![how to clean a gas mask how to clean a gas mask](https://previews.123rf.com/images/photoartem/photoartem2004/photoartem200403985/145332561-coronavirus-epidemic-outbreak-portrait-of-doctors-in-clean-suits-with-protective-respirator.jpg)
![how to clean a gas mask how to clean a gas mask](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e8/3e/3f/e83e3fdba3dc5a498a9a68b91f9c1d19--gas-masks-air-pollution.jpg)
The rubber, plastics, and barriers in your monitor can also absorb the disinfectant chemicals. If you zero the monitor too soon, the monitor will read falsely low, potentially putting you in unsafe conditions. Additionally, alcohol-based cleaners will cause your monitor to go into alarm. The precision sensors in your monitor are highly sensitive to many different chemicals, including alcohol and other disinfectants, so using them could prevent your monitor from alerting you to gas hazards. Why You Shouldn’t Use Regular Disinfectants If you need to clean your personal gas monitor, your first instinct might be to grab a disinfecting wipe, like you would for any other surface. Unfortunately, wearing a gas detector within 6 to 9 inches of your nose and mouth means that whatever dirt, grime, or bacteria your monitor has picked up is now in your breathing zone. This location also keeps the monitor visible so you can see alerts if your hearing is impaired while working in a high-noise environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines the breathing zone as “a hemisphere forward of the shoulders within a radius of approximately six to nine inches,” so a collar, a lapel, or an outside breast pocket is usually a good option. Personal gas monitors are lifesaving instruments that must be worn in your breathing zone to be effective.