Where are you getting your masks?

I have a collection of cotton bandanas which are washed after every use. I fold them so they’re double-ply outdoors and quadruple when I enter a store.

Still making masks, for my own use and to give to anyone who might want or need one. 490 as of last count.

Don't use valve masks. Don't let a valve mask wearer anywhere near you.

I mentioned this in another thread, but Gildan reusable tie-on masks are great. You can get them on Amazon (can't link them here). The elastic ones keep falling off my face because my ears are too floppy or my head is too big or something, so I like being able to tie these on. They're very adjustable, too. The only downside for me is that they are very heavy and hot when you're outside. Otherwise, they're terrific.

I have a small numbered of kn95s from the Indian grocery store, a lot of the blue ones from a generous client, and a few cloth ones from Etsy. One of the cloth masks has a detachable eye shield.

I had been using the paper masks supplied by my hospital for therapy sessions, but was told they're only good for a few wears. My brother found some for sale from Hanes, so I bought a pack of them on-line. They're washable, bleachable cotton. I've mentioned elsewhere how difficult it was to comply with my county's orders when they were so hard to find. I kept asking other shoppers where they were getting theirs, and almost everyone had elderly ladies at their churches making them.

I have a few of those, r6. Hanes donated them to my sister's workplace in an assisted living facility, and she gave me a pack. They're really sofr and comfortable, and don't fog up my glasses.

R7, The first time I wore one, I thought I could probably just wear a pair of briefs over my head for the same effect. But I'm not brave in that way.

I refuse to wear one until I can find one to coordinate with my caftan!

Oh honey, just tell me your favorite pattern and I'll send you some. Animal print? Geometric? Paisley?

I have two cloth masks I ordered through Amazon. Quite thick and cut off too much air. I have 3 cloth masks made of a super thin black material that were given to me by the clerk at a local building supply company I trade with. This happened early on in the pandemic and I was wearing one of those construction type masks. When I paid for my purchases he said "hold on" and he walked away and came back with a handful of these masks. I love them because they're so thin but the material is super tightly woven. Then I have 3 or 4 of the old construction grade masks and 1 more cloth mask my neighbor made for me (which I don't wear because it's just too big).

Links please.

Much love.

OP (and everybody here), assuming you are in the US, any Lowe's in your area should have tons of those black cloth masks behind the counter, probably similar to the some of the ones R11 described. Mine has packages of them, which I discovered when I went in recently and told them I didn't have a mask. The attendant let me peel off six of them for free and now I keep them in my car. They hook over your ears and are easy to hand wash. Home Depot likely has the same.

Do you all add a type of filter to your masks? Many places online offer them to add to your mask, and some masks have a pocket sewn into them to accommodate a filter.

The Gap sells them now. I just ordered some to add to my rotation.

You don’t need filter inserts, really it won’t help much and might even make the mask wearing experience worse. I’m willing to take breathe easier while wearing a mask, as opposed to put inserts inside cotton masks. If you do insist on it, then I would recommend buying sew-in interfacing (light to medium weight and not cotton) to use as inserts. You can cut them out into pieces to fit inside the masks.

I'm wearing disposable surgical masks purchased at Walmart, iherb.com and local mom & pop convenience store.

Piggybacking from r15. Old Navy has great deals on three ply cotton poplin masks, with great reviews. A ten pack for only $25.

My mom lives in Western Pennsylvania and got her home-sewn masks from an Amish family she buys produce from. She got me a couple, too. As you'd expect they're very... plain. But the elastic does not feel like it's tearing my ears off like some other masks I tried have.

Got mine through Amazon. 50 masks for $29.99

To think 'they' told us at the outset that masks were no use for the general public. Fuck that, I bought N95 masks back in January before they ran out.

Most places are out of n95 masks, as they're reserving them for medical professionals. I did see a company was making and selling them now to the public. However, a 20-pack will set you back $180.

I just use the blue surgical masks. Lots of my friends are ordering all kinds of cute masks but there is nothing fun or cute about this so I refuse to wear anything but a utilitarian one. I'm a glass half empty kind of person I guess.

From the MAGAt online store.

Is the maga website seriously selling masks? I find that hilarious.

I refuse to visit the site.

I still have a pack of 30 N95 masks I bought in Jan before they all sold out. I haven't used them yet.

