Wearing masks...

[PrincessShmoo]

One of the biggest downsides I’ve seen to most homemade reusable masks sold are that they don’t utilize a pliable nose bridge.

You can use pipe cleaners, or twist ties (two works better than one). Just use a couple of stitches to hold it in position.

The elastic hurts my ears.

I made my masks with elastic loops that go around my head and neck for just that reason.

 

[bcla]

You can use pipe cleaners, or twist ties (two works better than one). Just use a couple of stitches to hold it in position.

I made my masks with elastic loops that go around my head and neck for just that reason.

While I do keep on hearing the calls to reserve medical masks for the medical professionals, as far as I can tell they're supposed to be using N95 respirators which are much better at keeping the wearer from getting infected.

The medical (procedure/surgical) masks are supposedly for keeping patients from being infected by the wearer, which is the primary goal of asking/requiring people to wear face coverings in specific locations. These ear loops are covered with a soft, fluffy material meant for comfort. I'm not sure what kind of elastic people are finding at fabric stores for homemade masks.

 

[loves to dive]

We found some disposable ones on Amazon and ordered them. They won't be here for a week or two but since hubby went to the grocery store last week we should be good for a while. He did find a brand new never worn N95 down in his lawn tools, he had bought it for spraying weed killer. He fitted it and wore it to the grocery store when he went. Since he only has one, when he got home he held it by the string and I sprayed the inside and out with Lysol and we hung it up. I have a home made one made out of a bandana and hair ties (nary a rubber band in the house) and we put 3 of the disposable work towels he has in his lawn area. I don't go anywhere but into the office once a week and I'm the only person in the building so I don't need to wear one, just use wipes to wipe everything down when I leave and wash my hands when I get in, when I pick up the mail, etc. It's not the law to wear one here, buy hubby is so worried he does. My grand daddy was one of those old folksy mountain men and he used to say "you are going to live til you die". Makes no sense but makes a lot of sense, so when I want to make hubby mad about all his precautions I just say that to him.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, they are hot even the breathable ones. I did buy some new "easier" to wear ones for when it gets warmer if needed and they are still going to be hot.

My issue isn't "hot". It's that wearing a mask makes me short of breath. I wear them, but then I can't do anything.

Well, they don't have to wear them. They are choosing to go outside, thereby choosing to wear them vs. paying a fine.

Technically, I think you don't have to wear masks outdoors. I have a distanced spot where I sit outside and drink. It's a brick wall, about 20' x 20' by 12". I sit in the middle, and I paced out six feet. Nobody should come closer to me than a blotch on the pavement. But I wear a mask to get there and back.

I must be doung it wrong because I can feel my face fogging up when I wear the mask

Your face fogs up? Or do you mean it gets warmer when you exhale because your breath is temporarily trapped?

 

[emer95]

Google Jennifer Maker Tshirt mask.... we made these with fabric and they work great. No sewing at all and no elastic bands to hurt your ears. Can use pillowcase or sheets.

Thank you for the recommendation! How nice that she’s giving her patterns away for free. I’m going to make several for my family.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

For those of you having issues with finding masks, I ordered 4 last night from Etsy around 8pm. I got a notification that it was on it's way at 12:53 AM. I don't think that I can provide the link here but this lady has outstanding reviews and many many of them. You have to be willing to take time to read about each one to find a "responsible" seller. Some are out of the country and you need to make note of that as well. They are all black but that's fine. I'm not going to a fashion show.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Where are you getting your masks? I don’t have a sewing machine, so I can’t make one. I ordered a mask and a scarf, but everything is so backed up, who knows when they’ll get here. I just wish things like masks and disinfectants were actually available so we could use them.

i see a lot of ggod suggestions already, but this one requires no sewing, cutting, glue, staples, anything:

• Get a t-shirt.
• Put in on so the neckline covers the bridge of your nose. nose
• Drape the body over your nose and mouth.
• Tie the sleeves together tightly at the back of your head.Ti
• If you want to wear it like a balaclava, before you tie the sleeves, drape the back of the shirt over your head and cover your forehead.

You can also add gauze in between the layers for added protection.

Gauze might not be fine enough. One tip I read suggested using dry sweeper pads. Coffee filters sre good, too. Interfacing. Nonwoven stuff.

 

[Wendy1985]

@kaytieeldr that makes since some how that sliped my mind

 

[LSUmiss]

And why do I see ppl riding around in their cars by themselves with it on??

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even easier than the directions I posted

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/i...-in-30-seconds-no-elastic-required-2020-04-23

 

[Notrealname]

If you crochet and have some buttons laying around. Put these on the back of your head and hook mask over buttons.

