Amana Sanitation with Microwave-generated Steam

Using Amana Sanitation Kits to Clean Face Masks

The increased demand for face masks, especially following the CDC's continued recommendation for them to be worn in public spaces where social distancing cannot be effectively practiced, has led to a shortage of this type of personal protective equipment (PPE). In light of this, the CDC has released adjusted guidelines for decontaminating disposable respirator masks (also called filtering facepiece respirators, or FFR) so that they may be worn again1. Amana has paired its commercial microwaves with sanitation kits to provide a microwave-generated steam (MGS) sanitation method for businesses, institutions, and individuals experiencing a shortage of face masks.

How Amana Sanitation Kits Work

According to the CDC, this microwave-generated steam sanitization method can be accomplished with microwaves offering between 1,100 and 1,250 watts and sanitization times ranging from 40 seconds to 2 minutes. Along with a 1,200-watt microwave, Amana's sanitation kits include a SteamPro pan, drain sleeve, and lid, as well as a 100-milliliter beaker and sanitation instructions. Amana's instructions for MGS sanitization recommend an eight-step process, which is detailed below.

MGS Sanitization Process

  1. Place the SteamPro drain sleeve in the SteamPro pan.
  2. Use the beaker to measure 100 milliliters of room-temperature water (between 71 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Pour the water into the base of the pan, then tilt the pan to distribute the water evenly across the bottom of the pan.
  3. Place two filtering facepiece respirators in the pan, with exteriors facing the bottom of the pan. Position them so the aluminum nose straps are facing away from each other. Note: Face masks with metal nosebands may create sparks during microwaving, and you should not leave your face mask unattended during the microwaving process.
  4. Place the SteamPro lid on upside down to leave sufficient space for the masks.
  5. Place the SteamPro pan in a 1,200-watt microwave oven.
  6. On models Amana HDC12A2MGS and Amana RFS12TSMGS, press keypad 7 to operate the oven for 2 minutes at 100 percent power.
  7. When the cycle is completed, remove the pan from the microwave oven. Carefully remove the lid and place the sterilized masks in a safe location. Note: CDC research indicated that masks can endure as many as 20 reuses with no degradation, but you should inspect your mask, including the nose strap and elastic band, before each wear.
  8. To ensure the MGS process was followed correctly, pour the leftover water from the pan into the beaker and measure the remaining amount. There should always be some residual water in the pan, but an amount between 68 and 78 milliliters indicates the process was done correctly. If you have less than 68 milliliters of water remaining, you may have started the procedure with an insufficient amount; if more than 78 milliliters of water remain, your microwave might have insufficient power.

Disclaimer: Amana's parent company, ACP Solutions, has not conducted any testing of the MGS sanitization process outlined here to determine its effectiveness. Amana microwave sanitation kits and accompanying sanitizing instructions have been assembled based on guidance from the CDC. These instructions do not include a warranty of any kind or a guarantee of effectiveness. ACP specifically does not guarantee the method outlined above is effective in eliminating viruses or bacteria from face masks or that face masks sanitized according to these instructions will be effective at preventing viral or bacterial infections.

  1. Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators. CDC. Accessed June 2020.