I am using the disposable 3-ply non medical masks. I see many homemade or washable masks are only 2 ply.

you can buy the disposable ones in home depot and many other online shops like QVC, HSN, Shophq etc

I have purchased masks from Etsy. There are many reputable sellers, with all kinds of cute prints.

Places like Macy and Nordstrom Rack also were selling cloth masks recently.

My local Aldi’s had the disposable masks last time I shopped. A package of 10 for $6.99.

I still have 3 boxes of the standard 3 ply medical masks. Got them all off Amazon back in May. Though I also noticed Marc's is selling 50 packs of these for only $19.99.

N95 masks are nit meant to be worn for long periods or time or doing activities. When I had to wear them in my RN days working in the ICUs, it was not a pleasant experience wearing them even just one hour. There were times when I’d be inside a room providing care for patient up to one hour because the care was so involved or the patient unstable. I’d be hot and having trouble breathing after a while.

So no, please don’t think this is a case where N95 masks should be worn by the masses. Other nations like Japan and Taiwan, they wear disposable or cloth masks just fine. No outbreaks on the level that we have here.

some of the washable ones are too big! and you can't return...so I'm just buying the disposable ones.

I got some masks for free, given to me by NYC and they are white, just like the Hanes ones linked above.

just checked gap and old navy website, the masks are cute. might consider buying...

I have two cloth washable white masks I bought from EBAY in May.

My local Dollar Tree has a package of two paper filter masks - I buy a pack or two each time I go in. I wear those to the store or just at home when relatives are visiting.....

I bought a pack of 5 Hanes masks from Walmart yesterday for under $8.

Can you just keep washing and reusing cloth masks? Do they ever lose their functionality or are they good as long as they have no holes or tears?

R34, it depends, some masks state they are good for 45 washes etc. you read the small print.

Office Depot had packs of cloth masks but they were sealed and opaque so I couldn't get a look at them. Harbor Freight had disposable masks too.

A local shop that sells African fabric, wood masks and jewelry started making masks out of the fabric. I buy them there. They're beautiful.

I actually use a scarf/headband thing that several bicyclist friends suggested. One brand name is "Buff" - It is a long piece of fabric, about 18 inches, and you pull it over your head and then can roll it down. Think of a turtleneck and you get the idea of how it works, except you are of course covering nose mouth etc.

I like it because it works, I can essentially have a double layer without suffocating myself, and it doesn't pull on my ears.

Example shown - you can see in the photo she's wearing it as a mask. I pull mine up higher but then fold it down over for the double layer effect. Likely not as pretty as shown, but safer.

[quote] Office Depot had packs of cloth masks but they were sealed and opaque so I couldn't get a look at them.

I read reviews online for their cloth masks and the more surgical style ones and all of them had bad reviews.

Office Depot has been very good about having some stuff in stock when others did not, but on the masks I gave them a hard pass.

I don't wash my cloth masks. I keep a big spray bottle of rubbing alcohol at the kitchen sink and every time I come with a mask I've been wearing I spray the mask down on both sides until it's completely soaked and I hang it up. The alcohol dries completely in a short time.

I was sick of being charge 1 buck a mask for Chinese paper masks - in Europe. So I just ordered a bunch of cotton masks and a box of those Chinese PM2.5 filters - those are the filters they use to deal with the polution. Currently I think the only thing required for public safety is any old cloth covering your face - just to keep the droplets down in case you are infected. None of this is really about filtering virus coming into your mouth and nose.

For good measure, I ordered plastic face shields. Maybe it might be useful next winter if it really turns into a viral soup in public.

Who knows if this junk from China will show up. It's ironic and shitty to order stuff from China but there it is. We're being RIPPED OFF locally for the same shit.

These. I ordered 6 - from China. And cotton masks. I'll update if they ever arrive.

Harrods, Prada, Harvey Nicks. Only the most cutting edge for me! Look this one has a hole to put in my cigarette!!!

R42, I've been thinking about buying a face shield. Reports say this fall and Winter will be one for the record books, so I might as well be prepared. I missed out on the n95 masks before they sold out everywhere.

Well that's what I figure. Better safe than sorry. Or 20 bucks for 2 buck item made in China anyway.

Great, now all of the ads I see online and social media are for masks.

Here is a homemade version. I would use two sheets of paper towel, perhaps three. Obviously it can only be worn once. Don't forget the 'hard' paper reinforcements at the staple points.

