As COVID-19 pandemic is surrounded all around the world, the excessive usage of masks is found in every place. After the CDC comes up with guidelines for every person to wear the masks, the emerging trend of homemade face masks also becomes essential.
If you may not purchase or sew face masks, eventually, you can easily make a DIY face mask at home. However, it requires some material already available at your home.
You should need to be more responsible when planning to wear hospital-approved N-95 masks. You should never create a DIY mask with a purpose to go outside and hunt the N-95 masks.
These masks are essential for health care who are directly interacting with COVID-19 patients. Moreover, hospitals are also in need of having them in a considerable amount for a few months. Homemade Face masks are competent and comfortable enough for you to wear and go for grocery shopping or offices.
Does DIY Face Mask Protect You?
In this hard time, it’s suggested by CDC to wear a face mask for slowing down the spread of COVID-19. The idea of wearing a DIY face mask might sound you good, but it isn’t that easy.
It only works best for places like pharmacies or grocery stores, where you can easily maintain the social distance due to the rush of people.
The reason the CDC recommended the idea of wearing a face mask in public is to cover your face and not infect others. There is a good possibility that you are positive about COVID-19, but you never experience the symptoms.
In this way, you could infect others who might not bear the symptoms of this disease. When any of the people who are positive and not have symptoms wear this mask, they can prevent the transmission of this virus to other peoples.
DIY face masks are not as effective as the surgical or N-95. However, it can still reduce the chances of viruses spreading or keep you safe from the infected peoples.
Which Fabric is best for DIY Face Mask?
When you are planning to make a DIY mask at your home, the best Fabric you should consider is tightly woven, 100% cotton. You can get them in your home from woven-shirts, pillowcases, curtains, or anything else.
It’s also essential to hang the mask on your face. For that, you can use rubber bands or hair ties for quickly securing them on your ears. If you want to be more comfortable with it, you can also use ribbon or shoelaces.
If you want to make the mask more protective, you could also use the coffee filter. It will help you to prevent the droplets from entering your mouth or nose.
Polyester Shop towels, which most of the auto-mechanics are used, can also be the right choice for you to use in the DIY face mask because it would also help you for the prevention of droplets in your nose or mouth.
However, you could also stick with only those materials that are currently available at your home for a DIY mask. The idea is to cover your face and keep yourself as safe as possible.
How to Make a DIY Face Mask without a Sewing Machine
- First of all, cut a square of cotton fabric. The measurement would be “22×22”.
- Place a coffee filter in the center of the Fabric. If you don’t have it, you can skip it.
- After placing the filter, fold the top and bottom in towards the center side of Fabric.
- Use a metal piece or paper clip to close the top. This step is also optional if you don’t have the material.
- Now fold the top and bottom in towards the center side.
- Fold the sides towards the center, and also place your ties towards the folded crease. If you are using hair ties or rubber bands, it’s better to loop them around the fabric side. If you are using string or shoelaces, you can place it in the folded crease to tightly pull the straps.
- Now the tucking process needs to be done from both ends.
- Now secure the straps, but lifting the mask to your face. Loop them in your ears when you are using rubber bands or hair ties. Else, shoelaces and strings can be tied behind the head.
Note: You should adjust the face mask as per your needs. Because the entire idea is to cover your mouth and nose completely. If you will not adjust it properly, then there would be no benefit of using the mask on your face.