I don't think it's a good idea to make your own face masks.
I've been having a bit of a discussion with someone about making and wearing face masks. If anyone is planning on making face masks themselves, please read.
I'm from Australia, where, you may remember, we've had pretty bad fires and pretty bad smoke from November last year until February, causing pretty bad respiratory problems. I was in one of those locations. Because smoke in my area was so bad, they issued N95 masks to anyone who had problems, including me. We were warned that any other masks were worse than useless because they didn't have the appropriate level of protection.
So yesterday, I get this e-mail from someone in the USA titled
We've been asked to make masks for the USA
I read through it, and she is making cloth masks for herself to filter the air while turning and sanding wood - that is, to protect from the same particles that we find in smoke from a forest fire - the type of application where anything other than the N95 masks are useless. She suggests that everyone should be making these cloth masks for their friends who are health professionals. I can't find whose been asked to make masks or why. I think that no such request has come.
So I quiz her about this, as I am somewhat disturbed that anyone would recommend making something that's useless that might encourage people to forego something that's worth wearing, in favour of something that's not. And she sends me a reply that indicates that you have to be very careful about the fabric that cloth masks are made from, because most cloth when made into a mask would be detrimental to your health. I quote her verbatim...
What is the debate about fabric choices for masks actually discussing?
You quite possibly heard this statement on the news "simply wearing a mask can make you sick."
If you have, what are they saying exactly? Are they saying you'll get the Corona-Virus from wearing a mask? No. They are speaking vaguely, probably initially so everyone wouldn't go out and purchase all of the masks in America so we could get them to our healthcare professionals, that need them more than the rest of us.
What is really being stated is this. If you wear a mask, you can become sick because we have bacteria in our body secretions, such as sweat, saliva, and others. The bacteria we possess are alive and thus, need food to survive outside of our body their HOST.
Wearing a mask transfers oil (food) from your skin onto the fabric and when you sweat (food) it transfers onto the fabric and then you combine that with your body temperature (warm) it creates a nice cozy home for Bacteria to live all safe and comfy and if you wear that mask for a long period of time without washing with bleach or disinfecting detergents, it will grow and multiply just as the human population grows - and THIS can make you sick even though the bacteria originated from you and you were healthy before you started wearing the mask.
How can we keep from getting sick from wearing a mask then?
Have several masks ready, and wash them. If you sweat or get too hot, change more often and you shouldn't wear it all day long. You should only wear a mask when needed.
When should I wear a mask?
1) If you are sick and within a small room with poor airflow for a period of time, so if you cough, sneeze or talk, the virus (which becomes airborne) doesn't fly out of your mouth and land on those around you.
2) When you go out shopping and there are others walking in front of you that are sick with any virus. If they cough, the virus remains in the air and you walk through that air and the virus lands on you. IF it gets to any mucous membrane (anywhere your body secrets bodily fluids of any kind) it then assumes you as its HOST and you become ill.
The COVID-19 Virus as described by scientists seems to have wings and remains airborne longer than other Coronaviruses which is in part why it is more contagious than other flu viruses.
Bacteria vs a Virus = 2 different organisms.
Bacteria is alive and Viruses are not.
What does that mean? If a bacteria gets on the mask it will create more bacteria even without YOU it's HOST.
Viruses are not considered alive because they require YOU its HOST to remain alive. It is actually your body trying to attack the virus that is what you are sick with. Your Immune response, similar to allergies or autoimmune.
I will stop here on the science of bacteria and viruses, and you can learn more should you want, from other sources teaching Biology.
Which fabric is best for masks?
Synthetics. (manmade fiber content fabric) Such as polyester or nylon.
Why not cotton?
Cotton, silk, and wool are all-natural fibers, each was once alive and contains cellulose which is a form of sugar.
Why is that important?
Bacteria is a living organism that needs to eat to stay alive and cellulose is a food.
How about PUL or Baby Diaper Cover fabric?
No.
Why? Because it is coated with Polyurethane and will create condensation and with your body's heat, increase bacteria growth. It may also block air and not allow you to get enough Oxygen.
Water repellant or resistant fabrics explained.
When I filmed my video I talked about the fact that I chose to use a water-repellant fabric because it would be less likely to allow bacteria growth as it resists the moisture that your breath creates in the mask.
That said, I also explained that once you wash this fabric in HOT WATER which you should do, to kill any Bacteria that has begun growing on the mask and to wash off any viruses that are laying in wait, for you to touch it and then touch any mucus membrane. Well, once you wash these fabrics, you wash off the additive that was sprayed on to the fabric by the manufacturer to make it repel water or moisture.
These sprays are used for home decorating where fabrics will be close to windows, or water sources caused by showers, or rain from the outside mixing with the heat from your homes which creates condensation on mirrors and windows and a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
What about Flannel?
Flannel, Minky, Velvet and any other fabric that has a hair-like surface will release small fibers into the air, which is why it's so messy to sew with as you cut it it breaks apart. When wearing it over your face, small fibers can enter the airway and end up in your lungs. Do not use it as a filter because it is NOT a filter and will increase your body temperature and cause you to sweat which will help feed bacteria.
What does a mask need to be a good mask?
1) Cool, lightweight fabric to reduce the chance of increased sweating.
2) Less Natural fiber, so bacteria have less to feed on. 50/50 Polyester to cotton or higher content of polyester to cotton. In other words, more polyester in the fabric content than cotton is better.
3) An air filter (Stick and Tear a product she sells) that is not too dense that it stops airflow but fine enough to block the viruses from entering between the spaces on the fibers as the fabric is woven and has gaps between the threads/fibers that are small openings for the viruses to get pulled into from a person inhaling as they breathe.
4) Machine washable in HOT water and able to withstand bleach.
5) A soft fabric so it doesn't cause abrasions on the skin and cause itching or a desire to move the mask while wearing it.
6) A fast, method of putting it on, so you are more likely to put it on. Especially wearing rubber gloves. This is why I didn't design mine with strings to tie and ties or elastic that wraps around a person's head can slip because of the shape of the person's head.
7) Elastic - not too wide or too narrow depending on the wearer. Not Round elastic as it will roll and pinch the skin.
8) A tight seal, or form that doesn't have large gaps that act as open doors along the sides (cheeks), the top (nose) or bottom (chin) for any virus to be pulled into as the person breathes or inhales.
I hope this helps you make a good choice for the fabric you use to make a mask - it is better to make a mask that will end up being used. If it doesn't pass then it will be thrown away or worse, may make someone sick.
My take is that you need to be very very careful that you make a mask that won't make you sick. She made her masks out of a product she sells (as a filter) and a water repellant fabric (which she now says isn't the best choice). And she's saying that most other fabrics are not the best choice either because they could cause you to get sick.