There are many videos and step by step process for making a face mask at home. We complied a list of some of these different 3rd party sources so we could share them with you. The New York Times has suggested that HEPA vacuum cleaner bags are one of the best materials to use for a mask. We will demonstrate some great cloth face coverings that have HEPA vacuum bag medium inserted in the middle. Take a look at some of these great ideas!
Use a Cloth Face Covering To Help Slow The Spread of COVID-19
The CDC has put out a memo on the importance of wearing face coverings and how to make your own face covering.
How To Make The Safest Mask
This video has gone viral in the past week. The video demonstrates Dr. Ryan Southworth and his wife making a face mask from fabric and vacuum HEPA cleaner bags. He stresses what materials to use and the sanitary process for making the mask to be used in a medical setting.
A Step By Step Process On How To Make A Homemade Olson Mask
A ustomersent us these detailed instructions for making the Olson mask pattern. Take a look at the video and tutorial on this link so you can make your own Olson Mask with a HEPA vacuum bag insert.
List of Materials needed:
- Cotton fabric
- All purpose thread
- HEPA vacuum bag
- Scissors
- Double sided skin adhesive
Home Made Masks
Customer sent us a few home made versions of masks they made. Take a look at some of these options.
1. This mask was made by cutting off the end of a Royal Vac HEPA Bag. They will probably use this for working out doors as well.
2. This mask was made with a handkerchief, elastic hair ties, and a Miele SF-SAC 20/30 Air Clean Filter. This design is similar to the CDC cloth face covering recommendation with a filter inserted into the middle.
3. Here's a cotton mask with a pocket to insert a filter or HEPA vacuum bag.
The Process To Sanitize A N95 Mask:
N95 masks are designed to be used once (for no longer than three hours) and then thrown out. This is not because the mask won’t continue to filter but because a used mask develops harmful pathogens on the inside of the mask, which can be breathed in and cause cross contamination and illness. Therefore, masks, which were originally designed to be thrown out after use, should be decontaminated after use if they are going to be used again.
The problem is that cleaning a mask with soap and water will ruin a mask. Once a soaked mask dries, it cannot be breathed though and the wearer will instead be breathing air from the sides of the mask, defeating the purpose of the mask.
The solution is to disinfect just the inside surface of the mask, not the whole mask using hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide, through the process of oxidation, kills coronavirus, mold, and a host of pathogens. Hydrogen peroxide is safe, quickly breaks down into water and dries.
The key is not to get the mask soaked through but to lightly spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide just on the inside of the mask. Once the hydrogen peroxide is sprayed on the inside of the mask, it is best to set the mask out in direct sunlight with the inside of the mask facing the sun. Sunlight acts as a disinfectant by itself and also will activate the hydrogen peroxide helping the hydrogen peroxide to do its job.
When making a filter out of vacuum bag material, it would be best to use HEPA vacuum bags, which is similar in filtering ability to N95 masks. If using non HEPA vacuum bag material, I would double or triple the thickness.
This process was sent to use by one of our customers.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association has issued a right to refuse a decontaminated face mask. There are reports that this process of sanitizing the masks puts the nurses as risk. Please consider this information before proceeding to wear a sanitized mask, and if you have access to a new mask please use this over the decontaminated mask.
Warnings:
- This mask does not eliminate the risk of contracting any disease or infection.
- The cardboard part of the bag that we did not use does contain latex.
- For adult use only
- Do not use if hypersensitive to copper or zinc.
- Replace if damaged or soiled
- Use at your own risk
- Not FDA Approved
- Ask your medical professional for guidance with home made masks.
How To Put On And Take Off A Mask
Please follow these steps for putting on your face mask or taking it off. This guidance was put out by the WHO.
