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For your safety and the safety of those around you, we have put together some recommendations on how to best clean your masks. Please be aware, that there are important differences as described below.
Note our recommendations cannot guarantee the complete disinfection of your mask.
Fabric masks
Fabric face masks can be cleaned using your Siemens washing machine.
We only recommend washing programmes with a temperature of 60°C or higher, as these programmes maintain this temperature level for a longer period. This includes the following washing programmes: Cottons 90°C as well as the programme Hygiene 60°C which is offered as an option on some models. Please always use the above programmes in combination with a bleach-containing heavy-duty detergent to achieve a corresponding bacterial and virus-reducing effect.
We strongly advise against sanitizing face coverings of any kind by heating them in household appliances such as ovens or microwaves. We expressly point out that complete disinfection cannot be guaranteed by this.
Medical, PPE and FFP masks
- Respirator masks in the FFP category cannot be cleaned or sterilized with Siemens appliances.
- Only use FFP masks according to the specific manufacturer recommendations.
- Please don’t try to wash FFP masks in a washing machine or disinfect them in a microwave or an oven.
Surgical masks
- Surgical masks cannot be cleaned or sterilized with Siemens appliances.
- Only use and clean surgical masks according to the respective manufacturer's instructions.
- Do not wash surgical masks in a washing machine or disinfect them in an oven or a microwave.
Read our official statement.
BSH Statement on washing/re-using masks
As of May 6 2020
In connection with the wearing of masks, there is also the question of correct cleaning and reuse.
Basically the following applies: Masks that fall into the category of personal protective equipment (PPE, so-called FFP masks) are marked with the official CE symbol in Europe. [other jurisdictions have comparable certificates of conformity, e.g. NIOSH in the USA]. For all products with a CE marking, the manufacturer's instructions must be observed. This applies in particular with regard to cleaning and reuse. Products that are suitable for cleaning and/or reuse are marked accordingly by the manufacturer. These masks must only be cleaned in accordance with the respective instructions of the mask manufacturer.
We strongly advise against cleaning/disinfecting masks of any kind by heating them in household appliances such as ovens or microwaves. These devices are not intended for such use. Furthermore, we do not have any information that would indicate that the viruses can be reliably killed by heating. In addition, the masks can be damaged by the heating to such an extent that their protective effect is no longer guaranteed. Finally, in the worst case, serious equipment damage, up to and including equipment fire, can occur if the equipment is used improperly (e.g. heating of metal parts of the mask in the microwave).
Mouth and nose protection masks (MNS, surgical masks) are not respiratory protection in the strict sense and therefore do not fall under the PPE Ordinance. However, even for these MNS masks, only the manufacturer can decide whether and with which process steps reprocessing and/or reuse is permissible, if necessary. It is therefore essential that the manufacturer's instructions are also observed. These masks must only be cleaned in accordance with the respective instructions of the mask manufacturer.
We strongly advise against cleaning/disinfecting masks of any kind by heating them in household appliances such as ovens or microwaves. These devices are not intended for such use. Furthermore, we do not have any information that would indicate that the viruses can be reliably killed by heating. In addition, the masks can be damaged by the heating to such an extent that their protective effect is no longer guaranteed. Finally, in the worst case, serious equipment damage, up to and including equipment fire, can occur if the equipment is used improperly (e.g. heating of metal parts of the mask in the microwave).
The mouth and nose covers, which are now widely used and often made of fabric by the wearers themselves, are not PPE and, like other textiles made of the same fabric, can be cleaned using standard household methods.
We only recommend washing programmes with a temperature of 60°C or higher, which maintain this temperature level for a longer period of time. This includes the following washing programmes: Cottons 90°C as well as the programme Hygiene 60°C, which are offered as an option on some models. The programmes must be used in combination with a bleach-containing heavy-duty detergent to achieve a corresponding bacterial and virus-reducing effect. We expressly point out that a complete disinfection cannot be guaranteed by this.
