Cotton Towel Research Articles

Effect of block copolymer silicone softener on textile fabric hydrophilicity, softness, and durability

The present work addressed the effect of the structural intensification of amino-functional silicone softeners on selected functional properties of polyester, cotton/polyester, knotted cotton and terry towel fabrics. The amino-functional silicone softener formulations contain two comb-structured compounds (primary and secondary amino-silicone) and one block-structured compound (quaternary amino-silicone) softener. Amino-silicone surfactant was made using stable emulsions, and the treated fabric's performance were carefully examined and their wettability and softening capacities were compared. The resultant fabric was physically, morphologically and structurally analyzed using particle size analysis (PSA), FTIR, SEM, EDAX and expert panel hand-feel testing. It was observed that primary and secondary amino-silicone softeners had good softening ability but less hydrophilic effect on the cotton-polyester blend fabric. However, because of the different structural characteristics of the quaternary amino-silicone softener, variations in the wettability and softening ability of blend fabrics were noticed. Due to their superior softness, hydrophilicity, surface tension, and contact angle properties when compared to primary and secondary amino-silicone surfactants, quaternary amino-silicone surfactants are valued as versatile additives in a range of industries and applications. Finally, it has been observed that the prototype fabric softeners containing silicone derivatives may provide quality features that enhance fiber properties.

Exploring the key deteriorative microorganisms on ancient ivories unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins site during temporary cold storage.

The ancient ivories unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins site are valuable cultural relics, however, the microbial biodeterioration on ivories during temporary cold storage poses a great threat to their later long-term preservation. Here, the combination of high-throughput sequencing and biochemical assays was applied for the in-depth investigation of the key deteriorative microorganisms colonizing on the ivories and the tracing of their origin, as well as the assessment of the ethanol disinfection impact on the microbial communities on ivories. It was observed that the surfaces of ivories were scattered by the fungal patches of white, dark grey, and hedge green colors during cold storage. The high-throughput sequencing results showed that the genera Mortierella (38.51%), Ilyonectria (14.43%), Penicillium (1.15%), and Aspergillus (1.09%) were the dominant fungi, while Pseudomonas (22.63%), Sphingopyxis (3.06%), and Perlucidibaca (2.92%) were the dominant bacteria on ivories. The isolated Aspergillus A-2 resulted in the highest amount of calcium releasing from the degradation of hydroxyapatite (HAP), the main component of ivory, by the organic acids produced, including oxalic acid and citric acid. The fast expectation-maximization for microbial source tracking (FEAST) analysis revealed that the majority of the fungi (57.45%) and bacteria (71.84%) colonizing on the ivories were derived from the soils surrounding ivories in the sacrifice pits, indicating soils as the primary source for the spoilage microbes growing on ivories. The dominant strains could degrade cellulose, the key components of wet cotton towels commonly applied on ivories for moisture maintenance, aiding the spoilage microbes colonizing on ivories. Notably, the ivory disinfection with 75% ethanol during the cleansing significantly decreased the relative abundance of the dominant genera of Ilyonectria, Aspergillus, and Pseudomonas, with Mortierella becoming the dominant one on ivories. Together, the fungi, particularly Aspergillus and Penicillium, played a significant role in the microbial biodeterioration of unearthed ancient ivories by producing the organic acids. These results may improve the control of the microbial biodeterioration and develop more efficient strategies for the long-time conservation of unearthed ancient ivories and other cultural relics.

From postconsumer cotton towels to new cotton textile fibers

AbstractThe chemical recycling of cotton towels via the Ioncell® technique is demonstrated. Cotton is the most common natural fiber. The season's value jumped 31% to 54.3 billion US$ in 2020/2021, and annually the average value in quota‐free periods accounts to 46.3 billion US$. Consequently, enormous amounts of cotton wastes are emerging. Especially, European countries are forced by the new legislation of the union to develop new recycling strategies. Due to uncountable cotton applications, various types of garments exist, which require different recycling strategies. The recycling of an additional cotton waste side stream of Lindström Oy white pre and dyed and white postconsumer cotton roll towels was pursued. The mechanical properties of the fibers and yarns have been evaluated. Thereby, the following elongations and tenacities of conditioned fibers produced at DR11 have been achieved: 10.4%/59.5 cN/tex for preconsumer and 10.6%/60.4 cN/tex for postconsumer white cotton, 10.4%/60.0 cN/tex for postconsumer blue cotton. The achieved elongations at break are close to values reported in literature (7%–14%), however, the tenacities exceed reported values (40–58 cN/tex). Highly oriented fibers of high quality have been produced and with regards to the mechanical properties, a technique to perform fiber‐to‐fiber upcycling is illustrated.

