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.

Have you not thought of the environment OP? My fabric ones are on the go since last March, just wash in with the clothes, all made from spare material. I use disposable ones at work, I'm a nurse. We shouldn't be wasting them.

@Ingvermama yes of course I think of the environment. But I also think of my health and the health of others. To be honest I don't go anywhere except a supermarket these days. I live rurally down I go for woodland walks etc where there's nobody about. My dc are not in school so I am reducing risks as much as I can and I probably only use one mask outside of work every second day at this stage. I came home from work today and we played in the garden. I haven't been out to need to wear a mask but I did change my mask 4 times today in work, not because I wanted to but because I HAD to!

I haven't had the virus in all this time wearing a fabric mask to shops etc, and I live in a busy town. Each to their own, just hate seeing the disposable masks all over the floor 😞, my love for Mother Earth makes me feel sad when I look at how we treat her.

I could get free disposal ones from work too. But for environmental reasons I bought some cloth ones and use those.

I’ve never bought a lottery ticket.

@Ingvermama I totally agree but unfortunately as you are aware pharmaceutical industries have to 100% sterile, no part of the process or ingredients can be compromised especially with biologics as they are being injected straight into a person. I do a beach clean most Saturday mornings. I always pick up rubbish when I can. I try to keep single use plastics out of my home. But for this I cannot make an exception.

@fluffythedragonslayer I wouldn't be allowed to use cloth ones in work.

My university gave us all two free rather nice cloth ones last august. But I've bought loads since then

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.

My OH was given packs of reusable ones at work so I’ve never had to buy them either. They seem to wash quite well but we have to make sure we each have our own back afterwards as they stretch!

[quote gagaoolaalaa]@Indecisive12 to be honest I thought most people knew their home made masks were not as effective as a medical mask!? Is that not common knowledge?

I am a lab analyst/microbiologist I have a biochemistry degree and a masters in pharmaceutical Sciences. [/quote]
Right, aye.

@Hotzenplotz? Is that hard to believe? They are fairly standard quals for someone in the pharmaceutical industry.

I can get some free in my workplace but I prefer to buy them as certain types are more comfortable than others.
I also like to wear cute ones that I can wash and re-use.

Another mask maker here - much better for the environment.

No idea why everyone is so grumpy on this thread! I’ve not bought a single mask either! My friend’s mum made me one right at the start of the pandemic, then my work gave us each 3 reusable ones but now we have to wear the medical grade ones at work so I get through multiple ones of those a day as they should be changed regularly.

I have bought absolutely loads of the buggers! I must have spent £100s of pounds on them, some were £17.50 each.

I have yet to find one that doesn't result in instant blindness (from totally steamed up glasses) the moment I set foot inside a shop!

I have given up now and just keep a glasses case in my bag, so I can take my glasses off before I go inside. I can't see very well without my glasses and feel a bit disoriented, but it's better than not being able to see at all!

When you open the packet of two to use one at work and then put the other in your pocket, are you not allowed to use the 2nd in the pack at work because it's not sterile any more and that's why you end up with a few in your pocket by the time you get out?

For those who have made their own: Do you make them with the metal nose strip and/ or filter pockets, or just the material?

I made 2 that have a layer or gauze type fabric sandwiched between two layers of cotton and then another that is two layers of cotton with a pocket for a disposable liner. All of them have the metal nose strips and are shaped so that they fit around my face and under my chin.

I'm PMSL at the posters who are arsey on this thread, finding it so boring but compelled to post. Some of them, numerous times.🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thanks for the post OP.

@TwoZeroTwoZero
When you open the packet of two to use one at work and then put the other in your pocket, are you not allowed to use the 2nd in the pack at work because it's not sterile any more and that's why you end up with a few in your pocket by the time you get out?

Yeah so the packs of two are in certain areas and then the single ones are in the lab and graded areas. So when I take one out of the double packet the second one stays in the plastic pocket and I put it in my lab coat pocket, I'll usually use that one when I go for lunch and then grab another double packet on the way back to the lab.

@PurpleHoodie

For those who have made their own

Do you make them with the metal nose strip and/ or filter pockets, or just the material?

I use the metal nose strip and a filter pocket, into which I put a non woven gauze or kitchen paper. I also have a set with nose strips and three layers of cotton. For the first ones I made I raided the craft box and used pipe cleaners but they didn't last in the wash.

I've got quite quick at making them so DH and I have about a dozen each and the children have a couple too.

I haven't bought any, but am seeing friends in silk ones now and am tempted as they look a lot more comfortable!

So in 11 months you and your possible family have never bought a face mask that wasn’t taken from your employer

What about going into shops, takeaways etc

If you can’t use the second mask when opened then why isn’t your work packing them individually to half costs.

If your work can’t use them as they aren’t sterile how can you use them in public?

For those interested, you can download a free pattern for the Olsen mask if you google it.
You can adapt it to have triple layer plus a filter, with a nose strip if you add an additional channel to sew it into.
It's not expensive to buy the fabric and findings.
I've made 14 from the materials I bought, at a total cost of £19.02 (not including thread and the fabric cutter and mat I bought - my choice).
Here's a picture of them.

@Ontheboardwalk the second one I use outside because it doesn't need to be sterile outside. The mere fact that I am outside makes it unsterile. We can wear the first of the double pack ones once entered into the airlock as the whole environment is more sterile, then when I enter a clean room (a highly graded sterile area) we must wear a single pack one.

Masks out in public don't need to be "sterile" as I'm not using them for a work procedure. They do need to work though.

@mineofuselessinformation out of interest what size filters do you use?

We get reusable masks where I work and my husband also got several reusable masks from his work.
However we did buy some when they first became mandatory so have quite a collection now.