What to use as a filter in fabric mask?

[Zem74]

Am meant to be flying to Spain in a couple of weeks, have made a couple of fabric masks (same pleated design as surgical masks but made from layered cotton) they have a pocket to put an extra filter in. Does anyone know what can be used inside to act as a filter?

The lady who made our masks said a lot of people who bought filter masks from her are using coffee filters.

Doesn't sound very comfortable to me but not sure what would be.

Coffee filter paper?

You can order disposable N95 filters

I've heard of using kitchen roll. You can buy wee mask filters online too

My pattern for ones with an inbuilt washable liner calls for a non woven fabric material for the filter layers (I'm using non woven interfacing). In theory, jaycloth fits that (the yellow/blue ones), but I'm not sure about it...

Dried out wet wipes make a good filter too.

The masks I bought came with PM2.5 filters. You can buy them online

Thanks for all suggestions, lots of ideas!
Also didn’t realise you could actually buy mask filters! I’m guessing these are disposable after use?

Kitchen roll

they last for a certain amount of hours so I dont discard after one use. I have masks in rotation so am using one then leaving each one a few days before reusing. I then wash the mask every week or so and will then discard the filter

We are using folded kitchen towel - I made the masks from the BBC design (sewn version with pocket).

Yes

I use J-Cloths in my fabric masks...Cheap and washable !

We've had mandatory masks for over three months now where I live and I've made nearly 100 for us, family, friends and local community. At first I made them with a pocket for a disposable filter but it was honestly really uncomfortable, so now I use permanent fusible interfacing between two layers of cotton. Each mask is worn for a fairly short time (an hour or so) before washing - and I boil wash masks for at least 5 mins. 60 degrees in the washing machine would be enough but doing a separate wash lets me keep an overview of clean and dirty masks. We have about 30 masks for a family of 4, so I just need to make 'mask soup' once a week. I also have a mixture of pleated rectangular masks and the shaped over the nose ones, also some with straps for behind the head and others with ear elastic. You have to find the model that works best for you.

I read about an experiment that was done online and Henry Hoover bags came out top for filtering power.. Someone started a rumour there was fibreglass in them but the manufacturers debunked it! So we use those.

Do you need a filter if you're going to wash the mask every time you wear it?

Sanitary towel ?

Silk and chiffon, apparently:

ttps:www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424081648.html

We bought washable filters from amazon.

My mum has made some following a design from a lady in Italy, she said kitchen roll or baking paper are good filters!

Coffee filters

Cut up hoover bags (not the cheapest ideas)

J cloths!

Dried out wet wipes supposed to be good

I have made pocket masks and just pop a Handy Andy folded tissue in there.

I have fifty million dried out wet wipes left over from when the children were small. (hence being dried out)