As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructions, it is recommended to all citizens to voluntarily wear a cloth face mask for essential trips out of the house to the grocery store, doctor, or other public places where the 6-foot social distance rules may be difficult to maintain.
As the global spread of COVID-19 is accelerating, there is a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). It has become common with medical researchers, businesses, and citizen-scientists designing their own face masks. But are these homemade masks safe? So far, the evidence is mixed and scant. Here’s what you need to know about the most widely proposed DIY gear and how these can come in handy in a time of dire need.
Read More: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Important Advice for the Public
In this article:
Why You Should wear a Cloth Mask?
How to wear a DIY Cloth Face Mask
3 Simple Ways to Make DIY Face Mask for Coronavirus Prevention
Why You Should wear a Cloth Mask?
The primary purpose of wearing a mask is to protect yourself from coming in contact with the virus. In other cases, if you happen to be infected with COVID-19 but do not have symptoms yet, then wearing a cloth mask might help protect people around you. Some individuals never show symptoms or do not get very sick, especially if they are young. Basically, these cloth masks mainly help others, not you. If used properly, a cloth mask may help you avoid touching your face and infecting yourself while out of the house.
How to wear a DIY Cloth Face Mask
Mask should-
- Be secured with ties or ear loops
- Fit snugly but comfortable against the side of the face
- Allow for breathing without restriction
- Include multiple layers of fabric
- Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or chance to shape
Read More: Can COVID-19 Harm Pregnant Women and Babies?
Points to remember while using a DIY face mask:
- They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.
- Be sure to frequently wash masks in the washing machine with regular detergent.
- Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth while removing the mask.
- Wash hands immediately after removing.
- Do not remove a mask by its mouth area.
- Do not wear a standard bandana or scarf.
3 Simple Ways to Make DIY Face Mask for Coronavirus Prevention
1. DIY T-Shirt Mask
This mask is easy to make because it doesn’t need any sewing. These masks are made using fabric that is several layers thick and fits snugly to your face.
Materials Required
- Tightly knit cotton material like a T-shirt.
- 2 rubber bands or hair ties
Instructions
- Cut straight horizontally across 7-8 inches from the bottom of the T-shirt and lay the material out flat in front of you. Now, turn it so the side that used to be the bottom of the T-shirt.
- Fold it from the bottom to the middle and form the top to the middle. And repeat this step a second time.
- Loop a hair tie or rubber band around each end (left and right), leaving a few inches of fabric so that the sides look like a candy wrapper.
- Fold the excess material over the band with each side meeting in the middle, adding another layer to the mask.
- Put a band over each ear and make sure the material is fit snugly to your face.
2. DIY Bandana and Coffee Filter Mask
This mask can be made using a coffee filter and bandana cloth. Coffee filter in the middle of layered bandana cloth provides some protection.
Materials Required
- Cone coffee filter
- Bandana
- 2 rubber bands or hair ties
Instructions
- Cut the coffee filter horizontally across the middle.
- Fold the bandana square in half.
- Place the wide section of the filter in the middle of the folded bandana.
- Fold the bottom of the bandana up to the middle, covering the filter, and fold the top down over it again.
- Loop a rubber hair tie or rubber band around each end (left and right), leaving a few inches of fabric, so each side looks like a candy wrapper.
- Fold the sides over the band so that they meet in the middle and tuck them together.
- Put a band over each ear, making sure the material is fit snugly to your face. The pressure on your face should keep the material and rubber bands in place.
3. DIY Face Mask (Sewing Required)
This mask is more difficult to make, but it may feel more comfortable and last longer.
Materials required:
- Two 10”x6” rectangles of tightly woven cotton fabric (You could use sheets or quilting fabric, and a T-shirt will work if nothing else is available.)
- Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, hair ties, string, or cloth strips)
- A sewing machine
- Needle and thread
Instructions:
- Stack the two rectangles of fabric.
- Fold the longer, 10-inch sides 1/4 inch down and sew them together.
- Fold the shorter, 6-inch sides 1/2 inch over and sew at the edge, leaving a small space open for the elastic to loop in.
- Thread the elastic through the opening you left in step 3. Tie or sew the ends together.
- Tuck the knots inside the opening. Gather the short sides together and stitch the elastic into place.
In conclusion, the above masks are a fun way to pass some time and can be fashionable and trendy according to your choice!
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