How to Make Your Own Homemade Face Mask to Fight Covid 19

Do you want to make your own face mask in the wake of this pandemic? If yes, These are som easy ways to make homemade masks and to use them safely.

With the number of COVID-19 cases rising every day, hospitals are facing an acute shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Since the frontline workers are the ones who need medical face masks the most, it is wise for us to not exhaust the stocks at these times. As an alternative, you can make your own face mask using t-shirts, bandanas and scarves at home!

During the latest coronavirus outbreak, making a DIY face mask has been a practice that has gained popularity, whether it's for your own personal use or to donate to your healthcare. The CDC (Centre for Disease Control) now tells you to wear a mask when you go out publicly to protect yourself and those around you.

How Affective are Homemade Masks?

These are not as effective as N-95 masks for people in hospitals who handle COVID-19 patient but they’re still useful when hospitals run out of masks absolutely. The CDC recommends the best security with N-95 masks, but it says the last resort is to use a bandana or a scarf as a mask.

 If you are someone who is not on the frontlines and doesn’t have an N-95 you can use a home-made one.  

Cloth masks help shield you especially in areas where you have no other option but to stay in close proximity with people. These masks will help avoid transmission of infection even for people who show no symptoms.

How to make a face mask without sewing?

Materials:

• Bandana, T-shirt or square cotton cloth like a scarf, (that you can easily buy on Chinavasion) about 20" x 20"

• Coffee filter

• Rubber bands or hair ties

Procedure:

1. Cut the bottom off a folded coffee filter. Keep the top part — you'll need it for the filter in your mask.

2. Lay a bandana or 20" x 20" T-shirt flat in a rectangle. Fold the bandana or shirt in half lengthwise.

3. Fold the cut filter in the center of the folded bandana or shirt. Then, fold the top of the bandana or shirt down over the filter. Fold the bottom up.

4. Place rubber bands or hair ties around the folded bandana or shirt, about 6 inches apart.

5. Fold the side of the bandana or shirt in toward the middle and tuck.

6. Place the rubber bands or hair ties around your ears, and you've made a face mask, no sewing required.

How to make a face mask with fabric? (Sewing required)

When you happen to be affected by Covid-19, but have no symptoms, you may use a cloth mask to protect the people around you. Many people with Covid 19 never show symptoms or get very ill, particularly when they are young. (These are common Covid 19 symptoms). Such masks, when used properly, will prevent you from touching your face directly.

Make sure you always wash the masks with standard detergent in the washing machine.

Materials:

• Two 10 by 6-inch rectangles of tightly woven cotton fabric. (You could use sheets or quilting fabric, or even a T-shirt will work if nothing else is available.)

• Two 6-inch pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, hair ties, string, or cloth strips)

• A sewing machine (If you don’t have one, even a portable machine like that onChinavasioncan be really helpful)

• Needle and thread

Procedure:

1. Place the fabric's two rectangles.

2. Fold down and sew down the long, ten-inch sides 1/4 of an inch.

3. Place the short, 6-inch sides over 1/2 inch and sew at the bottom, so that a small room is opened to the elastic.

4. Fill the elastic through the gap left in the previous step.

5. Hold the ends together or tie them together.

6. Inside the gap, tuck the knots. Bring together the short sides and position the elastic.

The CDC and healthcare practitioners have, however, found out that cloth facial protection does not replace other preventive action. Everyone should start washing their hands regularly in tandem with the use of face masks in public areas and keep up the tradition of social distancing.

However, as mentioned in case N-95 masks are not available, then these homemade masks are still a better option than no mask at all.

Below are Some Frequently Asked Questions:

1.  Can homemade masks protect you from COVID-19?

Do-it-yourself (DIY) cloth masks are less effective at protecting the wearer because most have gaps near the nose, cheeks, and jaw where tiny droplets can be inhaled. Also, the fabric is often porous and can’t keep out tiny droplets.

Although cloth masks tend to be less effective than their medical-grade counterparts, experimental results suggest they are far better than no mask at all when worn and constructed properly.

2. Do cloth masks need to be sanitized after each use?

Because asymptomatic people can still spread COVID-19 without knowing they have it, it's best to think of a mask — and both of its sides — as a potential hazardous material. If you're not washing your mask and you're just leaving it somewhere, those (particles) get into the environment that you're living in. Cloth masks can also be sanitized in the washing machine with hot water and regular detergent. Bleach can be added to ensure that it is extra clean, but it’s not necessary.

3. What type of fabric will be an ideal choice to make a homemade face mask?

The best choices for DIY masks are cotton t-shirts, pillowcases, or other cotton materials.

These materials filter out approximately 50% of 0.2 micron particles, similar in size to the coronavirus. They are also as easy to breathe through as surgical masks, which make them comfortable enough to wear for several hours.

Doubling the layers of material for your DIY mask gives a very small increase in filtration effectiveness, but makes the mask much more difficult to breathe through.

4. Does one still need to stay 6 feet away from people even if they’re wearing a mask?

Yes. Wearing masks – whether an N-95 or a homemade mask – is an additional public health measure people should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. CDC still recommends that you stay at least 6 feet away from other people (social distancing), frequent hand cleaning and other everyday preventive actions. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer, but it may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important if someone is infected but does not have symptoms.

5. Why are cloth face masks being recommended by CDC instead of medical grade facemasks?

Surgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for healthcare workers or other medical first responders, as recommended by CDC guidance.

6. How to Safely Wear and Take Off a Cloth Face Covering?

• Wash your hands before putting on your face covering

• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin

• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face

• Make sure you can breathe easily

• Do not place a mask on a child younger than 2

Once you’re home,

• Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops

• Handle only by the ear loops or ties

• Fold outside corners together

• Place covering in the washing machine

• Wash your hands with soap and water

If you are out in public, using a cloth facial mask will help delay the spread of COVID-19. With just a few simple elements, you can easily make one for yourself and others. And, it's not necessary for you to know sewing to make a face mask. It’s all about doing every possible thing to keep yourself and others safe in whatever way possible.

You can also help by staying at home as often as possible, following the rules of social distancing, and by washing your hands regularly.

#StayAtHome #StaySafe !!