatically reduced the transmission of Covid-19. The proportion of symptomatic healthcare workers who tested positive for the virus “steadily declined”.

Face masks that incorporate medical textiles through antibacterial and hypoallergenic fabric promote numerous health benefits. These properties further assist in killing microorganisms and germs that could bring on harmful illnesses and diseases. At Biomed, we manufacture and produce medical-grade masks with such antibacterial properties that provide outstanding comfort and eliminate the spread of germs, irritations and allergens.

 

What is the best face mask I can wear?

The best choice for a face covering is a medical mask, particularly one that utilises market-leading fabric facilities.

Buyers should keep in mind that some fabric face masks on the market are only decorative or aesthetic. In contrast to other face coverings such as a one-layer homemade mask or a bandanna, medical masks are more effective at blocking germs from spreading into your body through your nose and mouth whilst also blocking any germs from transmitting to other people.

While any mask is preferable to none, masks with exhalation valves should be avoided at all costs. Since the valves make the mask less effective in preventing the transmission of infectious particles to other people. Exhalation valve masks protect the user okay, but they do not prevent the wearer from spreading germs to others.

Here at Biomed, we are a leading manufacturer of medical-grade healthcare fabric products in Australia. We proudly hold one of the best medical grade textile ranges for reusable masks. With over 25 years of extensive experience and access to state-of-the-art technology, we like to ensure that our fabrics are of superior quality, antibacterial, breathable, latex-free, allergen-free, durable, and stretchy to provide maximum comfort and reliability for all uses.

Our textile manufacturing facility produces highly tested and engineered medical masks for all ages. We offer five different medical masks that are both reusable and that each provides for different usages;

  • Bioshield-05
  • 5-layer face mask
  • 7-layer face mask
  • Antibacterial face mask
  • 3-layer face mask

 

Why is Medical Grade Fabric Manufacturing Important?

All face masks aren’t all made equal, with different products offering varying levels of protection. So, how do you choose a face mask and what factors influence its effectiveness?

According to a recent study, the fabric manufacturing quality of a mask impacts how well the face-covering filters out pollutants. For example, a triple-layer medical mask with a heavyweight cotton layer and a lighter cotton or silk layer proved to be the most effective design in the study.

Healthcare fabrics sometimes referred to as healthcare textiles or biomedical textiles, are a form of technical fabric that prioritises functionality over aesthetics. A medical mask is a disposable, rectangular-shaped, loose-fitting mask. Elastic bands or ties can be wrapped behind your ears or tied behind your head to keep the surgical mask in place. A metal strip on the top of the medical mask may be squeezed to fit the mask over your nose.

Even minor variations in healthcare fabrics can have a significant impact on health. As a result, to ensure successful treatments of patients, all medical facilities require the use of high-quality face masks manufactured with healthcare fabrics.

So, when purchasing a medical mask, pay attention to the fabric since filtering capacity varies widely depending on the type of cloth used, ranging from 5% to 80%. Large-particle pathogens are less likely to spread via drips, sprays, splatters, and splashes when a three-ply medical mask is worn correctly.

 

How do I clean my reusable medical mask?

Your reusable medical masks should be washed every day, especially if you currently have a cold, flu symptoms, or hay fever. Ensure that you check how many times your face masks can be washed. Each reusable mask can only be cleaned a certain amount of times before being disposed of and moved to a new reusable mask.

Depending on the type of reusable face mask you own, each has different cleaning requirements. If you have purchased a mask from another manufacturer, it is recommended to research and find out what cleaning methods they recommend. The cleaning methods for Biomed’s reusable face masks range are outlined below.

 

  • 3-layer, 5-layer and 7-layer reusable masks

Ensure that you do not intensely rub the mask when cleaning your 3-layer, 5-layer, and 7-layer reusable masks, as this can cause the n-PTFE to fracture. Instead, spray the front and back of the mask with 75% alcohol and leave the alcohol on for an interval of 15 minutes. Wash the mask by hand, or if you choose to wash it in the washing machine, place the masks in a laundry net for protection and use an antimicrobial washing detergent. Be sure to dry the mask in a shaded area, avoiding contact with sunlight.

 

  • Bioshield-05 and antibacterial masks

To clean your Bioshield-05 and antibacterial reusable masks, you must boil enough water to cover the entire face mask. Immerse the whole mask into the boiling water and leave it to sit for 3 minutes. The water will be very hot during this process, so be careful that you do not come into contact with the water as you may burn yourself. Remove the mask from the water once it has cooled down. Once it has been cleaned, leave the mask to air dry.

 

Stay Safe with BioMed

Our medical-grade materials are only one example of Biomed’s high-quality work. At Biomed, our mission as a professional fabric manufacturing company is to create high-quality medical masks healthcare fabrics and produce superior fabric manufacturing, which is why we ensure that our business operations always align with our ISO 9001 certification for quality management.

As respectable CPAP mask manufacturers, our dedication to strict Australian medical fabric manufacturing standards demonstrates our products’ reliability and commitment to providing our customers superior products that offer a high level of comfort by minimising skin irritations, alongside antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties for safety and comfort.

By preventing germs and bacteria, the life of medical textiles  – such as CPAP masks, CPAP Chin Straps, Back Support Braces and many more CPAP Accessories – can be prolonged. The build-up of bacteria and germs can cause fabrics not of a medical-grade to deteriorate over time and become unsanitary and uncomfortable to wear.

At Biomed, we have a longstanding partnership with ResMed CPAP Supplies to supply medical textiles for their products, which have offered superior patient comfort for decades. To find out more information on our full range of CPAP Accessories, Face Masks and other Medical Fabrics, please contact our team of Biomed medical fabrics and materials experts on (02) 9758 3855.