Effect Evaluation of Repeated Compression for Tactile Hardening of Cotton Pile Towel by Indentation Test

Pile has a textured structure that contains voids and cavities, and the texture hardens with repeated use. It is advantageous to numerically evaluate the hardening characteristics of the pile texture for the development of the products such as towels. Then, the objective of this study is to establish an objective method for evaluating the hardening of the pile due to repeated use. In particular, to determine product specifications, it is necessary to define the conditions under which measurement results are stable. Therefore, for proper design of pile products, objective test methods for repeat use of the pile must be identified. This article reports the effect of repeated indentation testing with a spherical probe on towel samples folded in two to form four layers. A contact theory based on Hertzian theorem is used to evaluate the stiffening of the towel due to repeated indentation. For the properties evaluated in this extended contact theorem, the stiffening behavior is discussed by comparing the changes in the results of 20 repeated tests. In this discussion, the critical times of the indentation test are analyzed to quantify the characteristics of the stiffening behavior of the cotton towels. Analyzing the indentation times shows that critical conditions for the number of tests can be defined.

Mechanical strength changes of combustible municipal solid waste components during their early pyrolysis stage and mechanism analysis.

Implementation of municipal solid waste (MSW) source segregation leads to a more convenient recycle of combustible MSW components. Textiles, plastics and papers are commonly available combustible components in MSW. Their shredding is conducive to resources recovery. But these components usually have high tensile strengths and are difficult to shred. To understand their mechanical strength changes in their early pyrolysis stage will help to address this problem. In this study, a universal electronic testing machine was used to determine the breaking strengths of the materials including cotton towel, polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET), ivory board (IB), kraft paper (KP) and wool scarf in the temperature range of 30-250°C under N2 atmosphere, and the mechanisms of their strength changes were explored. The reaction force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulation was used to explain the decomposition behaviours of different sugar groups of hemicellulose in cotton and paper and the change of van der Waals energy of wool during their early pyrolysis stages. The results showed that breaking strengths of all the combustible MSW components reduced as the temperature increased. The breaking strength of PET was found to have the highest descent rate with increasing temperature, then the descent rates of wool and cotton came as the second and third, respectively. Compared with cotton, the breaking strengths of KP and IB decreased more slowly. As the temperature increased, the breaking strength of cotton reduced mainly due to the decomposition of the glucuronic acid in hemicellulose, and the reduction was characterized by CO2 release. The breaking strength reduction of PET was caused by its molecular chain being relaxed. The breaking strength reduction of wool was firstly caused by the decrease in the van der Waals energy between its molecules, and then caused by molecular chain breaking. In addition, in order to understand the influence of material size on the breaking strength change during thermal treatment, the breaking strengths of cotton yarn bundles were correlated with their yarn number and temperature. This study lays the foundation for understanding changes in mechanical strengths of combustible MSW components during their early pyrolysis stage.

