To think I can't be the only one who has never bought a mask?!!

[gagaoolaalaa]

Anyone else never bought a mask?? 🤣it has been nearly a year and I have never had to buy one.

@kowari mostly I'll reuse one if I'm popping into the shop in between calls but if it's on a day I'm not working then I'll use a fresh one. I do have a couple of material ones, one I've put away because it has Xmas trees candy canes and gingerbread men all over it and the other is somewhere amongst the crap in the car boot. I prefer the disposable ones to the cloth ones because I like to mould it around my nose

Why the fuck have you posted such a mundane utterance in AIBU?
WHAT is your AIBU?

[tazer]

My husband has never bought a mask either, I buy all of his. I have even made him an emergency pack for his van incase he ever forgets.

@gagaoolaalaa

I wear one all the time! All day at work, in shops, out for walks! Always!!

So what's the point of this thread?

I've bought lots of masks.

I've worn one mask once for one occasion but would never go anywhere busy without a mask.

I am disabled and mostly restricted to my house. I haven't been to a single shop since well before March last year but I need family members to shop for me so I buy masks for them.

@SoledOut

I have bought washable ones - I hate the idea of using disposable ones, the environment and the planet still matters you know!

It does but fabric masks are a lot less effective at reducing the spread of Covid than surgical and other medical masks.

I've never physically gone out and bought a mask either 🤷‍♀️
I've had lots of free fabric ones given to me from work. I've received others from promotions.
Work have given me a packet of disposable ones if in case any of the people I work with ( public) haven't got one in them but need one.

@LegoCaltrops

When there are affordable medical grade masks available, I'll buy them. Until then, I'll make do with my sub standard homemade mask. Hopefully the government won't decide to make it illegal to go shopping or on public transport without medical grade masks before affordable masks are easily available to buy. Most of us don't get them for free, & can't afford to be that choosy.

You can buy a 50 pack of type 2R (fluid-resistant) surgical masks for £5 on some websites (e.g. www.medisave.co.uk/ppe-face-masks-iir-14683.html ).

@Lovely1a2b3c don’t forget you have to add shipping to that- which almost doubles the cost.
A properly made and fitted 3-fabric mask is at least as effective as the ones you suggest. (eg. Three layers including at least one non woven fabric and one close woven natural fabric, filter pocket, adjustable sides and nose wire) as long as they are washed correctly after each use. They are so much more comfortable too. And they are less likely to steam up your specs. or slide off your nose.
Fabric masks are less likely to end up littering the streets- I counted 27 discarded disposable masks on the street in a half hour walk to the shops this morning and 1 fabric mask. This is not unusual.

My friend wears a balaclava everywhere. In the old days you weren't allowed to wear a face covering at the petrol pumps, now nobody cares.

Sorry to jump on but it seems some people think reusable ones are better, others think disposable ones.
I've tried several different reusable ones but they are all too big and kept riding up. And I heard twisting the straps round the ears isn't advised because it creates a bigger gap at the sides? And the adjustable ones look like they would irritate and hurt my ears. I've been using the blue disposable ones, even then it depends what shop I buy them in and if they are the lighter or darker shade of blue. I've got what looks to be exactly the same disposable masks in different shops and the only ones that are a perfect fit for me are the light blue ones from B&M, the same type from anywhere else ride up again.
Any idea what I can do or where I could try? (To add I'm a sahm, the only places I go are to and from my sons school and to my fortnightly appointments at a beauty salon. I don't go anywhere else really. My husband works and has to go near enough past the supermarket to get to and from work, so it makes sense for him to go while he's as good as there, rather than me going all that way. And he can carry more than me. Neither of us drive, my husband uses his bike to travel. In case anyone thought I simply can't be bothered to go, and he's happy to. Now he still goes because he can manage more than me).

@happymummy12345, if you're struggling with keeping a mask snug enough (I did), to avoid sore ears you can buy straps or hair clips that are designed for the straps of the mask to go on to.

@Lovely1a2b3c - bear in mind that there have been calls by certain people to introduce a requirement for medical grade masks, specifically the FFP2 / N95 type - these typically cost upwards of £2 each, plus postage. Not commonly available in the shops, & they were entirely unavailable for some months early in the pandemic. Hence medical staff having to make to with lesser masks, reusables, etc.

£2 or more per shop simply isn't affordable for many people.

I made two types of reusable back in first lockdown. Some with strings some with elastic. I prefer to wear the ones with strings but they were a faff to make. They get hot washed and steam pressed after each use.

How is it stealing if OP has repeatedly said they're allowed to take them and are encouraged to use/take them?
Although it does seem ridiculously wasteful to me if they're those disposable ones.
Much rather a resuable one myself

DD and I have made our own masks, fabric, 3 layers.

The DCs' dad died last November, and DS decided to re-use his late dad's masks, all washed. They did have a similar head shape, and Ex's masks fit DS quite nicely.

But we've not used any disposables.

I'm the same as you OP. Been given them at work and never thought to invest personally! Hadn't thought about it until this thread