I bought some cute ones at Jcrew

R48 I thought J Crew went out of business!

R49 they did not go out of business. They filed for bankruptcy but their stores are still open. They are just restructuring their debt, not closing up shop.

3 masks for 18. They are made well. The black and white large check is a heavier fabric - better when it's not as hot out. The other two (gingham and pinstripe) are lightweight fabrics

I wear this one

They sell them everywhere around here (NJ).

The last 3-pack of KN-95s I got were at Staples of all places.

Why can't you link them here R4? Is it illegal to link to Amazon?

The masks that the Gap sells have adjustable nose piece to help with snugger fit over the nose bridge and it’s necessary for those who wear glasses

Agree with an earlier poster. Gap and Old Navy have cute masks. I wish the Old Navy masks had the adjustable nose piece like the ones from Gap! There's a five pack with patterns I really really like, but I want the nose piece.

I'm begun to do the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial thing: wearing lovely designer scarves or bandanas.

Target 2 for $5

Do masks have to be washed or discarded after every use?

Costco has some blue disposable masks. The ear pieces are adjustable. They are the pleated kind.

They also have cloth masks. They are too large for me and won’t stay on. It’s 3 per box if you have a larger face. I have a small face so they may be fine for you. They have a child size too.

Ace Hardware has disposable K95 masks. 10 per box. I don’t like them because when I breathe in, they stick to my mouth. They’re pretty uncomfortable but I keep them in my car in case I forget my other ones. They are individual wrapped inside the box so that’s nice.

There is a company called Suay in LA. They are garment workers that quit making garments and are making masks. They have a pattern you can download on their site. They actually hired a testing machine that’s used to test various mask materials and liner materials so they knew how to make their masks. Their masks have darts, so it’s kind of like a duck bill. I’m going to try them when I get a minute.

They also are distributing food to the poor and trying to help out.

They are at suaysewshop on Instagram.

Here is Suay’s website.

Here’s another company that maker really pretty masks, but they are embroidered so if co sider wearing a disposable under it, or a filter.

Sorry, I screwed that up.

Many clothing manufactures are redirecting excess fabric to mask production. If there’s a line of clothing you like, you can go to their website and see if they’re selling masks. You can’t always pick certain colors/prints because they’re using available fabric remnants, but often times they offer buy one/donate one, which I like. Or the prices are very reasonable.

Etsy is also good for cloth masks. Amazon is where I buy disposables, usually about 20 bucks for 50.

r56 Open out a paper clip, and force it into the seam where it sits on your nose. Voila!

Here’s the Mexison’s masks. I saw someone wearing them at my doctors office behind plexiglas, it looked really well made. They come in a lot of colors. It might be ok with a face shield or filter.

{quote] Open out a paper clip, and force it into the seam where it sits on your nose. Voila!

Well done R65 !

R3, that information is presented erroneously.

These are the safest masks to wear, period, end of.

“This NIOSH-approved N95 respirator will prevent airborne particles from entering.”

3M - N95 respirators

That's where a respirator, a tight-fitting protective device worn around the face, comes in.

When people say "respirator," they're usually referring to the N95 respirator, which gets its name from the fact that it blocks at least 95% of tiny particles, including viruses.

Several brands manufacture N95 respirators, and they come in all different sizes. These are the masks people are most strongly requested to save for medical professionals, so it's recommended that everyone not go out and buy them.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R6 & r7 those hanes masks are women's bikini underwear retrofitted with ear loops.

I get mine from South Korea. They look nice and have nanosilver and UV protection.

I bought a pack with nanosilver too, 3 layer. 2 per pack, washable. I got it from CVS. I think it was 9 bucks.

Please read. TIA.

😷👇🏽😷

LOWERING INFECTION CONTROL STANDARDS In the upside-down world of American health care in the era of coronavirus, a nurse in an N95 is often considered both safe and defiant.

N95 masks are superior to surgical masks for coronavirus protection, but like many hospitals, AdventHealth Heart of Florida has restricted their use.

But the policy doesn’t account for the spread of disease by people who have not yet tested positive or who aren’t showing symptoms, Moya knew.

“We know the disease process,” Moya said. “I don’t know who may be infected or not.”

The United States was caught so unprepared for the pandemic that hospitals don’t have enough N95 masks and other important gear. So facilities have been lowering their infection control standards — and demanding compliance from staffers.