Using Carbonized Cotton Fabric Waste to Prepare Poly(ethylene glycol) Composite Phase Change Materials with Improved Thermal Conductivity and Solar-to-Thermal Conversion.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) boasts excellent thermal energy storage capabilities but lacks efficiency in thermal conductivity and solar absorption. Simultaneously, the escalating concern surrounding the substantial volume of discarded cotton fabric underscores environmental issues. In this study, we devised composite phase change materials (PCMs) by embedding PEG into a carbon cotton material (CCM), varying PEG content from 50 to 80%, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of their thermal properties and solar-to-thermal conversion. The CCM, crafted from a waste 100% cotton towel through carbonization, provided an optimal porous structure that accommodated a significant 70% PEG content without any leakage, thanks to interactions such as surface tension, capillary forces, and interfacial hydrogen bonds. These PEG/CCM composites exhibited impressive crystallization fractions (>92%), resulting in notable thermal energy storage capacities ranging from 85.3 to 143.2 J/g as the PEG content increased from 50 to 80%. Moreover, these composites showed high thermal stability and exceptional cycling durability even after 500 melting/crystallization cycles. Notably, their thermal conductivities markedly increased to a range of 0.46-0.85 W/m·K compared to pure PEG's modest 0.24 W/m·K. Furthermore, the PEG/CCM composites substantially augmented visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) light absorption. Evaluation of solar-to-thermal conversion illustrated the composite's ability to efficiently convert solar energy into thermal energy, storing and subsequently releasing it through melting and crystallization processes. This study introduces a novel class of composite PCMs characterized by cost-effectiveness, outstanding thermal performance, and impressive solar-to-thermal conversion capabilities. These composite PCMs hold significant promise for large-scale solar-to-thermal energy storage applications while contributing to the sustainability of cotton waste management.

Thirdhand vaping exposures are associated with pulmonary and systemic inflammation in a mouse model.

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the accumulation of secondhand smoke on surfaces that ages with time. THS exposure is a potential health threat to children, partners of smokers, and workers in environments with current or past smoking, and needs further investigation. In this study, we hypothesized that thirdhand Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) exposures elicit lung and systemic inflammation due to resuspended particulate matter (PM) and inorganic compounds that remain after active vaping has ceased. To test our hypothesis, we exposed C57BL/6J mice to cotton towels contaminated with ENDS aerosols from unflavored vape fluid (6 mg nicotine in 50/50 propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin) for 1h/day, five days/week, for three weeks. We assessed protein levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using a multiplex protein assay. The mean ± sd for PM10 and PM2.5 measurements in exposed mouse cages were 8.3 ± 14.0 and 4.6 ± 7.5 μg/m3, compared to 6.1 ± 11.2 and 3.7 ± 6.6 μg/m3 in control cages respectively. Two compounds, 4-methyl-1, 2-dioxolane and 4-methyl-cyclohexanol, were detected in vape fluid and on ENDS-contaminated towels, but not on control towels. Mice exposed to ENDS-contaminated towels had lower levels of serum Il-7 (P = 0.022, n = 7), and higher levels of Il-13 in the BALF (P = 0.006, n = 7) than those exposed to control towels (n = 6). After adjusting for sex and age, Il-7 and Il-13 levels were still associated with thirdhand vaping exposure (P = 0.010 and P = 0.017, respectively). This study provides further evidence that thirdhand ENDS aerosols can contaminate surfaces, and subsequently influence lung and systemic health upon exposure.

Insights on the Hair Keratin Structure Under Different Drying Conditions

ABSTRACT It is important to understand the patterns of hair keratin integrity caused by drying methods. No previous information exists in the literature to compare different drying conditions needed to assess physical changes in the hair keratin. We used human hair for these experiments. We found that different drying conditions greatly influence the wearing fatigue of the hair fibers. Using a microfiber towel (80% polyester/20% nylon) to remove the excess water seems to better retain the integrity of human hair when compared to drying with a blow-drier or a cotton towel. Hair dried with a microfiber towel showed strong intensity bands at 1664 cm-1 consistent with an alpha-helix structure, while these bands were absent in the spectrum of the hair dried with a blow-drier or a cotton towel. Fatigue recovery of the hair sample dried with a microfiber towel showed much higher wear resistance when compared with the cotton towel and blow-drier processes. These findings were supported by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) which aided in the elucidation of the secondary structure of alpha-keratin and its effect in the stabilization of hair fibers. When hair samples were exposed to high temperatures, DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) profiles provided information about the movement of water molecules from the fiber, being the enthalpy for hair dried with microfiber towel the highest value. Contributions from damage, friction, and heat were correlated with the molecular structure, in particular, the alpha-helixes predicting that drying condition using a microfiber towel is the process that better preserves hair integrity.

Erratum: Eyestalk Ablation to Increase Ovarian Maturation in Mud Crabs.

Erratum: Eyestalk Ablation to Increase Ovarian Maturation in Mud Crabs.

