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Original poster

Filthy face mask

96 replies

esterwin · 14/06/2021 00:40

Saw a woman today in the supermarket wearing a disposable face mask that was visibly filthy. Her clothes looked clean and presentable. I don't understand why anyone would put something dirty next to their face. Strange.

OP posts:
Mydogdoesntlisten · 14/06/2021 00:51

I put my facemasks for a (hot) wash each time I return home. The (clean on this morning) one I wore today looked disgusting when I took it off (perhaps the combination of sunblock and a hot day... lovely). But hey, I m doing as I'm told, and these lovely, dirty (despite frequently being washed) face coverings must be doing great in the fight against germs. Hmm

FelicityBeedle · 14/06/2021 01:05

I’ve had to do it once, not visibly dirty but it wasn’t my clean mask. I needed something from the shop, got there and had forgotten my clean mask. I imagine similar happened to her

HoppingPavlova · 14/06/2021 01:25

I get it. Went out, realised I’d forgot to take mask I’d left next to bag. Panicked. Ratted around handbag (which does great impersonation of the Tardis) and found old used disposable one at the bottom that was not in a great state. Wore it as was all I had on me.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 14/06/2021 01:27

Perhaps she, like countless others, doubts the efficacy of masks and is doing it because she has to.

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 14/06/2021 01:28

Perhaps she feels, as many of us do, that they are nothing but a panacea, pointless, ineffective and only wears one to comply with the law and societal pressure. Therefore whether it is dirty or not is largely irrelevant.

LightasaBreeze · 14/06/2021 04:19

I leave mine on the car seat, airing as they get a bit sweaty, sun cream makes them a bit grubby too, it does the job though and allows me into places. Its better in the cooler months as I can just wear my Seasalt buff when I go out but now I am back to those plasticky paper masks. I don't like the cloth ones, if I was to wear cloth I wear my buff as I can just keep pulling it up and down, far easier.

RocheLobe · 14/06/2021 05:35

“ I don't understand why anyone would put something dirty next to their face.”

Some people let their dogs lick their face

OliveTree75 · 14/06/2021 06:01

Mine get covered in make up. I don't wear a clean one everytime. I really don't care though, i think they are pointless and I only wear them because i have to.

Alleycat02 · 14/06/2021 06:08

Any face mask that's been worn for more than a few seconds is filthy anyway, disgusting things and utterly useless so I can't really blame her.
Really hoping we won't be forced to wear them for much longer!

tonystarksrighthand · 14/06/2021 06:14

@RoseRedRoseBlue

Perhaps she, like countless others, doubts the efficacy of masks and is doing it because she has to.

This is me .... mine is disgusting but you know .... because I have to

SpaceRaiders · 14/06/2021 06:15

The inside of mine are always covered in make up. I’d rather not be wearing it at all but I’m not brazen enough to make out I’m exempt like my friend does.

TheQueef · 14/06/2021 06:24

@IDespairOfTheHumanRace

Perhaps she feels, as many of us do, that they are nothing but a panacea, pointless, ineffective and only wears one to comply with the law and societal pressure. Therefore whether it is dirty or not is largely irrelevant.
Placebo surely not panacea? We could do with the panacea.
Blossomtoes · 14/06/2021 07:24

@IDespairOfTheHumanRace

Perhaps she feels, as many of us do, that they are nothing but a panacea, pointless, ineffective and only wears one to comply with the law and societal pressure. Therefore whether it is dirty or not is largely irrelevant.
This. I go through the motions, they’re rarely washed and have lipstick inside them.
Arrowheart · 14/06/2021 07:27

Mine is filthy as lives in my bag. I wear it as I can't get into a shop without it. It will continue to live in my bag and get filthy. The G7 lot showed us what a theatre this all is, wearing a mask standing up but not sitting down so fuck that.

Abraxan · 14/06/2021 07:33

@RoseRedRoseBlue

Perhaps she, like countless others, doubts the efficacy of masks and is doing it because she has to.
But that still doesn't explain why someone would out a clearly and visibly dirty mask over their face, including their mouth.
BoomChicka · 14/06/2021 07:40

Maybe she sees it as her dirt though, from her handbag or glove compartment, so she's not bothered. I've had cosmetic powder break open in my handbag before, it covers everything and would make a mask look filthy, but if that happened right before I needed to go in a shop I'd have to shove it on, for safety Hmm

Seriouslymole · 14/06/2021 07:42

I don’t get everyone who says they don’t work and therefore they don’t wash them? I don’t think they make a sod of difference but I still don’t want a disgusting dirty rag round my face (or worse, round my child’s face at school) so I ensure they are always washed and clean.

RaspberryCoulis · 14/06/2021 07:59

But that still doesn't explain why someone would out a clearly and visibly dirty mask over their face, including their mouth.

Because it is the law that you must wear a mask. Any number of reasons - she'd lost the clean ones, dropped it, whatever. And she thought that wearing a filthy one was better than none at all, both from a legal perspective and an over-zealous Covid Monitor fellow shopper perspective.

I have a supply of disposable masks which live in my bag, in the side pocket of the car door and in coat pockets. They are certainly not disposed of every time they are used. My masks are probably "filthy" too but I just don't care, they are worn for the very bare minimum of time while going round the supermarket.

starfish4 · 14/06/2021 08:38

I work in a shop. There's a bit dirty and dam right disgusting, those masks having turned grey, water/droplet marks in nose area and clearly wearing thin. Not nice to look at, but better than having a non masked customer expecting to stand within a meter wanting advice.

Bythemillpond · 14/06/2021 08:59

We have masks in the cars. We just grab the closest to hand when we go in a shop then stick it back in the glove compartment. No idea who used it before as they all look the same.
We have bought reusable masks and sometimes wear them and we always use the disposable ones multiple times. We can’t afford to spend £££s on masks.

MaudesMum · 14/06/2021 09:08

I used to work on the theory of one on, one off and one in the wash - then I lost one. And I was holding on in the hope that we might be allowed to wear them less frequently after the 21st. Now going out to buy more.

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 14/06/2021 09:10

@TheQueef - yes, you are quite correct - placebo, not panacea, my error!😳

swapsicles · 14/06/2021 09:11

Fed up of those complaining about wearing masks to shops for just half an hour, sure its a pain but what about those of us who have to wear them all day long in non air-conditioned workplaces and hot kitchens or in the sun!!!
I use a clean one everyday, have to as it gets hot and sweaty during the day,must have about 20 as just been trying to find one thats comfy for that long.

TheQueef · 14/06/2021 09:12

[quote IDespairOfTheHumanRace]@TheQueef - yes, you are quite correct - placebo, not panacea, my error!😳[/quote]
Panacea would be awesome though Grin

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 14/06/2021 09:17

She probably forgot to take one, and had to scramble for whatever she has in her handbag or in the car.

I’ve been there.