As coronavirus continues to spread the CDC now recommends “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”
At the same time, the world is experiencing a global face mask shortage and medical professionals on the frontline of the global crisis are increasingly facing shortages of personal protective equipment.
While staying home is the best option to protect yourself and prevent the spread, the CDC confirms that DIY face masks made from common household items can offer protection and help save the medical grade supply masks for those who need it most. You probably already have the materials, and producing your own DIY mask can be done from the safety of your home.
Finally a use for your old cotton sheets!
A study on the effectiveness of using household materials to create face masks found that some of the best choices are cotton material and pillowcases at 50-60% effectiveness. This is because of their breathability and more importantly, their ability to capture small virus particles (similar in size to the coronavirus). The results were also favorable toward antimicrobial materials like ettitude’s CleanBamboo™ Charcoal sheets and pillowcases, which kill 99.9% of microorganisms.
One added benefit of these DIY facemasks is you are able to wash them and use them again and again, helping to reduce waste. The CDC suggests laundering items according to the manufacturer’s instructions using the warmest appropriate water setting and ensuring the items dry items completely. In the case of ettitude’s CleanBamboo™ fabrics, that means washing at a max of 30C without the use of bleach or fabric softeners.
We are all in this together—let’s stay home, stay safe and get crafting. You can find our favorite easy online template and instructions here.
And for more at home DIY ideas, checkout our DIY overnight face masks—because we could all use a little extra R&R right about now.