The chances of you purchasing a coronavirus-fighting mask at your local store is slim to none – ironically same odds you have of surviving a particularly strong batch of Covid-19 – here are some options for materials you might be able to find in your home to DIY a mask yourself and your family.
Since the CDC has now (finally) recommended wearing a mask anytime you go out in public to prevent catching and/or communicating Covid-19, seems like masks are all the rage these days.
CDC Recommendations for cloth face masks.
Cloth face coverings should…
- fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- be secured with ties or ear loops
- include multiple layers of fabric
- allow for breathing without restriction
- be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
People have been making no-sew masks out of items as simple as a bandana, rubber bands and coffee filters.
If you’re unsure what materials are best to use, try the ‘light test.’
Dr. Scott Segal, chair of anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Health recently told the New York Times, “If light passes really easily through the fibers and you can almost see the fibers, it’s not a good fabric. If it’s a denser weave of thicker material and light doesn’t pass through it as much, that’s the material you want to use.”
Dr. Segal and his team also conducted a test of the best homemade masks/materials.
600+ thread count materials, flannel, HEPA furnace filters and vacuum cleaner bags have been tested most effective in filtering particulates – adding another layer of Covid-19 protection when used alongside, self-quarantine and social-distancing, of course.
