Your Favorite Masks?

[mentalbreak]

I am starting to build a mask collection in anticipation of returning to the office, school, etc.

So far we have basically been staying in place with the exception of our teenage son starting to work a few days per week for 6 hours at a time.

I’m not sure we have found an adequate mask that will be our go-to for all day wear. So far we have:
1. Homemade cotton fabric masks from quilter friend with hair-tie bands for ears. Great for quick run to store, but fog glasses. Hair ties not comfortable for longer use.
2. Etsy purchase from handmade clothing store. Fabric and construction similar to #1, but my friend is better at sewing. Two long ties to tie in back of head.
3. Love your Melon jersey knot masks. Ear loops made from soft jersey edges. Great comfort. Gets wet quickly from breathing (ewww)
4. ShopDisney masks. Similar to 3. But very fun designs. (Baby Yoda, anyone?)
5. Facebook ad masks from a vacuum company. These arrived today and they seem really comfortable. Will give them a bigger test and send son to work with one.
6. Disposable pack of 50 masks from Costco. Plan to keep these on hand stash in cars, lockers, etc in case someone forgets their mask.

I think I have a mask problem! Many of the above were ordered when masks were back ordered and I guess I lost track of what was in the pipeline.

But wondering if anyone has a go-to that they prefer for all day use.

 

[Brett]

I am starting to build a mask collection in anticipation of returning to the office, school, etc.

So far we have basically been staying in place with the exception of our teenage son starting to work a few days per week for 6 hours at a time.

I’m not sure we have found an adequate mask that will be our go-to for all day wear. So far we have:
1. Homemade cotton fabric masks from quilter friend with hair-tie bands for ears. Great for quick run to store, but fog glasses. Hair ties not comfortable for longer use.
2. Etsy purchase from handmade clothing store. Fabric and construction similar to #1, but my friend is better at sewing. Two long ties to tie in back of head.
3. Love your Melon jersey knot masks. Ear loops made from soft jersey edges. Great comfort. Gets wet quickly from breathing (ewww)
4. ShopDisney masks. Similar to 3. But very fun designs. (Baby Yoda, anyone?)
5. Facebook ad masks from a vacuum company. These arrived today and they seem really comfortable. Will give them a bigger test and send son to work with one.
6. Disposable pack of 50 masks from Costco. Plan to keep these on hand stash in cars, lockers, etc in case someone forgets their mask.

I think I have a mask problem! Many of the above were ordered when masks were back ordered and I guess I lost track of what was in the pipeline.

But wondering if anyone has a go-to that they prefer for all day use.

for me - disposable pack from Amazon

 

[bogey21]

I'm not sure but I will be finding out. Today I received a box containing 5 different types of masks from an old Girlfriend. At first glance I think I like the small white one which fits very snugly against my face but I'll let you know after I have tried them all...

George

 

[bbodb1]

I'm not sure but I will be finding out. Today I received a box containing 5 different types of masks from an old Girlfriend. At first glance I think I like the small white one which fits very snugly against my face but I'll let you know after I have tried them all...

George

You rascal, George!

 

[Cornell]

I'm not sure but I will be finding out. Today I received a box containing 5 different types of masks from an old Girlfriend. At first glance I think I like the small white one which fits very snugly against my face but I'll let you know after I have tried them all...

George

George - Though I know masks are of great interest, I personally would like to hear more about this former (note I did not use the word "old") girlfriend.

I'd

 

[amycurl]

Have you seen the ones from eShakti, the dress making company that advertises a lot on FB? The fabrics are beautiful! I would love to know if anyone has gotten theirs. https://www.eshakti.com/shop/face masks

I have masks that were made from a leader at our local makerspace that my husband knows. Very soft cotton, very comfortable, but with the two long ties. Once I get it fitted right, it's great, but not for short in-and-out (say, through the lobby and elevator of my mother's condo building) because it's too difficult to tie with my long, thick, curly #quarantimes hair. I have a few disposable, surgical masks that I keep in the car for those short trips; those tend to be big on my face and ride up until they partially cover my eyes, LOL. If I'm wearing sunglasses, it's fine (extra eye protection!) but that doesn't reallly work for grocery store trips.

