How to Make a CDC-Approved Cloth Face Mask [Updated July 2020]

[Karlston]

How to Make a CDC-Approved Cloth Face Mask

A fabric face covering helps prevent you from spreading Covid-19 when you leave the house. Here’s how to make one.

Wearing a cloth face mask does not replace any of the other recommended safety measures, but experts now believe it is better than leaving your home with a bare face.Photograph: MARCO BERTORELLO/Getty Images 

 

 

We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and things are not going particularly well in the United States. If you have to go out in public where it may be hard to stay 6 feet away from others at all times, you should wear a mask with (at least) two layers covering your mouth and nose—even if it’s not mandated where you live.

 

Masks help eliminate the spread of the Covid-19 infection, but they work mainly by preventing you from spreading the virus when you breathe, talk, sneeze, or cough. As such, they only really work if we all wear them.

 

Because we’re going to be wearing masks for the foreseeable future, we’re reviewing them here on the Gear team.These are our favorite face masks right now. They meet the basic CDC requirements and should hold up to frequent washes. But if you have a surplus of old T-shirts lying around, you can still make your own.

 

If you’re sick, you shouldn’t be leaving your house, but if you happen to be infected with Covid-19 and are not yet showing any symptoms, wearing a cloth mask might help protect people around you. (These are Covid-19’s typical symptoms.) Some individuals infected with Covid-19 never show symptoms or do not get very sick, especially if they are young. A mask can keep you from unknowingly spreading the virus.

 

Be sure to frequently wash masks in the washing machine with regular detergent.

 

Updated July 29, 2020: We checked the information in this article, updated links, removed a method for making masks that the CDC no longer lists, and added a section on our favorite masks you can buy.

 

Some Mask Rules

• Do not buy and hoard N95 masks. Health care professionals are still facing shortages in supplies, and we should not use protective masks that ill patients and health care workers may need.

• Do not put a face mask on kids under 2 years old, or anyone who has difficulty breathing or might be unable to remove the mask themselves.

• Do not remove a mask by its mouth area. Grab it by the straps. Wash your hands after touching it.

• Do not just wear a standard bandana or scarf. Follow the instructions below to create a mask that has multiple layers (at least two) and more tightly covers your face.

2 Ways to Make Your Own Face Covering

 

The CDC released directions for several DIY masks, as well as a short instructional video outlining its no-sew mask-making advice. We’ve put the instructions below.

 

DIY T-Shirt Mask (No Sewing Required)

 

(There is an alternate version of this video for those who know American Sign Language.)

 

This no-sew option is easy to make, but it’s important to note that these are made using fabric that is several layers thick and fits snugly to your face. You should not use a thin bandana or scarf haphazardly wrapped around your mouth in a single layer.

 

What You’ll Need:

• Tightly knit cotton material, like a T-shirt. (A scarf can work. The fabric should be big enough to fold several times and cover your nose and mouth.)
• Two rubber bands or hair ties (also here)

How to Assemble It:

1. Cut the bottom 7 to 8 inches off of a T-shirt (cutting horizontally), so that you have a strip of material.
2. Lay the material out flat in front of you, and turn it 90 degrees so that what used to be the bottom hem of the shirt (it’s usually double stitched) is facing left or right.
3. Fold it from the bottom to the middle, and from the top to the middle. Repeat this step a second time.
4. Loop a rubber band or hair tie around each end (left and right), leaving a few inches of fabric, so each side looks like a candy wrapper.
5. Fold the excess material over the band, with each side meeting in the middle, adding another layer to the mask.
6. Put a band over each ear, making sure the material fits snugly to your face. The pressure on your face should keep the material and rubber bands in place.

DIY Face Mask (Sewing Required)

Photograph: Jens Büttner/Getty Images 

 

This mask is more difficult to make, but it may feel more comfortable and last longer.

 

What You’ll Need:

• Two 10- by 6-inch rectangles of tightly woven cotton fabric. (You could use sheets or quilting fabric, or a T-shirt will work if nothing else is available.)
• Two 6-inch pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, hair ties, string, or cloth strips)
• A sewing machine
• Needle and thread

How to Assemble It:

1. Stack the two rectangles of fabric.
2. Fold the longer, 10-inch sides 1/4 inch down and sew them together.
3. Fold the shorter, 6-inch sides 1/2 inch over and sew at the edge, leaving a small space open for the elastic to loop in.
4. Thread the elastic through the opening you left in step 3. Tie or sew the ends together.
5. Tuck the knots inside the opening. Gather the short sides together and stitch the elastic into place.

If You Plan to Buy a Mask, Read This

 

You will likely need to wear masks for a while, so having a few good ones is a smart idea. WIRED’s face mask recommendations are here, with different styles and price points. Keep in mind that you should attempt to verify that any face mask you buy meets CDC guidelines; for example, it should have at least two layers of fabric, fit securely against your face, allow for clear breathing, and have the ability to be laundered.

 

Home sewers are churning out face masks on Etsy. For quicker shipping, you can filter for local shop locations.

 

The Tom Bihn masks are WIRED writer Adrienne So’s favorite masks. They come in two sizes and several colors, and since we tested they released other versions, the V2 and V3. Plus, for every mask you buy, the company donates one to a local charity.

 

We also think Hedley & Bennett’s The Wake Up and Fight Mask is exceptionally comfortable, and for a pretty vintage look, Courtyard LA’s Silk or Brocade Face Masks are quite stunning.

 

Finally, it doesn’t hurt to have a few disposable masks around the house or stashed, for emergencies. We’ve tried this brand of disposable masks from Walmart, and they appear to have a normal three-ply build and fit.

 

In addition to wearing a face covering, the CDC still recommends doing these things regularly:

• Wash your hands. Use soap and water, and wash them for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is acceptable to use if you are unable to wash your hands.

• Cover your face when coughing with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.

• Avoid touching your face, because you could transmit the virus from your hands into your mouth.

• Stay at home, except for essential trips outside like trips to the grocery store or to see your doctor. This is also called sheltering in place.

• Practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from other people. In March, the White House recommended avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people. That should be easy because you’re staying at home.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily (here’s our Covid-19 cleaning guide).

 

 

How to Make a CDC-Approved Cloth Face Mask

 

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Social distancing-Fail....Mask wearing-Pass....Some people just won't be told!!

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