It’s (M)Ask the expert time again and today’s question for our resident expert, Edgar van der Linden is a helpful one as winter approaches – bringing wet and windy days along with it:

Q: Is my face covering still effective in wet weather?

A:  The short answer is yes.

Here’s why: the outside of an ISKO Vital+ face covering is hydrophobic. It is designed to protect against fluid and water droplets from getting in – so even in a rainstorm or blizzard, water essentially slides off the face covering, keeping it dry and just as effective in helping to stop the spread of COVID 19 as it is in the sunshine.

The inside of your ISKO Vital+ face covering is designed to minimise condensation by absorbing water droplets as you exhale. In wet or sticky weather, when the relative humidity of the air rises above 85%, condensation can naturally build up and your face covering may start to feel damp against your face after several hours of wear.

This is perfectly normal and safe – it will not affect the level of protection your ISKO Vital+ face covering provides. The virus will still be filtered out and, as cotton is ten times more absorbent than synthetic materials, you will be much more comfortable for longer than if you were wearing a disposable face covering.

We are all much more likely to wear a face covering if it is comfortable, so with this in mind, we recommend that you carry a spare one with you - especially if there is precipitation or high humidity in the weather forecast. That way, if condensation starts to build up after a few hours of wear, you can always find a bit of space to wash or sanitise your hands and replace your face covering with a clean, dry one.

But don’t worry if you forget or don’t have a spare one to hand - no matter the weather, your ISKO Vital + face covering will continue to provide effective protection and help stop the spread.