The CDC recommends wearing a mask
anytime you go out now,
but masks are in short supply in a lot of places,
and there's a push to preserve medical masks
for medical workers who are putting themselves at risk.
So we talked to experts about the best way
to make and wear a mask at home.
Before you actually make any masks at home,
you should take some precautions.
Nishi Viswanathan: Basic precautions like handwashing
of course, like, before beginning work,
and disinfecting the surface
with anything that indicates that it can kill viruses.
Something practical would be to wear a mask yourself
if you're making masks.
Narrator: Viswanathan also recommends washing your fabric
in hot water before making masks.
This way the fabric will be clean
and also won't change in size again.
While there are several materials being recommended
for masks by experts, overall...
Raina MacIntyre: You want a material that repels water,
not one that absorbs water.
So, a normal surgical mask, for example, is water resistant.
So you want something that repels water
but that's still breathable.
Narrator: There are a lot of different
mask designs available, but we're gonna show you
how to make the three recommended by the CDC.
You can make this first one using a T-shirt.
Again, a cotton-polyester blend would be best.
You cut off the bottom of the T-shirt,
cut out tie strings, and then tie it around your head.
This next design can also be made with a bandana
or any square cotton cloth that's 20 inches by 20 inches,
along with two hair ties or rubber bands.
Add the hair ties to both sides,
tuck in the bandana ends,
and then you're all set.
This third design requires a sewing machine
to make a relatively simple mask
from some kind of cotton fabric
and elastic pieces or string or hair ties,
whatever you have on hand.
You cut two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric
and stack them to sew them together.
You fold and hem the long sides,
then the same on the short sides.
Next you add 6-inch elastic pieces or something similar
through the hems and tie the ends.
Tuck the knots in the hem and stitch the elastic into place.
If you have access to a sewing machine,
some experts recommend taking things a step further
by following a design with more layers
as well as a pocket for a disposable filter.
MacIntyre: So, having three layers is best.
In some of the designs, you can make a pouch in the front
where you put a disposable filtering.
And if you can get hold of disposable filters,
then that's a good option as well,
because those filters are designed
to be like a respirator in essence.
Narrator: Sudeb Dalai, a Stanford physician specializing
in infectious diseases, recommends masks with filters
for people who anticipate prolonged exposure
or close contact with other people,
are taking care of someone with COVID-19,
or have an underlying condition.
To make a filter, Dalai recommends
using polypropylene material or HEPA vacuum bag filters
because they're breathable but still effective
at filtering tiny particles.
Dalai also says to make sure any filters are placed
between two layers of fabric to protect your skin
as well as to prevent breathing in the filter material.
Regardless of the design, you're gonna wanna make sure
that your mask fits properly.
MacIntyre: So, it should fit around
the contour of your face.
Whether you use the elastic or any other material
to help mold it around the edges, that will help,
because otherwise you get a lot of air leakage
through the sides, and when you breathe,
the air will just follow the path of least resistance.
So if the sides are flapping open,
it'll just go in through the sides.
Narrator: It's also important that your mask fits well
so that you aren't touching it
again and again to readjust it.
Viswanathan: It has to extend to
the top of the bridge of the nose
and then below the chin.
So it has to provide adequate coverage
and has to sit comfortably on the nose
without, like, sliding off.
MacIntyre: The process of putting on and taking off the mask
is also really important
because the mask can become contaminated.
So if you're out and about and you want to store your mask,
it's better to use something like a Ziploc bag.
Just keep it in your pocket
rather than just putting it in your pocket
because the mask itself could be contaminated.
Narrator: So, you should be washing your hands
before and after touching your mask
as well as cleaning it after every wear.
Viswanathan: One thing to remember when wearing masks
is that they are not substitutes for social distancing.
So definitely follow the social-distancing guidelines
that you have been following all along.