Masks?

[ottawamom]

@Starwind thanks for all the great posts. Very informative and helpful. If I could find some elastic, based on the prices of those masks, I should go into the mask making business. Lord knows I have enought 100% cotton stashed away upstairs.

I'm going to pass the foggin up solutions to my son who has an issue as he must wear his glasses when he shops.

 

[Starwind]

@Starwind thanks for all the great posts. Very informative and helpful. If I could find some elastic, based on the prices of those masks, I should go into the mask making business. Lord knows I have enought 100% cotton stashed away upstairs.

I'm going to pass the foggin up solutions to my son who has an issue as he must wear his glasses when he shops.

Most welcome.

For ties you can use bias tape, homemade bias tape/fabric ties (can make them from the same fabric as the mask), ribbon.

Goody Elastics & Ties available in store at Walmart: https://www.walmart.ca/en/elastics-ties/N-12+4130+1021734+10000041

SW

 

[Silvermist999]

For my masks, I used the Goody Elastic Hairbands that come in sets of 3 or 4(1/2” and 1/4” wide) that I found at my local Shoppers Drug Mart. Each hairband can be cut in half for each ear loop.

 

[Silvermist999]

Ok so here’s a question all the thoughts of wearing masks in parks etc if it’s hot how will people eat or drink ? Take the masks off in restaurants ? I just don’t understand how this work work when you are at a park for hours and if in FL it’s hot and hotter with a mask on? Thoughts ?

There are so many issues with wearing a mask in the heat, it isn’t that warm here yet and I can’t wait to take it off as soon as I’m back in my car after grocery shopping. As for eating and drinking, I guess the most convenient is to pull it down below the mouth, so it still hangs from the ears. Then carefully pulling it back up in place afterwards. Otherwise if you took it off completely, it would need to be put into something like a ziplock bag to keep it clean. Can’t imagine how young children will be able to tolerate wearing them, especially in the heat. Plus the mask would get damp pretty quick from sweat, etc. in the heat, so need to change it often. I’m thinking if wearing a mask will be the new norm, we would only go in the cooler months. Or wait till a mask is no longer necessary.

 

[Donald - my hero]

To make the ties for my masks i turned a couple of well worn tshirts that had seen better days into "yarn" If you cut the shirt into strips about 1" wide and then just pull on them the fabric will twist onto itself and become a nice soft tie with just enough give in it to make it perfect for masks.
For the visual learners in the group

 

[mshanson3121]

I am wondering about other people's experiences, as I have been housebound for about a month. Are you wearing masks when you go into the community for grocery shopping etc? If so, where did you get your mask? I don't have the ability or materials to make one at home, but I am a little nervous about what I see on amazon....
Thanks in advance. I have become increasingly worried about this and was hoping someone on here can help me out.

Well I'm really late to this, lol, but yes, we all (including the kids) wear masks when we go into the community. That said, we are higher risk ourselves, and have several very high risk family members, so we just flat out aren't going into the community unless absolutely necessary. We get all groceries delivered or do curbside pick up, we get our pharmacy orders delivered etc... The only time we physically go into a store is if they don't do delivery/curbside pick up. That has only been 3x in 8 weeks - and two of those were Canada Post.

I made my own using patterns online. I ordered my fabric from https://funkymonkeyfabrics.com/, they're a Canadian company. Elastic has been REALLY hard to find, but I ordered some off Amazon. It was wide, so I just cut it in half. You can also use bias tape if you want to make ties, or make your own bias if you can't find any. I also found a pattern that uses hair elastics. Super easy to make.

https://blog.fatquartershop.com/free-face-mask-sewing-tutorial-with-hair-ties/

 

[samsteele]

Found another 2 mask sources:

Old Navy Canada has a 5 pack for $15 + HST. Now back ordered until early June.

https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/category.do?cid=1157699
Maritime Tartan Company is approx $8 + HST. Free Shipping. Sold out yesterday but will sell again on May 21. Check their website carefully for time sale goes up as they usually sell out within 2 hrs. Remember they are on Atlantic Time.

https://www.maritimetartancompany.ca/
I've ordered from both but haven't received yet.

Now agree with earlier PPs. Fabric masks will be a reality to enter most stores this summer and fall. I also agree that if everyone wore one, we would all be better protected. But I will def wash a test mask in the washing machine on warm/hot water to see if it holds up to a strong wash before putting against my face.

 

[Silvermist999]

Found another 2 mask sources:

Old Navy Canada has a 5 pack for $15 + HST. Now back ordered until early June.

https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/category.do?cid=1157699
Maritime Tartan Company is approx $8 + HST. Free Shipping. Sold out yesterday but will sell again on May 21. Check their website carefully for time sale goes up as they usually sell out within 2 hrs. Remember they are on Atlantic Time.

https://www.maritimetartancompany.ca/
I've ordered from both but haven't received yet.

Now agree with earlier PPs. Fabric masks will be a reality to enter most stores this summer and fall. I also agree that if everyone wore one, we would all be better protected. But I will def wash a test mask in the washing machine on warm/hot water to see if it holds up to a strong wash before putting against my face.

Thanks for sharing, I really like the price of those Old Navy masks! Can’t believe June is already only a couple weeks away....

 

[FigmentSpark]

I bought the ones from Send Us Masks ( https://sendusmasks.com/products/cloth-face-covers ) in Toronto. They seem like good quality 2 ply cotton, but the elastics aren't sewn in. You have to tie them, which, I suppose is good for variable sizing. I would have liked them sewn down, though. Still, they came quickly, although I am within the GTA postal area, so I don't know how long it would take to get them elsewhere.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I bought the ones from Send Us Masks ( https://sendusmasks.com/products/cloth-face-covers ) in Toronto. They seem like good quality 2 ply cotton, but the elastics aren't sewn in. You have to tie them, which, I suppose is good for variable sizing. I would have liked them sewn down, though. Still, they came quickly, although I am within the GTA postal area, so I don't know how long it would take to get them elsewhere.

