Which masks are best?

[Chaotic45]

I want to start wearing a face covering more frequently. I know many people will disagree but my feeling is that they do help to protect people.

I bought a few from Amazon about 8 weeks ago but they were incredibly flimsy and the elastic detached on many of them as soon we put them on.

Lots of of people local to me are making and selling washable cloth masks so that's another option.

I realise that the very safest type worn by people on the front line can't be purchased by ordinary people, and that it's important that stocks of these are kept aside for front line workers.

So for the rest of us what's the best option?

The thing to remember is you aren’t wearing a mask to stop you getting it, those masks are for healthcare workers

You are wearing a mask to reduce droplets which reduces transmission so other people reduce their risk - and vice versa

So honestly a washable cloth mask is absolutely fine

Following

I have ordered some washable masks from Boots. Three for £15 (sorry I can’t link). Not arrived yet so I don’t know for sure but they look good.

A cloth mask, either boil it or pop it in with your washing. Locally here people are selling them for £1, or places like Etsy and clothes shops seem to have branched out. I would get a reusable one, as it's not only cheaper, but as has been said by a PP, sufficient enough for the purpose (and more comfortable).

on this Facebook page created by doctors in the us at the beginning of the pandemic, www.facebook.com/groups/611013049478306/ they share all the design for homemade masks that offer the best protection for the wearer.
Especially in the first entries months ago, there are many design which don't require sewing.

A washable cotton mask with a few layers of tightly woven fabric are best. I put a folded up tissue on the inside against my face to create another layer.

It doesn’t really matter as long as it covers your mouth and nose. I have ordered some cloth ones but they haven’t arrived yet so meantime I ordered some cheap crap disposable ones from Amazon, a fiver for 50. They are very thin and I doubt they do much but they’re easy to breathe through and fulfil what we were told to do.

I’ve bought some of the Gap ones which are nicely made. I’ve also bought some random eBay ones, and a pack from Baukjen. Bizarrely the gap ones say to wash in cold water but I’ve washed them on hot and they survived.

www.gap.co.uk/gap/men/featured-shops/new-face-masks/

I have these, they're fine, even though the reviews are a bit shit.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0861TD3MD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8
The advice is to wash face masks with your normal laundry, no need to boil wash. Hanging them out in sunlight will sterilise them, if you want to be extra careful.

If you wear glasses, get some with a nose wire. Less steamy.

I've found the ear elastic so uncomfortable that I'm currently looking at ones with tie strings. Even the little crocheted with buttons bands didn't help that much, made the mask too tight.

And an adjustable strip at top of nose is vital for glasses-wearers!

Am wondering if the ones made of stretch fabric are good or not.

@JulyBreeze if you ever wear your hair up, you can twist the strings around a ponytail etc, if not and you've tried the rest, then yeah fabric strings should be a lot more comfortable.

Washable fabric ones are fine. We've had some for a while now.
I wash them with out clothes and dry on the line. The soap in the laundry powder is going to kill any virus and sunlight freshens them up.

I think we'll end up with a variety of the masks and ear elastic masks. I've also added ribbon to keep them around my neck when I'm not wearing them.

I've just asked my doctor friend who has worked on the front line and also has a private business - she said disposable are better than cloth. But anything is better than nothing.

If you are worried about how it will feel on your ears, try buying a fabric mask that has fabric ties rather than elastic. They have an adjustable fit and won’t wear out as quickly as elastic.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-which-face-covering-works-best-scientists-test-14-and-find-one-actually-increases-risk-of-infection-12046715

Monday 10 August 2020 21:30, UK

Coronavirus: Which face covering works best? Scientists test 14 - and find one actually increases risk of infection

Researchers tested coverings ranging from the kind worn by healthcare professionals to neck fleeces and knitted masks.

I shared this on fb a few weeks back because there seemed to be so much misinformation out there. The masks ranked in order of effectiveness were taken from this study: www.sciencealert.com/some-masks-are-better-than-others-here-they-are-ranked-best-to-worst?fbclid=IwAR1nZwkKUHrBRh6IsGkIusX6qQdJC8VB4-EtLchFBJdEwhpUtFVHZ-bK44s

• Places where masks weren't recommended saw a 55% weekly increase in coronavirus deaths per capita after their first case was reported, compared with 7% in countries with cultures or guidelines supporting mask wearing.
• Yes, the government should have made wearing masks mandatory months ago but we can STILL save lots of lives and reduce transmission rates by wearing masks now.
• Facemasks protect others from getting the virus. You might be asymptomatic. You might be 'fine' if you get the virus but an immuno-compromised person is probably going to die. Lots of immuno-compromised are young and you wouldn't know just by looking at them. A mask protects other people from you.

Masks ranked in order of effectiveness (to summarise the article):

1. medical grade masks (n95, n99)
2. disposable surgical masks
3. hybrid masks (combining two layers of 600 thread cotton with another material like silk, chiffon, flannel)
4. three layers of cotton or silk
5. Vacuum cleaner bags

LEAST effective:

1. Tea towels and anti microbial pillow cases
2. A single layer of cotton
3. scarves and cotton t-shirts