masks masks masks
May 26, 2020 10:36 AM Subscribe
Shopping for new masks. Dizzying number of google hits for my questions. I would like a link of reliable information on all or any of the following criteria...
1. Cotton vs linen
2. Filters? Yes or no? What kind of filter and where to buy? (Also, how to know what a filter is made of when you buy the mask? I've heard some people were using vacuum cleaner bags which are not made to breathe through and can cause lung problems)
3. Brands
4. Anything else
I have some cotton masks but I've been using them for months and they have gotten worn out with frequent washing. Time to replace.
What is not useful for the purposes of this question: anecdotes or speculation, BUT I would love to hear about a specific brand or seller you like that I could match to some data-sourced information. THANK YOU!
1. Cotton vs linen
2. Filters? Yes or no? What kind of filter and where to buy? (Also, how to know what a filter is made of when you buy the mask? I've heard some people were using vacuum cleaner bags which are not made to breathe through and can cause lung problems)
3. Brands
4. Anything else
I have some cotton masks but I've been using them for months and they have gotten worn out with frequent washing. Time to replace.
What is not useful for the purposes of this question: anecdotes or speculation, BUT I would love to hear about a specific brand or seller you like that I could match to some data-sourced information. THANK YOU!
The Science Vs podcast did an episode on this recently. Here's a transcript, where they have links to the studies they discuss.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:24 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
linen fabric is generally a looser weave; I would avoid.
posted by brujita at 2:33 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by brujita at 2:33 PM on May 26, 2020 [4 favorites]
Avoid masks with an exhale valve (I call them “blowholes”) as they negate the main benefit of helping contagious wearers avoid spreading the virus. Y’all probably know that already, but the bulk of ads I’ve seen have them and tout them as “breathable.” I report those ads when I see them, but am not deluded that it does much good.
posted by sjswitzer at 2:50 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by sjswitzer at 2:50 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
The exhale valve is an absolute no-go for a disposable mask. However a reusable, fabric mask that has a valve isn't necessarily the same. Mine uses a replaceable PM 2.5 filter panel that sits between the valve and the user's mouth, so that all air going in and also going out is filtered.
posted by quince at 4:36 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by quince at 4:36 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
I've been sewing masks and have worked through a couple of iterations of the design (I think at this point I'm up to version 4 or 5). At one point I made a few with a middle filter layer of nonwoven material (shop towels apparently work well), but I've gone back to doing just 2 layers of fabric without a filter.
The purpose of a community mask (non-N95, not actual PPE) isn't to protect the wearer from virus particles (in which case having a filter would matter), it's to protect the people around the wearer from the wearer's exhalations, coughs, and sneezes. Given that, my current thinking is that it's counterproductive to wear a filtering mask if it makes breathing so unpleasant that you start to avoid going out or wearing it.
posted by Lexica at 7:03 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
The purpose of a community mask (non-N95, not actual PPE) isn't to protect the wearer from virus particles (in which case having a filter would matter), it's to protect the people around the wearer from the wearer's exhalations, coughs, and sneezes. Given that, my current thinking is that it's counterproductive to wear a filtering mask if it makes breathing so unpleasant that you start to avoid going out or wearing it.
posted by Lexica at 7:03 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
I just got a couple of masks from Decent Exposures. The masks are well made. They fit to my face snugly, from covering a fair amount of my nose, to fitting under my chin, to the elastic ear loops.
Decent Exposures has donated 3,000 masks. The company is woman-owned and socially responsible.
(Their usual business is bras and such.)
posted by NotLost at 7:57 PM on May 26, 2020
Decent Exposures has donated 3,000 masks. The company is woman-owned and socially responsible.
(Their usual business is bras and such.)
posted by NotLost at 7:57 PM on May 26, 2020
Mask Testing at Northeastern University is testing many varieties of home made masks, including some with inserts.
Note that their tests are of how many particles get into the mask, not how well the mask might keep your particles from getting out. Numbers are probably somewhat related.
posted by joeyh at 7:58 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Note that their tests are of how many particles get into the mask, not how well the mask might keep your particles from getting out. Numbers are probably somewhat related.
posted by joeyh at 7:58 PM on May 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
I've heard that you can use coffee filters as mask filters.
posted by NotLost at 8:53 PM on May 26, 2020
posted by NotLost at 8:53 PM on May 26, 2020
I am curious about OP's assertion that using vacuum cleaner bags can cause lung problems. Is there more information somewhere?
As an aside, KN 95 masks can be bought on Dealextreme, for less than those 3-ply things being advertised on the TV. I ordered some, and they came in less than 10 days, which surprised me. They appear to be good quality, but I can't actually test their performance.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:11 AM on May 27, 2020
As an aside, KN 95 masks can be bought on Dealextreme, for less than those 3-ply things being advertised on the TV. I ordered some, and they came in less than 10 days, which surprised me. They appear to be good quality, but I can't actually test their performance.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:11 AM on May 27, 2020
Researchshows that combining cotton and silk or chiffon is the best way to make an effective homemade mask. You can find masks made from cotton and chiffon on Etsy.
posted by Amy93 at 9:42 AM on May 27, 2020
posted by Amy93 at 9:42 AM on May 27, 2020
Sorry to piggy back on the question, but what's the best mask for hot humid weather?
posted by Space Kitty at 6:29 PM on May 28, 2020
posted by Space Kitty at 6:29 PM on May 28, 2020
This testing feels scientific:
"The researchers used an aerosol mixing chamber to produce particles ranging from 10 nm to 6 μm in diameter. A fan blew the aerosol across various cloth samples at an airflow rate corresponding to a person's respiration at rest, and the team measured the number and size of particles in air before and after passing through the fabric. One layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon -- a sheer fabric often used in evening gowns -- filtered out the most aerosol particles (80-99%, depending on particle size), with performance close to that of an N95 mask material. Substituting the chiffon with natural silk or flannel, or simply using a cotton quilt with cotton-polyester batting, produced similar results."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424081648.htm
posted by mecran01 at 12:12 PM on May 29, 2020
"The researchers used an aerosol mixing chamber to produce particles ranging from 10 nm to 6 μm in diameter. A fan blew the aerosol across various cloth samples at an airflow rate corresponding to a person's respiration at rest, and the team measured the number and size of particles in air before and after passing through the fabric. One layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon -- a sheer fabric often used in evening gowns -- filtered out the most aerosol particles (80-99%, depending on particle size), with performance close to that of an N95 mask material. Substituting the chiffon with natural silk or flannel, or simply using a cotton quilt with cotton-polyester batting, produced similar results."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200424081648.htm
posted by mecran01 at 12:12 PM on May 29, 2020
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posted by Iris Gambol at 10:50 AM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]