Face Mask Crafting Recipe

Face Mask Crafting Recipe

Note that this facemask does not provide anything close to 100% protection, for you or anyone else. However, it should provide SOME protection and SOME protection is better than NO protection. If you're not infected, wear some kind of eye-protection in case the virus can infect you through your eyes, and if you're already infected or infection isn't a threat to you there's no point in wearing eye-protection.

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Materials
* 1 clean thick cotton rag, 6"x6" to 8"x8". Larger is better, more facial coverage. Anything larger than 10"x10" is probably too much.
* 2 clean thin cotton cloth squares, 6"x6" to 8"x8". These could be bandanas, a cut-up T-shirt or sheet, anything really.
* 2 thin cords, at least 16" long. These could be shoelaces, paracord, twine, straps, clothesline, whatever.

OPTIONAL: Additional Materials
* 1 to 3 more layers of cotton cloth, 6"x6" to 8"x8". More layers should mean more protection. I wouldn't do more than 7 layers because it will be hard to keep it on your face.

Tools
* Scissors or sharp knife
* Thread, any kind but ideally cotton. Doesn't matter in an emergency but cotton is easier to sterilize via washing or boiling without damaging the thread. Synthetic fabrics are made of plastics and tend to degrade in boiling water.
* Sewing needle
* Safety pins. Alternately, staples or tape.

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Instructions.

1. Prepare a work space where you have a clear view of what you're doing and enough light to see what you're doing.

2. Place a thin cotton square on your work space.

3. Put the thick cotton rag over the cotton square.

4. OPTIONAL: Put any additional layers of cotton cloth over the rag.

5. Put safety pins, staples, or tape on the edges of the gathered cloth so it holds together while you sew it.

6. Cut a 2 foot length of thread and thread the needle. Here's a YouTube video on the subject.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S6u173Ap2mc

7. Sew along the edges of the fabric, binding them together, on all 4 edges. Be careful not to sew over the staples, tape, or safety pins. I recommend a back-stitch. This video explains how to tie the thread to the fabric and how to do a back-stitch.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7N7mBMZ0uH0

8. When you are done, sew the 2 lengths of cord parallel to one another on opposite edges. Put the fabric right in the middle of each length of cord, like this:

----------+-----+----------
          |     |
          |     |
----------+-----+----------

9. Place the remaining thin cotton square over the layers of thick cotton fabric, covering them and covering the cords.

10. Attach the thin cotton square to the rest of the mask using safety pins, staples, or tape.

11. Sew the thin cotton square to the rest of the mask, using a back-stitch as instructed above in step number seven.

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Expedient Instructions

Do as above, but instead of sewing it together use stables, tape, or safety pins. This should do for a few days until you can get sewing needles.

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Using The Mask

When you are done, put it on by putting the strap around the back of your neck and tying a loose knot that is easy to undo. Then swivel the mask so it is hanging from the front of your neck. Pick it up, cover your face with it, and tie a knot over year ears and around the back of your head - make sure this knot is easy to undo.

If you can't tie knots behind your head, put the mask on backwards and tie knots in the front, then swivel the mask around so it covers your face. If you're a woman or a man who has any experience with women, this is equivalent to the lazy way of putting on a bra.

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Sterilizing The Mask

From what research I've read, this virus is encased in a layer of lipids, which are essentially fats or oils. Lipids are dissolved by hot soapy water. The simplest way to sterilize your mask is to hand wash it for 5 to 10 minutes in hot soapy water, using dish soap, hand soap, bar soap, or clothing detergent. Clothing detergent contains harsh chemicals and enzymes which will attack your skin, so wear rubber dish-washing gloves if you use that.

Boiling water is another effective sterilization method used for other pathogens, and I assume it will work for this virus. Bring a pot of water to boil, and place the mask in the water. Put a lid on it if you have one, if not use a wooden spoon or spatula or something to keep it under the water. Let it sit in the boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes, or 15 if you're especially paranoid, then take out with the spoon or spatula and hang it up somewhere to dry. Be careful not to hurt yourself with boiling water or steam, or to let boiling water drip onto yourself or someone else while you are moving the mask.

You could sterilize the mask with bleach or alcohol, but bleach degrades fabric over time so I don't recommend it. Besides that, bleach and alcohol are too valuable to waste when there are cheaper and simpler sterilization alternatives that are just as effective.