3 Tips For Safer Face Masks | NPR

Cloth masks do a good job at keeping in large respiratory droplets that can spread a disease like COVID-19 — the kind of droplets you spit out when coughing or talking. That's why in April the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised "the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others."

But there's another possible benefit to wearing a mask: protecting yourself from droplets. But masks, both homemade and made by vendors, vary in how good they are at keeping out pathogens.

If you're looking to boost your mask's ability to filter out small particles, we've got three tips from researchers who've been testing mask materials in light of the pandemic — including a hack that involves a pair of pantyhose.

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[maggiemae]

She was wearing the mask upside down. The pleats need to face down in order to not catch particles.

[pattithompson]

Scott Blue Shop Towels that have nylon in the paper used as liners for double layer cloth masks with insert pocket, filter better than what you mentioned here.

[Sentientmatter]

Any mask that's thick enough is unbreathable for an 8 hour workday. Any tips on that?

[epacrisimp]

Nylon stockings the latest recommendations. So far have not found one tip that shows how you apply the nylon stocking to the mask for comfortable fit and how you remove it later etc... Seems like the latest great idea without any help on how you do it.

[unvergebeneid]

Isn't it a bit weird to show that N95 mask with a valve that doesn't do shit to protect others from your germs?

[JohnSmith-tdhd]

Just add a sheet of solid material (such as cardboard) to the mouth area of a mask. It'll stop 100% of particles from passing from your mouth to someone else.

[brl]

Hey the valve on your pictured mask means when you exhale it filters near zero. That's not a healthcare mask- that's a DIY type mask made for easy breathing and only made to protect the wearer (when inhaling only). They really shouldn't be used for COVID.

[clayhopkins]

I always wonder why people do not suggest that your layers be offset, on the bias, this would not impact breathing so much, but would create smaller spaces for droplets. Sort of like camera lens filters that are polarized....just my two cents...

[scofah]

The background music is distracting and unnecessary

[carlabeard]

Please post a written transcript with each video.

[KConelove]

What are you using for the nose piece?

[AmazingtristanMagic]

Why is nobody talking about the nose gap? It's a challenge, even with nose bars.

[riccohall]

Whatever logical and morally sound tools and resources that can be used to fight against world problems should be used. Hopefully, there will be a day slavery, war, repression, uncontrolled sickness, climate change, and all other world problems are highly reduced and stopped.

[KellyBrainard]

You would never be able to breath through 4 layers of 400 thread count sheet material!!! I made a test one with 2 layers of 300 thread count pillowcase material and even it was so difficult to breath through that the air just went around the sides of the mask protecting no one! Please don’t recommend things that haven’t been tried in real life!

[barbarabehan]

This is good information but what about more details about wearing a mask that fits? Like using adjustable ties, nose pieces, etc.? Putting pantyhose over your face isn't the only way to get a better fitting mask.

[rdavism]

Use of certain brands of blue shop towels doubled as filter in pocket mask greatly improves particle blocking

[sunrisemorninglory]

You can't steralize or bleach nylon.

[cthulhuchrist]

Or go with the safest option, don't stress about it. Long term stress harms your immune system and ends up making you more susceptible to all forms of disease.

[TheMelmelu]

Can someone do a voice over in Spanish for people like my mother that still don't believe masks are effective🤦‍♀️? Thanks as always for the info NPR.

[DougGrinbergs]

How long before a national testing authority (NIST?) offers a gold standard for testing mask designs, materials/combinations? Months, seasons, years? This DIY thing seems so goofy. (:-(