topic Re: Filters for masks? in Wellness

Filters for masks?

granddi — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:55:34 GMT

What are you using for filters?

Re: Filters for masks?

sarahpanda — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:28:04 GMT

I ordered my carbon face mask filters from Amazon back in April...but they are out of stock on those particular ones now...they might have others.

Re: Filters for masks?

Mz iMac — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:46:29 GMT

I'm not.

Re: Filters for masks?

msgb — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:18:28 GMT

I have read that if necessary you could use a one ply paper towel or coffee filter.

Before masks were available I made a mask out of a paper towel and rubber bands.

It was doable --the rubber bands hurt my ears though.

Re: Filters for masks?

Luvtuna — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:34:51 GMT

I cut a coffee filter to fit. Hope it does it's job. Spell check put the apostrophe in . We had a diner in my hometown with a neon sign reading "coffee at it's best" and our teacher called it to our attention. Or have they changed the grammatical usage?

Re: Filters for masks?

shoesnbags — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:56:44 GMT

I'm using disposable blue shop towels. I researched filter materials a couple of months ago and these were rated better than coffee filters, paper towels, etc. So I bought a big box from amazon and we're set for a long time. Oh, and I've accidently put masks in the washer -hot water - with the filter still in and it held up fine. So they're actually somewhat reusable.

Re: Filters for masks?

RedTop — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 18:45:30 GMT

Based on the virus situation in my area, and my extremely limited outings, I am not using a filter in my mask.

Re: Filters for masks?

cotton4me — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 19:11:05 GMT

Vera Bradley sells them. They also sell masks.

Re: Filters for masks?

VaBelle35 — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 20:41:31 GMT

The bridal shop in my town was using HEPA vacuum cleaner bags that were donated by the appliance repair shop next door to them.

That seemed like a better filter option than a coffee filter.

Re: Filters for masks?

hooked on books — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 01:37:22 GMT

I use the Vera Bradley face masks with the VB filters. They're sold separately on VB's website.

Re: Filters for masks?

hooked on books — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 01:37:37 GMT

Re: Filters for masks?

HerRoyaLioness — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 03:42:22 GMT

Blue shop towels, they're non woven material and work great!

Re: Filters for masks?

granddi — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 01:53:28 GMT

@HerRoyaLioness wrote:
Blue shop towels, they're non woven material and work great!

Are they the paper blue shop towels or fabric?

Re: Filters for masks?

HerRoyaLioness — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:30:47 GMT

@granddi- they are the blue shop paper towels.

I was reading an article about 3M way back when they were first designing the N95 mask and one of the materials they looked at was the blue shop towel because it was nonwoven yet thin enough to breathe through. Other filters or fabrics were not quite as beneficial or useful. I don't know if I can find the article again, and of course the blue towels are not used in the N95, but I thought the reasoning was sound to use them as a filter.

I have home made and surgical masks and use the blue towels in both as added protection. You don't need a special pocket - you can just cut out a piece and put it in the mask, side closest to your mouth.

I just found a video I hadn't seen before. It tested shop towel masks out of just shop towels, and a double layer shop towel mask that they tested was 73% effective, a single layer was 54% effective, while a (average consumer) surgical mask by itself was only 39%.

Can't post the u-Tube, put you can google "Shop Towel Mask - Material Properties Update 4-5-20" Sources include "Dr Bill Bennett and Dr Phillip and their at UNC Lab, and their colleagues in the EPA."

Hope this helps and isn't too much information - I'm one for details and being informed!

Re: Filters for masks?ause

Silverfox1 — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 19:38:37 GMT

You can buy any amount of filters on Etsy.com

I am a very high risk because of heart and kidney problems. I don't go out that much because of this but when I do I wear a mask with a filter that I got on Etsy.com I went to the doctor this week and you had to wear a mask in the office. I have a mask that has a filter on the inside and has one of those little black fitters on the outside to help you breathe better. However, the nurse told me I had to wear a disposable mask which she gave me. She said the reason was because that little black filter lets "your air" out which is not safe for other people you come in contact with.

Please cover your nose when wearing a mask since it defeats the safety a mask gives you and other people. On our local news it was mentioned that a cotton mask with a filter

is the best.

Everyone please stays well and safe.

Marcee46