Cleaning your face mask thoroughly may be incredibly important, but so too is storing it in a safe and hygienic way.

“If you take your mask off for whatever reason, make sure to store it properly until you get home to wash it,” Dimitrov says. “Leaving your mask loosely in your handbag could transfer germs to other items in your handbag and vice versa. Keep a small disposable bag inside your bag or pocket that you can keep the mask in until it’s time to wash it. If you take your mask off, don’t put it back on until after you’ve washed it.”

You could also use a clean disposable bag to store your face mask after you’ve washed it, to ensure it stays clean until you’re ready to wear it.

How many masks should you have?

If you want to avoid washing your mask every evening, it’s a good idea to have a couple on hand at any one time – you could even have a spare mask in your bag ‘just in case’ you forget your normal one.

How to wash (and store) a reusable face mask correctly