 

[Cornell]

Have you seen the ones from eShakti, the dress making company that advertises a lot on FB? The fabrics are beautiful! I would love to know if anyone has gotten theirs. https://www.eshakti.com/shop/face masks

I have masks that were made from a leader at our local makerspace that my husband knows. Very soft cotton, very comfortable, but with the two long ties. Once I get it fitted right, it's great, but not for short in-and-out (say, through the lobby and elevator of my mother's condo building) because it's too difficult to tie with my long, thick, curly #quarantimes hair. I have a few disposable, surgical masks that I keep in the car for those short trips; those tend to be big on my face and ride up until they partially cover my eyes, LOL. If I'm wearing sunglasses, it's fine (extra eye protection!) but that doesn't reallly work for grocery store trips.

#FaceMaskFashion

 

[Luanne]

All of my masks, except the disposable ones, are from a neighbor and her daughter. They have a table covering business, but went into the mask business when they became required. They first started making them for the Navajo Nation as a donation, but now also have them for sale. The proceeds go back into more materials, and labor, to continue making masks for free for those who can't afford them.

 

[Passepartout]

I just use the disposable ones from Costco. I bought some cloth ones from a local woman, but with no wire over the nose bridge, they sag and fog glasses. I had to make a 'Z' in the elastic and staple them to shorten the elastic. DW wears these, but I prefer the disposable ones, though I re-use them. I'd buy some N-95's but haven't found any. It's OK. Save them for medical workers.

Jim

 

[Paumavista]

So far we have 2 masks each (one home made....one a highly rated cloth with adjustable straps & nose wire from Amazon); I want to buy one that is a full neck ring that can be pulled up over the nose. But after reading something (it might have been here at TUG) I went out and bought a couple of inexpensive face shields as "extra" protection. For the same reason they have put up flexible shields at stores and businesses I thought it would just be added protection if we need to do something where exposure might be more hazardous. I guess you could wear them "instead" of a mask....they are very comfortable, and you can see facial expressions and have absolutely no mouth covering......but we intend to use them in addition to our masks....offering us eye protection in addition to nose & mouth.

 

[WinniWoman]

None. But I use a surgical disposable over and over again and I have a cloth one I wear as well sometimes. I try to stay out of buildings as much as possible so I don’t have to wear one. I don’t want to spend money on them and I do not consider them a fashion statement either. I get very sad seeing us all having to wear them.

 

[moonstone]

I have been sewing the shaped fitted masks for DH and I as well as most of our family members. I got a pattern from the internet that comes in child, woman's and men's sizes. I use a tightly woven cotton fabric that I used to make my scrubs tops for the outer layer and cotton broadcloth for the lining. I also use a woven iron on interfacing on the lining for a 3rd layer. I cut the section where the metal bridge of nose wire is off the disposable masks we were given at Costco and sew that into the masks for the 3 of us who wear glasses. The wire makes a big difference in stopping our glasses from fogging up.


~Diane

 

[moonstone]

I use a surgical disposable over and over again

Disposable masks are not meant to be worn over and over, not even twice unless it's for a few minutes each time. By reusing it you risk the chance of exposing yourself to germs that are in the mask and with repeated use they become less effective. Please just wear your cloth mask when needed and wash it after each use. Get a few in pretty patterns/colours and consider them a fashion statement.


~Diane

 

[WinniWoman]

Disposable masks are not meant to be worn over and over, not even twice unless it's for a few minutes each time. By reusing it you risk the chance of exposing yourself to germs that are in the mask and with repeated use they become less effective. Please just wear your cloth mask when needed and wash it after each use. Get a few in pretty patterns/colours and consider them a fashion statement.


~Diane

I clean both after use. Been using both for months. I hate the masks. The cloth one is harder to breath through.I need clothes is what I need right now. I don’t give a hoot about having pretty masks. To me they are all disgusting.

I have a 70 year old friend who just throws a scarf across her face if she needs to. Lol!

 

[jfbookers]

I saw a story on TV about a British and a USA company that prints a picture of your lower face on the mask. It is almost spooky. Don't know how much they cost.

 

[elaine]

lightweight KN95 here for protection from those not wearing masks. We reuse ours. Also leave my surgical and (construction) N95 in hot car for a few days. Several articles said that should kill Covid.