I was just going to ask you how they turned out! Hubby is interested in the fact that they will custom make ones with screen printing on them and he figured this would be a good marketing option for him whenever he is able to go back to in person training sessions

 

[FigmentSpark]

not sure if the photo helps, but here it is. As you can see, both the standard surgical mask and the cloth one are the same size and both have the same 3 folds in them so they expand. The difference is the cloth one needs to have the elastic either tied or sewn. They seem like good quality. No opening to add a filter.

 

[isabellea]

Finally I bought some cotton masks from an Etsy store from SK. They haven't arrived yet. My work provides procedure masks since the labs are considered within the hospital (different buildings than the actual patient wards but still the same complex) but cotton masks are allowed and I prefer to save the disposable masks for medical personnel and use my own.

Interesting fact, we have been told by Health and Safety that masks (disposable procedure masks or cotton masks) should be changed every 4 hours if not wet. If they get wet or soiled, you should change them immediately. Also, I have been doing many biosafety courses lately since we work with pathogens and if someone is interested, I can link videos on how to wash your hands properly with water and soap or with alcohol solutions and a poster on how to remove gloves safely.

 

[Starwind]

Interesting fact, we have been told by Health and Safety that masks (disposable procedure masks or cotton masks) should be changed every 4 hours if not wet. If they get wet or soiled, you should change them immediately. Also, I have been doing many biosafety courses lately since we work with pathogens and if someone is interested, I can link videos on how to wash your hands properly with water and soap or with alcohol solutions and a poster on how to remove gloves safely.

Please do provide the links !

SW

 

[isabellea]

Alcohol-solution video (WHO):

Soap and water video (WHO):

How to remove gloves: see attachment for poster

How to remove mask safely (and other info regarding face covering): https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/hea...ings-in-the-context-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/

 

[ottawamom]

Found another 2 mask sources:

Old Navy Canada has a 5 pack for $15 + HST. Now back ordered until early June.

https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/category.do?cid=1157699
Maritime Tartan Company is approx $8 + HST. Free Shipping. Sold out yesterday but will sell again on May 21. Check their website carefully for time sale goes up as they usually sell out within 2 hrs. Remember they are on Atlantic Time.

https://www.maritimetartancompany.ca/
I've ordered from both but haven't received yet.

Now agree with earlier PPs. Fabric masks will be a reality to enter most stores this summer and fall. I also agree that if everyone wore one, we would all be better protected. But I will def wash a test mask in the washing machine on warm/hot water to see if it holds up to a strong wash before putting against my face.

No need to wash in the washing machine. Detergent (your choice) in water will kill the virus. The water can be warm, hot or cool. I read somewhere about a concern with bacteria building up in the fabric that the detergent doesn't kill off, so I rinse the soap out of my masks and then pour boiling water over them, let them sit for 10 minutes and then hang them to dry. The soap kill the virus the boiling water kills any bacteria and I don't need to have a bunch of them. At most I only go out once a day where I need a mask so I hand wash and air dry when needed.

 

[AngelDisney]

One of my SILs made each of us two 2-ply cotton masks with a slot in between to put in a filter of some sort. Really appreciate her thoughtfulness. I still need to wash them thoroughly before wearing. The cloth one I bought is too tight and it hurts my nose and the back of my ears when I wear it for too long. I am not sure what to use as the filter. SIL is using two layers of paper towel. I think anything is better than nothing.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

One of my SILs made each of us two 2-ply cotton masks with a slot in between to put in a filter of some sort. Really appreciate her thoughtfulness. I still need to wash them thoroughly before wearing. The cloth one I bought is too tight and it hurts my nose and the back of my ears when I wear it for too long. I am not sure what to use as the filter. SIL is using two layers of paper towel. I think anything is better than nothing.

My friend made me a couple with the slot to put in a filter. She was using those blue disposable shop towels. Not sure of the brand but like these I think. She said she got them from Canadian Tire.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/blue-shop-towels-0396641p.html

 

[AngelDisney]

My friend made me a couple with the slot to put in a filter. She was using those blue disposable shop towels. Not sure of the brand but like these I think. She said she got them from Canadian Tire.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/blue-shop-towels-0396641p.html

I read an article about household filters and some blue towel. I think this is what the article refers to.

 

[damo]

I bought the ones from Send Us Masks ( https://sendusmasks.com/products/cloth-face-covers ) in Toronto. They seem like good quality 2 ply cotton, but the elastics aren't sewn in. You have to tie them, which, I suppose is good for variable sizing. I would have liked them sewn down, though. Still, they came quickly, although I am within the GTA postal area, so I don't know how long it would take to get them elsewhere.

If you take your mask and make a knot in the elastic so the elastic is the correct size to fit you, you then just rotate or slide the elastic until the knot is enveloped in the mask itself. Then you won't have the knot from the tied elastic visible.

 

[damo]

One of my SILs made each of us two 2-ply cotton masks with a slot in between to put in a filter of some sort. Really appreciate her thoughtfulness. I still need to wash them thoroughly before wearing. The cloth one I bought is too tight and it hurts my nose and the back of my ears when I wear it for too long. I am not sure what to use as the filter. SIL is using two layers of paper towel. I think anything is better than nothing.

You can also use some pantyhose as a filter.