Moya had been prepared. She purchased her own N95 masks, and on that final day of March she put one on under the surgical mask AdventHealth had given her.

When she was told to remove it, she got called to the office of the emergency department director, she said, who told her if she wore the N95 other staff would also want one. Also, the hospital didn’t want patients to feel scared by seeing everyone in a mask, Moya recalled the director saying.

I look on Amazon and don't find any particularly attractive ones. I quite like Persian pickles Paisley I want Amazon as I have prime and Old Navy were charging 70% shipping after the discount on the price of the masks.

This is a video that gives instructions on making a mask, whether with a sewing machine or not.

Wearing a mask to protect others from you is one thing.

Wearing a mask to also protect yourself is another. Non-woven liners supposedly work to stop droplets. I've seen some people use 2 layers of non-woven interfacing or some people are suggesting using polypropylene as a liner. It is non-woven material that was used in some reusable shopping bags.

My sister bought a set of polypropylene shopping bags off amazon and cut them up to use as either filters or as one layer of the mask.

I'm a pop culture aficionado. I especially Love 70's TV and, would love a bionic woman mask or a Charlie's Angels mask. . Do not like the ones I'm seeing on Amazon or eBay. If anyone knows where I would find this kind of item please direct me. TIA

Just saw an ad for Golden Girls masks on Facebook. I'm tempted to buy one, but I don't want to order something from a FB ad.

I got some washable cloth masks which I usually wear, but in higher risk situations I use an N95, for example any time going for blood work, medical office or pharmacy. Otherwise I just use the cloth ones for running into a store and what not. I think it makes sense to use different levels of protection in different situations

Since March I have not been near the street anywhere except to go to the mail box. I have n95 masks but never use them.

Fucking Target, fool!

I’m the bionic woman. Do you want me to wipe my pussy on one of those target masks to make it legit?

My most comfortable mask is this BTSA "everyday face mask." It's not a medical mask, though.

I use something like these masks:

I bought a few face shields as well. I wear them along with the face mask when I have to take the subway...

The terrible, terrible thing about all these fucking disposable masks is that there are already tons of them in the ocean and in rivers. They are an unbelievable source of pollution now in a very short space of time. Pls everybody think of getting a cloth mask instead of going thru tons of paper ones.

^^^Yes exactly this. Leave disposable masks for hospitals and clinics. For everyday purposes reusable cloth masks are fine.

R38, I saw I really hot guy at the farmer's market wearing one of those on Saturday. He didn't have on a shirt, and he looked damn fine!

I purchased a couple of these. They are very very expensive, but are made of self-sterilizing fabric, meaning I don't have to let them sit before reuse and don't have to worry if I accidentally touch my mask. Who knows if any of that is true, but they are comfortable to wear even for several hours.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I bought a couple of M5 microfiber masks on Etsy back in March that I'm still using, I affixed them together with fabric tape and created a pocket to put a coffee filter into for extra protection.

My bf got some from work that are fantastic but they don't have any left and won't tell people where they got them. He attached some metal nose pieces from old dust masks to them, and now that the nose fit is adjustable, they're perfect. Black though, which is odd.

[quote] My local Dollar Tree has a package of two paper filter masks

Thanks for that info R32. I stopped off at a Dollar Tree just now and they had a big rack of masks just inside the door. I picked up 6 packs (12 masks) to keep in the pocket of my car for emergency or in the rare chance I'll have to drive with someone in the car who doesn't have a mask.

I just saw on the news that effective 7/20 Walmart will institute a nationwide policy that all customers must wear a mask to enter the store. I predict there will be brawls aplenty. In the Walmart closest to me there are far more people not wearing a mask than wearing one.

I love r81

The Walmart mask requirement will cause fist fights. The Sheriff's Office will be out in strength, more so than usual, at the local Walmart.

Multiple local stores around me are now shilling face shields. I think some people are going to want to wear a face shield without a mask.

A mask mandate just went into effect in my city, and you'd think some people are being told they're going to be blindfolded and gagged based on how they're reacting.

Where can I find my Charlie's Angels mask?

Anybody??

[quote] A mask mandate just went into effect in my city

You're obviously not in GA where the governor has just canceled local mask wearing requirements.