Minimum wiping pressure and number of wipes that can remove dirt during bed baths using disposable towels: a multi-study approach

BackgroundFriction irritation by wiping increases the risk of skin problems. In bed baths with cotton towels, wiping three times with weak pressure (10–20 mmHg ≈ 1333–2666 Pa) can remove dirt while maintaining skin barrier function. However, few studies have examined the appropriate frictional irritation with disposable towels. This study aimed to analyse the wiping pressure and number of wipes currently applied by nurses when using disposable towels during bed baths and propose the minimum values for removing dirt from the skin.MethodsThis multi-study approach consisted of cross-sectional and crossover design components. In Study 1, 101 nurses in two hospitals were observed by recording the wiping pressure and number of wipes when using both disposable (nonwoven) and cotton (woven) towels. Wiping pressure and number of wipes by towel materials were analysed using a linear mixed model. In Study 2, 50 adults received oily and aqueous dirt on their forearms, which were wiped six-times with disposable towels, applying randomly assigned pressure categories. We used colour image analysis and a linear mixed model to estimate the dirt removal rate for each combination of wiping pressure and number of wipes.ResultsStudy 1 showed that although wiping pressure did not differ by towel material, the number of wipes was significantly higher for disposable wipes than cotton wipes. Approximately 5% of nurses applied strong wiping pressure or wiped too often. In Study 2, wiping three times with disposable towels at least 5–10 mmHg achieved dirt removal rates of ≥80%.ConclusionsSome nurses excessively wiped using disposable towels, which might cause skin problems. However, excessive wiping is not required to adequately remove dirt, regardless of the towel material used in various clinical situations. We recommend wiping at 10–20 mmHg of pressure (just like stroking gently) at least three times to improve the quality of bed baths. These findings highlight the need to develop skin-friendly bed bath educational programmes, particularly using appropriate frictional irritation to reduce the risk of skin problems.

Stabilizing Zinc Anodes by a Cotton Towel Separator for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Stabilizing Zinc Anodes by a Cotton Towel Separator for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Oxygen-enriched Nanobubbles for a Green Reactive Washing Process

In this study, we used the new nanobubbles technology to create a green reactive washing process for the textile industry, as one of the most polluting sectors where environmentally friendly process designs are indispensable to protect the environment. With this technology, the possibility of eliminating the soaping-off step from the reactive washing sequence was investigated. For the design of an environmentally friendly reactive washing process, the effects of increasing the process temperature of the soaping-off step as well as the use of oxygen-enriched NBs in all washing steps after reactive dyeing with three different dyes were investigated. The results were evaluated by comparing the color coordinates, strength, and fastness of dyed cotton towels washed according to the conventional and alternative processes as well as examining the absorbance and chemical oxygen demand values of the washing baths. Alternative washings did not cause significant differences in color coordinates, while the lowest color strength and highest fastness values were obtained after washing with nanobubbles. The absorbance graphs showed that the most colorful baths belonged to the first bath of the nanobubble washing regime. Chemical oxygen demand measurements revealed that the alternative washing systems were more environmentally friendly than the conventional ones. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that it was possible to implement more eco-friendly washing methods by eliminating the use of soap.

An investigation of polyphosphinoboranes as flame-retardant materials

Phosphorus-containing polymers are of considerable interest as flame-retardants additives. We report investigations into the flame-retardant properties of a series of polyphosphinoboranes [RR’PBH 2 ] n prepared by iron-catalyzed dehydrocoupling protocols. When cotton towel was impregnated with the polyphosphinoboranes and exposed to a flame, the presence of polyphosphinoborane was found to result in self-extinguishing of the flame leaving behind a charred material. In contrast, under analogous conditions, untreated cotton and cotton treated with polystyrene burnt and was completely consumed. Analysis of the char revealed the formation of phosphoric and boric acids, species commonly invoked for the action of related flame-retardant species. The use of P-disubstituted polyphosphinoboranes was found to slightly slow burning; however, the presence of halogenated groups in the side chain had little effect suggesting that it is the main chain that imparts any flame-retardant effect. Exposure of cotton treated with poly(phenylphosphinoborane) to water was not found to have any effect on flame-retardancy demonstrating the non-leachability of these polymers in aqueous media. • Polyphosphinoboranes were shown to function as flame retardant materials for cotton. • The polymers were prepared by catalytic dehydrocoupling and, in some cases, poly-polymerisation modification. • The polymers display self-extinguishing behaviour. • On impregnation into cotton, the polymers were non-leachable in water.

