The Definitive Guide to COVID-19 Homemade Face Masks FAQ

by Vicki Peel | Apr 21, 2020 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

As the world continues to maneuver through the chaos and unknowns of the current crisis of coronavirus (COVID-19), three directives have been proposed for the general population to assist in the process of “flattening the curve” and helping keep us safe from the viral threat.

First, the public should engage in copious amounts of hand washing, for at least for 20 seconds each time. Second, everyone should practice social distancing, or more precisely physical distancing.

The third proponent is that of wearing face masks to minimize the dangers involved when you must be in the company of others. The specifics of wearing face masks has been evolving from it being relatively unimportant to being a critical move in helping curb the spread of the virus.

This FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) guide has been compiled to address some of the issues surrounding the practice of wearing homemade face masks. The shortage of N95 respirators and surgical masks necessitates they be reserved for health care workers and first responders. Therefore, homemade face masks are the main option for everyone else.

Why should the general public wear face masks?

It is estimated that 25% of people may have coronavirus and not exhibit any symptoms. Therefore, they could be contagious and infecting people with whom they come in contact. So wearing masks could protect others around you by blocking germs from coughing and sneezing, and the wearer could be protected from incoming germs. The latest guidelines from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) say that anyone going into public spaces should wear a face mask.

Do I need to wear a mask if I’m not sick?

Yes. For reasons explained in the previous question, everyone entering public spaces should wear masks to protect themselves and others around them. You may be unaware of being a carrier of the virus, being either asymptomatic or prior to symptoms manifesting themselves.

Are there correct procedures for using a face mask?

Yes. Things you should remember to remain as safe as possible include:

1. Prior to using a face mask, wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Use ear loops or ties to put on and take off the mask, while avoiding touching the fabric part of the mask
3. If you live in an apartment, put on your mask while inside your home. (Elevators and stairwells are high-contamination areas.)
4. Wash and dry your fabric mask daily.
5. Keep your clean mask in a clean, dry place.
6. For maximum safety, use a face mask in combination with correct hand washing procedures and social distancing for a compounding effect.

Are there wrong ways to wear a face mask?

Yes. Some things you should not do when wearing a face mask include:

1. Don’t fidget with it. Put it on and keep your hands off the mask. And don’t pull it down around your neck and reposition on your face later.
2. Don’t wear it below your nose.
3. Don’t wear it so it just covers the tip of your nose.
4. Don’t leave your chin exposed.
5. Don’t wear it loosely on your face, with gaps on the sides.
6. Don’t push your mask under your chin, resting on your neck.
7. Don’t touch the fabric part of the mask, because that is where germs are concentrated, and you don’t want to spread them.

Are there risks to wearing a face mask?

The main risk is that you might overestimate the amount of protection provided by the mask. Masks differ in their ability to filter germs depending on the materials with which they are made and the design of the mask. Also, if you touch your face while wearing the mask, you risk spreading germs more than protecting yourself from them.

Do I need to wear a face mask outdoors?

Yes, if you are in public places where you may come in contact with others. It’s the socially responsible thing to do. But if you are at home in your back yard away from others, it is not necessary.

Do I need to wear a face mask during outdoor exercise?

Most experts believe it is not necessary to wear a mask during outdoor exercise. But they do not know how exercise affects the spread of the disease. For some, it may be difficult to breathe easily during heavy exercise if wearing a mask.

Should children wear face masks?

Children under the age of two should not wear a mask. However, children should not be exposed to public places anyway, such as grocery stores.

It may be difficult for parents to get children to wear a mask if they must go out in public. However, parents may make a game of it and keep the process lighthearted in order to get children to comply. Also, masks made of colorful fabrics or cartoon characters may encourage children to wear them.

When should a face mask be worn at home?

If there are others in the household who are sick, then masks should be worn indoors by everyone in the household during the period of illness.

What type of materials should be used to make a mask?

Although different sources say different things, the most commonly recommended fabric is a tightly woven cotton. Fabric used by quilters has been recommended, because quilters typically use high quality cotton fabric for their designs. The best test for determining if a fabric is appropriate is to hold it up to the light. More suitable fabrics are tightly woven and do not filter a lot of light through the fabric.

You should also hold the fabric up to your face covering your nose and mouth and see if you can still breathe easily. Fabrics that are too thick or too tightly woven may inhibit breathing.

Cotton is the fabric of choice and some sources of cotton that have been suggested for use include T-shirts, tea towels, pillowcases and sheets. Also, a two-layer mask of flannel and cotton was deemed comparable to a surgical mask as tested by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Those who led the study also had good success with quilting fabric. However, flannel may be too warm for comfortable wear in the spring and summer.

Should a filter be used with the mask? What types of filters are acceptable and where can I get them?

Research is emerging that suggests using a filter within the face mask can increase its effectiveness at blocking germs. Many types of materials have been tested around the country.

Some sources found that HEPA filters, such as those used for furnace filters and vacuum cleaner bags did a very good job of filtering the small particles of the virus. However, they may not have the breathability necessary to be comfortable. Also, some of types of filters contain fiberglass, which would pose health risks to the wearer and should not be used at all. Check manufacturer guidelines for further information.

The Suay Sew Shop in Los Angeles built their own homemade testing facility to find fabrics that were best suited for face masks. Shop employees found that stretchy blue shop towels made from a polyester hydro knit made the ideal filtration material. By inserting these towels between two layers of woven cotton fabric, the resulting mask filtered out the smallest particles their machine could test. The shop towels that tested best can be found at hardware and automotive stores. The two brands that tested the best were ToolBox’s Shop Towel and ZEP’s industrial blue towel.

Coffee filters and paper towels have also been tested as filtration materials. The coffee filters did show up to 50% filtration but were not as breathable as other products.

Is any type of face mask appropriate?

Any type of protection is better than nothing, but there are a wide variety of option from which to choose. Therefore, pick a mask that provides the most protection available in a homemade version.

Can I reuse my mask?

Yes, depending on the type of materials in the mask. However, they need to be sanitized between uses. If you have multiple masks, you could rotate use, giving the virus time to decay over the course of a few days. And there are other options for caring for masks.

How should I care for a fabric mask?

The simplest way to care for homemade fabric masks is to wash them after use with laundry detergent. They may be dried in a dryer or air dried. If there is a filter inserted between the outside layers of the mask, it would need to be removed and discarded, if disposable.

Some sources suggest sanitizing the masks in a plastic freezer bag in the microwave oven for two minutes. However, microwave ovens vary greatly in their wattage and could result in scorching the masks or causing a fire. The most recent recommendation is not to sanitize masks in a microwave oven.

How do different types of face masks compare to each other? What is the best design/pattern for a face mask?

Adding layers of fabric increases effectiveness in all masks.

Main sources:

CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention

New York Times newspaper

The full downloadable report on homemade face masks FAQs can be accessed at

https://vickiloves.me/FaceMasksFAQ