Im finding them for sale just about everywhere I go. I just saw a ton over at Marshalls in Brevard Country Fl and at the grocery store here

My Biden mask is expected to get here tomorrow! I'm about to piss off a lot of people.

What's a Biden mask?

Here, r99

I got my Charlie's Angels and all my pop culture masks off of red bubble.

With NO help whatsoever from the DL crowd that shops at Marshall's and thinks an Elizabeth Warren face mask is pretty.

I’ve been wearing an N 95 mask since mid March so for four months. I sometimes change out a paper towel that I staple to the front of it. The mask itself was purchased about 10 years ago for painting and I found it under my sink. 🕺🕺🕺

Still no corona

fashion.

fashion.

Dr Norman Swann, who is a doctor and a journalist and has been the calm voice of reason on the public broadcaster about Covid matters in Australia, says the following:

- if a cloth mask, to be maximally effective it should be a three-layer one, and well-fitting. In most cases the middle layer will be some kind of filter. - wash cloth masks after each use, and dispose of paper ones after each use. - avoid masks with a vent in them. The principal use of a mask is to stop you giving someone else Covid, and the vent lets the aerosols out. So do any gaps in the fit. - wearing a mask will give you reasonable protection against getting the disease, but greater protection against spreading it if you unwittingly have it. There is still something like a 20-40% chance you could get or transmit Covid: it's not a vaccine. - therefore, if you know you have flu-like symptoms, or you've tested positive, wearing a mask is no substitute for isolation.

I've noticed a lot of the "fashion statement" masks are only one or two layers and pay little attention to fit.

Masks from my favourite fetish brand Maskulo - if I'm gonna wear a mask, I may as well look hot as fuck in it

yes, the ones at target are only 2 layers. I bought a pack, which contained 2 masks for 4 dollars but they were too big.

Could this silicone face mask by MIT researchers be better than N95?

As the states prepare for a possible “second wave” of the coronavirus, scientists are racing to fill the need for medical equipment and other novel tools to fight the virus. Durable and effective face masks top that list.

In the nick of time, MIT researchers have developed a silicone face mask that can be sterilized and reused up to 100 times. It’s made with two N95-grade breathing filters that can be removed and replaced after each use to be sure viral particles are being eliminated from the environment.

If implemented, hospitals would no longer be at the mercy of the highly sought after N95 respirator — much of the supply of which gets made overseas. Plus, the transparent material would improve communication between patients and staff.

“When the virus started popping up in the US, we . . . identified really early on that there was going to be a large deficit [of PPE],” James Young, a radiation oncologist who was part of MIT’s team of developers, told Fast Company.

“We really put our heads together to try to come up with something that was sustainable, and that’s how we really came up with this reusable, scalable, conformable, flexible mask,” he said.

They chose silicone rubber, a polymer with countless applications across several industries, including in construction, manufacturing, clothing and cookware. It’s durable against high temperatures — high enough to be able to sterilize in the oven, according to MIT’s experiments. The mask was also cleaned handily with rubbing alcohol, a bleach solution and even a steaming tool — none of which caused the silicone to degrade.

Researchers made sure to create a mask that could be produced quickly and at high volumes. Their product fits the bill because production of similar silicone-based masks are already underway, for some anesthesia masks, according to the team from MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.

In a trial of 20 health-care workers who test-ran the clear masks, about a quarter reported that they’d choose the pliable prototype over a traditional N95 mask if given the choice. Per their feedback, researchers have said they’ll reposition the filters to enhance visibility of the mouth — a boon especially to the hearing-impaired.

Ongoing environmental impact and cost-effectiveness studies have indicated that the masks could go for as low as $15, with the disposable filters at about $1 or less each.

The team is working to fast-track the product into production, and asking for an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to allow both consumers and the health-care industry to access their masks as soon as possible.

r73, anyone who tries hawking a Charlie's Angels mask without cutting me a check first had better be careful around windows in tall buildings.

^ That was meant for r95, but I like that hospital's management style.

I like the medical masks because they are actually made to allow people to breathe through them without much trouble

The Gap masks are 3 layers.

Working in healthcare I wear the surgical masks provided for us. But when not at work I wear the Gap cloth masks. Wearing N95 masks outside or doing activities even running errands is uncomfortable and it’s not made for that sort of use. I’d rather wear surgical masks than N95 masks if we’re talking about non-cloth masks in everyday usage.