Carbonized sawdust/barium titanate composite solar absorber for solar driven seawater desalination

A low cost and feasible fabrication of novel photothermal conversion material and solar absorber was widely studied for enhanced solar-to-vapor performance in solar driven vapor generation. In this work, a novel hybrid carbonized sawdust/barium titanate composite was fabricated by sol-gel method, where it was later incorporated with a cotton towel using a dip-coating process to produce a solar absorber. The solar driven seawater desalination setup was made up of i) solar absorber where heat was localized and the evaporation occurs, ii) thermal insulation using polystyrene foam and air gap to minimize the heat loss, and iii) water pathway for continuous supply of seawater to the solar absorber. Carbonized sawdust/barium titanate composite solar absorber was tested under direct solar radiation for about 2 h using seawater collected from the beach coast of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, where it was repeated three times to observe the stability of the solar absorber. The average efficiency of the carbonized sawdust/barium titanate composite solar absorber was about 72.04% with average evaporation rate of 1.32 kg/m2 h. Salinity of the clean water was significantly reduced about 99.8% from the initial seawater salinity at 29300 ppm to 50 ppm, and the pH value was observed at 7.40. The salinity and pH value of the generated clean water was within the safe water limit based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standard.

Friction-Induced Biphasic Cutaneous Amyloidosis

Primary cutaneous amyloidoses (PCA) are a group of conditions characterized by deposition of amyloid in previously normal skin, without association with other skin or systemic diseases. We describe a Kazakhstani female with a 30-year history of increasingly spreading hyperpigmented macular as well papular skin lesions on her upper trunk accompanied by pruritus. Moreover, her medical history included intensely rubbing her skin with a cotton towel following bathing and showering. On the basis of the clinical and histopathological findings, the diagnosis of biphasic cutaneous amyloidosis was made. The present unusual case of biphasic cutaneous amyloidosis can be subsumed under mechanically-induced forms of cutaneous amyloidosis. In conclusion, the present case underscores the necessity to explore carefully the patient’s history in order to discover the cause of PCA.

Long-Lasting Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Activity of Cotton Towels Modified with TiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles

This study aimed to evaluate the durability of the photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs)-modified 100% cotton terry textiles. SEM-EDX confirmed the long-lasting durability of the washing materials, and TGA analysis revealed that ZnO and TiO2 NPs can be found on the terry fabric surface; however, the amount of NPs decreased 10 times after 15 washes and 1.6 times after the subsequent 15 washes. The efficiency of self-cleaning properties and antimicrobial activity against five microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404, and Bacillus subtilis NCAIM 01644) depended on UVA/B radiation intensity. The increase in UVA/B radiation intensity from 400 to 1400 µW/cm2 significantly increases the effectiveness of photocatalysis. Long-lasting self-cleaning properties characterised the tested fabric; however, stronger photocatalytic efficiency was observed in light with a greater intensity of UVA/B radiation. At the UVA/B radiation intensity of 1400 µW/cm2, a biocidal effect (R = 100%) against all tested microorganisms (E. coli, S. aureus. B. subtilis, C. albicans, and A. niger) was observed on the surface of materials. The lower UVA/B radiation intensity (400 µW/cm2) and 30 wash cycles reduce the antimicrobial activity of the material (R = 65.4–99.4%) for B. subtilis, C. albicans, and A. niger. The antimicrobial activity of washed materials modified with TiO2/ZnO nanoparticles can be increased by irradiation with a light bulb (1400 µW/cm2).

Effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults: A systematic review.

AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults.DesignA systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines.MethodsWe searched for quantitative studies published between 2004–2020, using the PubMed, MEDLINE and CINAHL. The remaining 25 studies were appraised by the JBI tool.ResultsOnly four of the included studies were of high quality. Studies of above moderate quality demonstrated that disposable towels were as effective as cotton towels for skin lesions and bacterial removal. Applying a hot towel maintained the skin barrier function and provided warmth; cotton towels were effective for cleaning even with weak pressure, and post‐bed bath moisturizer treatment contributed to skin integrity.ConclusionAlthough various methods have been examined, the available evidence is inadequate for establishing best practices. It is necessary to verify empirical research with rigorous methodology involving elderly inpatients and to develop instruments that measure patients' comfort.

