topic Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks in Community Chat

Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Jordan2 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:08:44 GMT

I have seen most everyone wearing a mask. These are mostly the type of masks people in the medical field wear. I can't beg, borrow, or steal a mask, which begs the question, where are they getting them? Maybe they ordered long ago when we were told we didn't have to wear them. I had to buy cloth masks from Etsy, I'm still waiting for them.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

santorini — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:12:12 GMT

Unless it got deleted, there is a whole thread on this subject.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

I am still oxox — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:12:27 GMT

We have 2 N-99 that my hubby got post 9-11 he worked downtown and then I accumulates 3 medical masks over the past few years

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:17:04 GMT

I made mine out of a bandanna and 2 big rubber bands. I followed Dr. Gupta's instructions on CNN.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

KingstonsMom — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:21:27 GMT

I have lung disease and bought some N95 masks as soon as this thing started rearing it's ugly head, at WalMart or Walgreens.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

brandiwine — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:24:21 GMT

I made mine. Lots of instructions online

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

SurferWife — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:24:28 GMT

My husband is a boat mechanic so he already had a handful of the N95 masks.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

gidgetgh — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:27:47 GMT

A friend sent me 2 homemade and I ordered some from Etsy.

i have an order coming on Monday from Amazon for 50 disposable blue masks. I paid too much for them, but I have no desire to drive all over looking for something I won't be able to find.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Goldengate8361 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:29:39 GMT

Amazon, but delivery takes forever.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

wildcat fan — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:36:35 GMT

I already had some 3M masks in my storage closet. I bought a box about a year ago to wear while refinishing a piece of furniture and when I'm doing yard work because I have allergies. Most of the year I don't wear a mask in the yard, but it helps when the pollen count is very high.

Before I buy a cloth mask, I'll make one like the surgeon general and others on YouTube have demonstrated by using cloth/bandana and rubber bands.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

texassunflower — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:37:56 GMT

@Jordan2 I purchased my masks at Walgreens about 4 years ago when the flu vaccine wasn't very effective that year. I was caring for my mother and was scared to death she would get the flu. We were constantly in and out doctor's offices, ER, and the hospital. I kept them. I have about 10 masks left. Plastic gloves I usually have a supply due to cold and flu season. The gloves were purchased at Dollar Tree. You can't find plastic gloves around here either except for dishwashing gloves. I have extras of those also.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Spacrazy — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:47:00 GMT

Already had some. We’re in rural Texas so keep them on hand when mowing hay and using pesticides. Had these left over from the paint store last time I painted.

Really haven’t had to use them though cause staying home as mandated.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Melvin-QVC — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:59:41 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC - link to another retailer

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:00:22 GMT

I have a good friend who makes them according to CDC (I believe it is).

She's had to give me close to 14 so far for family and friends.

There are places on the internet where you can buy them.

Many are waitlist only.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

KrissyE — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:03:50 GMT

I got an N95 back in February before everything hit the fan. Look on ebay.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Alter Ego — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:15:03 GMT

In 2015, I traveled to Borneo, via Seoul, South Korea. They had just recently gone through a MERS outbreak. It was under control when I got to Seoul, but I had purchased a box of 50 cheap masks to take with me (had no idea about this N95 thing back then) So, my family is using those.

Mom and me wearing our masks the wrong way (had to take her to doctor's office; otherwise, we don't take her anywhere.) I don't like to get this close to her, but she was having some medical issues.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

TY — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:40:45 GMT

I had about 8 or so disposable face masks because I use them when I fly to Las Vegas and back. I haven't bought any face masks since last summer when I bought some at Walmart Canada. The other ones I have I bought a year ago at the Miniso store (those stores are in Canada too.) These are considered disposable but I have washed them and reused them since I don't have very many left.

My brother in law bought a box of disposable face masks from an asian grocery store back at the end of January and recently bought a box from Walmart's canadian website.

As to making your own face masks, I also sewed some using athletic bra inserts using 1/8 inch elastic. but those are tight fitting and they are not that comfortable to wear for long periods of time as they leave elastic marks on your face.

I have also sewed some rectangular pleated face masks using youtube quilter Leah Day's video. There's a link to her website on her youtube description box so you can print out the instructions and PDF free pattern to make your own face mask. The adult mask video has had nearly 3 million views and the child size video more than 250,000 views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNX0cRrYj6U

How to Sew a Face Mask with Filter Pocket - Fast and Easy DIY Flu Mask

She also has a video for making a child's mask as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv2zrkE5yQ4

Child Size Face Mask Sewing Tutorial with Ties and Filter Pocket - Fast and Efficient!

Her versions are simple to sew with one piece of fabric and you can use elastic that goes over the ears or shoe laces or cording to tie behind the head. The child's version, she uses shoe laces because elastic thread is hard to find in stores because stores are closed or sold out as people make their own face masks.

I used a pillowcase and cut it up to sew 2 face masks and a different pillowcase to sew 2 more of them.

If you can't buy 1/8 inch flat elastic, think outside the box. Do you have bungee cord elastic, the type used in outerwear coats to cinch the waist or bottom hem? What about athletic shoe laces from shoes you don't wear? Or thin elastic hairbands made by Goody? One hairband can be cut into 2 pieces of elastic for a face mask.

My other tip if you are going to make more than one mask is to make a rectangle template pattern out of cardboard so you can easily trace around the pattern on your fabric that you are using. The adult size pattern is 9 inches by 15 inches. The child size pattern is 8 inches by 11 inches.

I also bought a box of those small clips she uses to hold the pleats in place at Walmart as they are easier than using straight pins when dealing with pleats but if you only have pins, that's fine.

My other tip is that if you do not have pipe cleaner to make the wire nosepiece, use a twist tie like the kind you close a garbage bag or close a plastic bag of vegetables. I grabbed a handful of them the last time I was in a grocery store. They are the right size, 4 inches for a nosepiece wire. I took apart one of my husband's disposable face masks that he had tossed in the trash to see what kind of nosepiece wire was in it and it was a white twist tie.

As to what kind of filter to use, use a blue paper towel or coffee filter or napkin. The filter is optional, you don't have to use one.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

Mz iMac — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:33:24 GMT

Through the years during flu season, I grab handfuls from my dr office (blue ones), CVS (purple ones) & Walgreen's pharmacy (mint green). My car is mint green so I keep those in my car.

I am set till the next pandemic.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

homedecor1 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:40:56 GMT

@Jordan2

People here were sewing the masks (w/inserts) and distributing them to local vets, hospitals, etc. -- after they finished they asked for donations of materials.

Fast forward -- all the stores which sell material are out.

Now, I found a lady on NextDoor (its a app) she was selling them for $5 and quite nice with pocket for additional protection . I placed a order last week for 10 and she had me pick them up (outside her door each in nice sealed package).

I then gave them to those who needed them. I think this might be your best way using NextDoor lots of people are sewing and making the cloth kind.

Re: Where Did Everyone Get Their Masks

songbird — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:42:08 GMT

We got them years ago.. I still can't remember how or why we even got them. They sat in a plastic bag at for at least 5 years. I always referred to them as medical masks. We also had disposable gloves. Same thing. I honestly can't remember when or why.