 

[belleatdisney]

Vera Bradley has them but they use elastic around the ears which is not comfortable for me. I am going to replace it with something softer/ maybe ties. The rest of the mask is really nice. The sewing is perfect as you would expect.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you crochet and have some buttons laying around. Put these on the back of your head and hook mask over buttons.

View attachment 490534

Now that's cool.

 

[mommasita]

And why do I see ppl riding around in their cars by themselves with it on??

Maybe they have another stop to make? I know today my husband did our tenants messages, she is 85. He shopped for her, and had more than one store to go to. I wasn’t with him, but we shouldn’t be touching them to my knowledge, so if he went to the grocery store, then drove to the pharmacy, then dropped her stuff to her, he wouldn’t have removed it until he had finished the drop off.

Just a possibility.

 

[pens4821]

And why do I see ppl riding around in their cars by themselves with it on??

Even better are the people getting in their cars with their gloves on. You just touched things in the store or wherever you were then you got in your car with them on? What the hell was the point in the gloves then? They are REALLY giving people a false sense of security.

Gloves really don’t do much at all. The germs that would be on your hands are now just on the gloves. They are good to use if you don’t have sanitizer or are unable to wash your hands. But you have to take them off/replace them often.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

You just touched things in the store or wherever you were then you got in your car with them on? What the hell was the point in the gloves then? They are REALLY giving people a false sense of security.

We unload the cart into our trunk, return the cart, and remove the gloves before opening the door on the car to get in. Once inside the car we use hand sanitizer.

Once home, after unloading the trunk, we wipe off car trunk handle, door knob (inside and out) of front door and counters in kitchen, change clothes, shower, and wash clothes and masks. And we're good to go for another 2 weeks.

 

[LSUmiss]

Even better are the people getting in their cars with their gloves on. You just touched things in the store or wherever you were then you got in your car with them on? What the hell was the point in the gloves then? They are REALLY giving people a false sense of security.

Gloves really don’t do much at all. The germs that would be on your hands are now just on the gloves. They are good to use if you don’t have sanitizer or are unable to wash your hands. But you have to take them off/replace them often.

Don’t even get me started on the gloves. That’s a whole other thread!

 

[CarolAnn856]

If you crochet and have some buttons laying around. Put these on the back of your head and hook mask over buttons.

I’ve been making them out of ribbon for nurses in our area:

 

[Christine]

We found some disposable ones on Amazon and ordered them. They won't be here for a week or two but since hubby went to the grocery store last week we should be good for a while. He did find a brand new never worn N95 down in his lawn tools, he had bought it for spraying weed killer. He fitted it and wore it to the grocery store when he went. Since he only has one, when he got home he held it by the string and I sprayed the inside and out with Lysol and we hung it up. I have a home made one made out of a bandana and hair ties (nary a rubber band in the house) and we put 3 of the disposable work towels he has in his lawn area. I don't go anywhere but into the office once a week and I'm the only person in the building so I don't need to wear one, just use wipes to wipe everything down when I leave and wash my hands when I get in, when I pick up the mail, etc. It's not the law to wear one here, buy hubby is so worried he does. My grand daddy was one of those old folksy mountain men and he used to say "you are going to live til you die". Makes no sense but makes a lot of sense, so when I want to make hubby mad about all his precautions I just say that to him.

Lysol or alcohol ruins the electromagnetic properties of the N95 respirator to make it work. I don't have an N95 but I have a few paper masks. There was a medical professional on TV last week stating that if you have to reuse your paper masks, one way to sanitize them is by "baking" them in the oven at 170 degrees for 30 minutes, which is what I've been doing and the mask holds up great.

Now, the N95 is trickier because of the respirator but I did find this:

The safest and easiest way to kill off the coronavirus is to put your N95’s in a food dehydrator for 30 minutes. Most can be set at 155F to 165F but most people don’t have one.
If you have an oven that can drop the temperature to 160F that would be ideal but very few exist. Most ovens won’t heat below 180F. You could preheat the oven to 180F. Wrap the N95 mask in aluminum foil place it in the center of an oven making sure it’s not near any heating elements and heat it for 30 minutes. The aluminum helps keep the mask clean and prevents hot spots inside. Aluminum foil is not mandatory but a good Idea as ovens are not clean environments. Some problems you could run into are getting the mask too hot and damaging or melting the rubber strap.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even better are the people getting in their cars with their gloves on. You just touched things in the store or wherever you were then you got in your car with them on? What the hell was the point in the gloves then?

Winter gloves? Or PPE gloves? I ask because I've read a couple of times that there's little evidence that the virus lives on fabric. No, no sources. Just memory.