Improvement of the Water Absorbency of Softener-treated Fabric: Addition of a New Hydrophilic Surface.

Softening agents, when applied in appropriate amounts, can impart softness to fabrics, particularly cotton towels, such that improved comfort and feel can be achieved when using the fabrics. On the other hand, water absorbency, which is commonly regarded as the mark of high-quality cotton products, significantly decreases when any of the currently existing softeners is used. To date, when a softener is used on cotton fabrics, there is a trade-off between excellent softness and high-water absorbency. In our research, we introduced a new sensory evaluation indicator called the "water wiping-off feeling ratio" which looks primitive but shows high correlation with our actual feel over any other existing indicators. Furthermore, we developed a new method and model to overcome the above-mentioned trade-off, involving the use of small particles with a hydrophilic surface together with the softener. Inspired by the theory of fractal geometry and the combination of models/equations by Cassie, Baxter, and Wenzel, the idea of adding new convex hydrophilic domains onto the surface of cotton fibers along with the softening agent was conceived. Finally, we successfully improved the wiping-off feel without decreasing the softness, i.e., we developed a strategy to overcome the above-mentioned trade-off in softener-treated fabrics that has proven challenging thus far.

Microwave-Assisted Hydrolysis of Cellulose in Towel and Wheat Straw Using Freeze-Thawing with NaOH

The aim of this study was to produce a high yield of direct hydrolysis of glucose from a cotton towel and wheat straw by microwave-assisted (MW) treatment. To this effect, a freeze-thawing with 3% NaOH was added before MW treatment. Multiple MW parameters were tested. For the towel, the highest glucose yield of 42.4% based on freeze-thawing with 3% NaOH-treated sample was observed after MW treatment at 200 °C for 30 s with 2% sulfuric acid as a catalyst. This corresponded to a 44.4% yield based on the cellulose content of treated samples, which was 1.3-fold higher than that of samples treated only by MW at 200 °C for 7 min with 1% sulfuric acid as a catalyst (maximum glucose yield in our previous report). For wheat straw, the highest glucose yield of 27.0% based on freeze-thawing with 3% NaOH-treated sample, and 41.9% based on the treated sample cellulose content were observed after MW treatment at 200 °C for 3 min with 0.5% sulfuric acid as a catalyst. Under the optimum conditions, the glucose yield was 40.5% from raw towel and 14.7% from wheat straw. Combined severity parameter analysis revealed that the addition of freeze-thawing with NaOH before the MW treatment increased the glucose yield and reduced the severity of the treatment conditions. In conclusion, freeze-thawing using 3% NaOH before MW treatment is effective for the direct hydrolysis of glucose from towels and wheat straw.

Efficacy and Use of Cloth Masks: A Scoping Review.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). In this setting, cloth masks may play an important role in limiting disease transmission; however, current literature on the use of cloth masks remains inconclusive. This review aims to integrate current studies and guidelines to determine the efficacy and use of cloth masks in healthcare settings and/or the community. Evidence-based suggestions on the most effective use of cloth masks during a pandemic are presented.Embase, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched on March 31, 2020, and updated on April 6, 2020. Studies reporting on the efficacy, usability, and accessibility of cloth masks were included. Additionally, a search of guidelines and recommendations on cloth mask usage was conducted through published material by international and national public health agencies.Nine articles were included in this review after full-text screening. The clinical efficacy of a face mask is determined by the filtration efficacy of the material, fit of the mask, and compliance to wearing the mask. Household fabrics such as cotton T-shirts and towels have some filtration efficacy and therefore potential for droplet retention and protection against virus-containing particles. However, the percentage of penetration in cloth masks is higher than surgical masks or N95 respirators.Cloth masks have limited inward protection in healthcare settings where viral exposure is high but may be beneficial for outward protection in low-risk settings and use by the general public where no other alternatives to medical masks are available.