How To Make A Face Mask + Wash & Wear It Properly (and some favorites to shop!)

Hey friends, how is your week going? I’m really excited about today’s post because I think it’s an important one. Although, before we start… I can’t get over how different I looked just a few weeks ago ?  A shorter haircut + lighter color DEFINITELY feels more like me. That being said, I might not recognize myself as much because these were taken in the height of my quarantine funk… glad I’ve been able to weasel my way out of that a little!

Pink Mask | 100% Human Mask | Belt Bag (use code LAKESHORELADY for a discount) | Tee | Shorts | Sandals 

How To Make A Face Mask + Wash & Wear It Properly

Anyway – on to the point of this post! In the time of COVID, it’s no secret that I am very vocally pro-mask. Not only does the CDC highly recommend it… but more than 20 states are now requiring masks in public. I understand that the messaging around this was slightly confusing at first, given the fact that we were told not to seek out masks back in March, but that was because they wanted to make sure our healthcare workers had enough surgical masks to stay protected.

Now that we know more about the virus and how fast it’s spreading, we are being called to wear cloth face masks to protect those around us. 

For me, this really isn’t complicated and I don’t quite understand why it’s even controversial. The director of the CDC has said that if everyone wore masks, we could get COVID-19 under control in 4-8 weeks. In addition to that, Goldman Sachs released an extensive analysis that makes an economic case for a national mask mandate.

In other words, not only can wearing a mask in public protect other people and prevent spreading the virus, but it’s also our path back to (somewhat) normalcy. And if you’re still fighting the science behind it, please consider varying your sources and doing more research. This article is a helpful start!

 To make it even easier for all of us to get on board with this, a TON of companies have started making masks (I’ve rounded up some favorites below!) and you can even make one at home if you’re in a pinch. It is SO easy to put public health first and make sure we take this simple precaution when we go to grocery stores or can’t practice social distancing. It’s just not that hard, and it’s a lovely way to say “I care about my neighbors and I don’t want them to get sick.” So, let’s do it ❤️

How To Properly Wear A Face Mask

First things first, how do you properly wear a face mask? This meme is by far my favorite explanation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by We Dont Deserve Dogs (@wedontdeservedogs) on Jul 15, 2020 at 10:09am PDT

In all seriousness, that covers a lot of the basics. First, make sure your mask is clean and then wash your hands before putting it on. Secure it behind your ears and make sure the fabric is covering your nose and mouth, and is secure under your chin.

You also want to make sure that the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face. I haven’t purchased a mask with a nose wire yet, but I’ve heard that can help make sure that it stays in place better. Masks with adjustable straps can also help ensure a snug fit.

While you have it on, avoid touching your face. When you’re ready to remove the mask, only handle the ear loops instead of touching the cloth. Along those same lines, don’t push your mask down to your chin because that can bring germs up to your nose and mouth when you put it back in place. 

*I like to keep an extra in my bag, just in case. Better safe than sorry!

Tips For Washing Fabric Face Masks

Since we should be washing our masks after EVERY use, it’s important to make sure we’re cleaning them properly. Cloth masks should be washed in the washing machine with hot water and detergent. You can either leave them hanging out to dry, or it’s actually advised to put them in the dryer since the extra heat is great for killing germs.

Alternatively, you could also hand wash your masks. Scrub them with soap and either let them hang dry or put them in the dryer. Either way, make sure you use warm or hot water, since that’s more effective than washing with cold water.

If your masks have a filter (or if you put a coffee filter in!), just be sure to remove it before washing. 

How To Make A Face Mask Out of Cloth

What if you don’t have a mask yet? Or what if all your masks are dirty but you don’t have time to wash them before you need to be in public? You can make a homemade mask out of a bandana or old shirt – basically, as long as it’s a piece of cloth, you can turn it into a mask. Here’s how you do it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lauren Nolan (@lakeshorelady) on Apr 5, 2020 at 2:03pm PDT

Step One: Get a piece of cloth

If you are using a t-shirt, cut a rectangle out of the torso. If you’re using a bandana, that’s good as is!

Step Two: Fold it up

Lay the fabric on a table. Fold the bottom up to the middle and the top down to the middle. Fold the top over the bottom. (This creates multiples layers of fabric.)

Step Three: Add hair ties

Thread a hair tie on either end. Fold the extra fabric on the ends into the middle. If you can tuck one side of extra fabric into the other, that will make it more secure!

Step Four: Put it on!

Grab the hair ties and loop them over your ears with the fabric covering your nose and mouth.

*You could also make a more secure mask with a sewing machine if you have any extra quilting fabric at home! There are a TON of tutorials for that all over the internet.

My Favorite Face Masks

I actually discovered my favorite masks after we took photos for this post… of course, right?! I got this 3-pack ny Kitsh just a few days after we shot this, and they’re the ones you see in my stories most of the time. For some reason, one of the masks is bigger than the other 2, but since a 3 pack was only $12, I’m not complaining.

As for the ones in these photos, I really like this pink gingham one from Etsy. My Mom has it, too! The 100% Human masks are nice because they are made of really soft cotton, but Adam has pretty much stolen them from me since they fit his face better. (These masks look like a really similar fabric/style – and they’re from a sustainable company!) I’m getting another mask from a small Chicago business next week too, soI’ll be sure to update you about that one as soon as I get it! In the meantime, there are some more cute options below!

PS. My bag is by my friend Abby Alley, who is one of my favorite ethical designers based in Chicago! (You can use code LAKESHORELADY for a discount, too!) Also, I’m wearing this tee, these shorts, and these sandals above.

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PS. You might also like How To Make Hand Sanitizer At Home!