Where are you buying your masks?

[EmmaStone]

Stupid question I guess, but I don't particularly want to be fleeced. We've got a few fabric reusable ones which I impulse bought while stocking up on other things in Gap, and I bought some disposable kids' sized ones, which are probs a little small for my teens.

I looked on Boots online today, and the prices for a box of disposable masks seemed insane: £100 for 200 masks. A friend in Europe mentioned paying €10 for 10 masks. Maybe I'm being tight, but if I wear a disposable one for 10 mins in a shop, I don't really want to be paying that much.

There seem to be some cheaper options on Amazon, but can't tell if they're a bit rubbish.

So if I wear a cloth mask to go shopping for a couple of hours, it needs to go in the wash when I get home, yes? So I will need probably 10-15 per family member to keep us stocked while I wait for my next wash day (not going to put a washing machine on for 4 masks each day).

Am I missing something here? I keep suggesting teen DD might consider making us all masks, but so far not keen.

I got mine on Etsy and I just hand wash them after use. Hot water and anti bacterial soap the I put them in the sink with boiling water and zofloraanc hang them outside sunshine if possible. Once dry I use the steam shot of the iron to make sure all germs are dead. I only have 2 and as I wash then after each use and they dry quickly it’s not an issue.

Same as above, we got ours on Etsy and hand wash, only takes minutes. We have 2 masks each.

You can buy packs of the single use, pale blue masks for around £5-6 a box on amazon, there is nothing wrong with them as a single use item.

Good question. I was reading an article that recommended 2 layers of "high thread count" cotton with a pocket for a filter (eg paper towel) in between. Now I'm looking at all the online ones and thinking they don't do the job.

If you want a really naice one then Boden are doing packs of two with random offcuts of fabric.

Meant to say - You can't really get more middle class than matching Boden masks for mum and the kids Still tempting though.

@allmycats

You can buy packs of the single use, pale blue masks for around £5-6 a box on amazon, there is nothing wrong with them as a single use item.

Plenty wrong with them in that they end up in landfill (or as I’ve seen dumped in shopping trolleys or at the side of the road)

@ritatherockfairy

Good question. I was reading an article that recommended 2 layers of "high thread count" cotton with a pocket for a filter (eg paper towel) in between. Now I'm looking at all the online ones and thinking they don't do the job.

If you want a really naice one then Boden are doing packs of two with random offcuts of fabric.

The ones I bought came with carbon filters and you can buy washable filters to go in the ‘pocket’.

Thanks - I will look them up

A local dry cleaner and a local haberdashery are making them. Try Groupon too.

No, I'm not handwashing masks, DH and I still working FT, we're doing well to have clean clothes and plates 😂.

I hate the idea of creating even more landfill than we already do, so in theory prefer the fabric reusable ones. However, in practice, unless I have a STACK, we'll just end up reusing worn ones, which I guess defeats the object.

If you CBA washing masks, carry a wide-necked water bottle half full of soapy water.
Pop used masks into the bottle through the day, then when you get home they're clean and you can put them on the radiator ready to wear the next day.

I bought some fabric ones from Binge Designs online. They have a pocket you put a filter into and are very silky soft and comfortable to wear. You can hand wash and iron them. The filter you can take it out and reuse it for a week I think. You can buy more of the filters on amazon.

Please buy or make reusable, or use a scarf. Tons being dumped in landfill now

I got mine from a hosiery company called Elle. They’re in the UK and I was very impressed that they arrived the next working day. Much more comfortable than th3 cotton ones I made.

Please go for reusable, or even a scarf to avoid yet more crap going into landfill

Oops, double post. Sorry

I got ours from Baukjen. Simple cotton reusable masks which do the job nicely and are inexpensive. Would recommend.

I work full time so we have no time to hand wash so we have some from Etsy and some from Boden and they just get put in the weekly wash. I have bought disposable for the hairdressers because I don't want bleach on them.

ASOS and Boohoo do them for £3/£4 each. I got several and they get washed daily and changed daily. Like underwear for your face!

Oh don't get disposable ones please! They will just add to the pollution problem on land and in the sea.

Seriously they are not difficult to make. (I have made at least 50 for my family.)
Use old cotton shirts or summer dresses.
I used a shaped pattern but this pattern is probably the simplest...
mccall.com/free-digital-sewing-patterns-community-were-in-this-together/
Instruction video here -

Great, thanks everyone, have just bought 20 from Baukjen, happier to pay £50 for washable masks and not putting more into landfill.