Tips for taking care of masks?

[1337]

What are the ways you can wash masks without damaging the mask at all?

The "green" on the bib of masks: tips to prevent that? washing that out? etc.

While not in use, should you keep it "packaged"? (in a bag)

(For visors/non-visor electric saber masks)

Thanks

[Morale Officer]

I keep both my masks in pillow cases. After I get home, I set them on the kitchen table to dry/air out for about 24 hours. Then they go back in the pillow case and in my "coffin" (hard golf case fencing bag thingie).

[SJCFU#2]

There are a number of ways you can wash a mask, ranging from a bucket of soapy water to running it through the dishwasher (remove all dishes beforehand) to taking it to your local self serve car wash (probably not the best thing for one mask, but when you're trying to clean all the club masks...). This has been discussed many times before so I suggest trying the search function and looking for something like "mask washing" if you would like more information. Just be sure to get all the excess water out that you can immediately afterward (a towel will help), then let it finish drying before using it again.

The green is most likely from corrosion of copper based lame fabric. The best way to prevent this is probably to get a mask that doesn't use inexpensive copper-based material however a little bit of ammonia in the wash water may also help. It's also a good idea not to pack a saber mask (or lame, or blade) in with sweaty whites at the end of the day.

Visor masks require special care - the plastic visor can easily be damaged by exposure to certain chemicals. When not in use these masks are generally best kept in a dedicated storage bag (a pillowcase will probably do). Also, the screws holding the visor in place must be kept tight (snug but not overly tight) and the visor itself must be replaced every two years.