You’re probably seeing a lot of people wearing cloth face masks. Maybe you’re wearing one yourself.
But do these masks really work? The answer is yes and no.
Studies show that cloth masks are much better than wearing nothing at all … but they are still ineffective at blocking particles about a third of the time.
Why? Because they’re made from cloth that’s too porous to filter infection-carrying aerosol particles.
These aerosol particles are microscopically tiny: between 1/4,000 of an inch and 1/100,000 of an inch.
Yet most cloth masks are made from cotton woven with 150 to 200 threads per inch.
But here’s good news. You can make a cloth mask up to 99% effective … simply by layering two specific fabrics.
Researchers at the University of Chicago wanted to see which common fabrics, alone or in combination, could block aerosol particles.
What they found was that one layer of 600- thread cotton combined with two layers of polyester chiffon filtered out up to 99% of particles. That’s about the same performance as an N95 mask.
Amazing!
What makes this combination so effective?
Researchers say that tightly woven fabric, like 600-thread count cotton, acts as a mechanical barrier to aerosol particles.
And fabrics that hold a static charge, like chiffon or natural silk, acts as an electrostatic barrier.
So if you decide to purchase a cloth mask, try to get one that’s made from layers of high-thread-count cotton and polyester-spandex chiffon.
And if you decide to make your own, these fabrics are available at craft stores like Joann, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and even Walmart.
One more thing:
Your mask should fit snugly against your face. It should reach below your chin and up to the bridge of your nose.
For best results, wash your mask after using it. And when you remove it, handle it by the straps — not the mask itself — and wash your hands before and after handling it.