Can you reuse a disposable mask? Yes, if you follow these steps

Disposable masks can be used more than once, but it's important to make sure the mask isn't carrying coronavirus.

news.yahoo.com

 

[BJRSanDiego]

I have 2 masks that I wear - - an N95 with purge valve and a std. N95. Both seal reasonably well. In order to get a good seal at the nose (to keep my glasses from fogging) it kind of pinches my nostrils, so I turn into a "mouth breather" - - ha ha.

BTW, before you start responding that I shouldn't own N95 masks, I bought them well before the pandemic. I use them in my woodworking shop (I have a reaction and sensitivity to some wood dust). Some I bought way back when SARS was a risk. But I keep them on hand, use them multiple times, and wash them when they get too gross.

 

[PigsDad]

What is the difference between an N95 mask and a KN95 mask?

Kurt

 

[Eric B]

What is the difference between an N95 mask and a KN95 mask?

Kurt

N95 is a U.S. standard - National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) - and has a strap that goes around back of your head below the ears and a strap that goes around the crown of your head.

KN95 is a Chinese standard and has ear straps.

There's a decent discussion of the differences at:

KN95 Mask vs N95 Mask – Current FDA Guidelines Surrounding COVID-19 Pandemic – Accumed

accumed.com

I bought a pack of 20 KN95 masks from Amazon along with a couple of boxes of simple 3-layer masks to keep in my car and truck. DW had gotten us some cloth KN95-compliant masks with replaceable filter inserts - that's the one I typically use. I had tried a silicone one with replaceable filter from GIR, but didn't like it because the filters kept slipping out. I started out this thing using an N95 mask I had previously used while chipping concrete for a bathroom remodel and was happy to replace that with the cloth KN95 one when I got it. I replace the filter insert about once a week and keep the mask on the dashboard of my truck - sunshine and heat are great disinfectants.

 

[dmbrand]

I bought a pack of floral scarf masks; so convenient to just put on the ear loops/mask when I go inside, then tuck back into scarf. They are made of chiffon, and easy to breathe through.

As I was talking to a cashier at one of my favorite stores, I asked how she feels about being back at work. When she said that she feels more comfortable when customers wears masks, that sealed it for me. We don’t have any mandates here, and less then 50% of people wear them, but if it makes her feel less stressed, I don’t mind wearing one.

 

[bbodb1]

What is the difference between an N95 mask and a KN95 mask?

Kurt

Potassium.

 

[beejaybee]

I have been sewing the shaped fitted masks for DH and I as well as most of our family members. I got a pattern from the internet that comes in child, woman's and men's sizes. I use a tightly woven cotton fabric that I used to make my scrubs tops for the outer layer and cotton broadcloth for the lining. I also use a woven iron on interfacing on the lining for a 3rd layer. I cut the section where the metal bridge of nose wire is off the disposable masks we were given at Costco and sew that into the masks for the 3 of us who wear glasses. The wire makes a big difference in stopping our glasses from fogging up.


~DianeWe have

There was an article on CNN's website about the effectiveness of various homemade masks. We've been using bandanas w/ & w/out coffee filters, but the report indicates these are not very effective. We also have n95 masks, and home sewn folded masks.

What was reported is that pre-quilted fabric doubled is very effective.

Here is the link to the article: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/health/masks-homemade-design-trnd-wellness-scn/index.html

 

[geist1223]

The difference between Masks.

KN95 Mask vs N95 Mask – Current FDA Guidelines Surrounding COVID-19 Pandemic – Accumed

accumed.com

 

[Eric B]

The difference between Masks.

KN95 Mask vs N95 Mask – Current FDA Guidelines Surrounding COVID-19 Pandemic – Accumed

accumed.com

See post #19, supra.

 

["Roger"]

From the article cited in post #22...

"They found that droplets from a simulated uncovered cough were able to travel more than 8 feet; with a bandana they traveled 3 feet, with a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled 1 foot, 3 inches; and with the cone-style mask, droplets traveled about 8 inches. With the stitched-quilting fabric mask, they traveled 2.5 inches."​

Yes, masks (even the folded cotton handkerchief) can make a big difference in exposing other people.