Effective Ways to Determine if a Mask Is High Quality

Using the Right Mask

Wear an N95 respirator if you work with COVID-19 patients. N95 masks are the gold standard for filtration and protection. They're suited for healthcare workers or caregivers who work directly with COVID-19 patients. If you're in this line of work, then an N95 respirator is the best choice. Respirators sold out quickly when the pandemic began, but you may still be able to find them online. Some places are experiencing shortages of N95 respirators. Never hoard these materials, or you could be keeping them from workers who need them.

Use a medical or surgical mask if you're a healthcare worker. These masks have 3 layers of fabric and provide good facial coverage. Though not as effective as a respirator, they still filter out enough particles to protect the wearer. These types of masks are recommended for healthcare workers who don't work directly with COVID-19 patients. Standard medical masks are available at pharmacies or medical supply stores. You could also look online.

Get a plain cloth or fabric mask to go out in public. Respirators and medical masks are only recommended for healthcare workers or people who work closely with COVID-19 patients. For the general public, regular cloth masks are fine. You can either buy a fabric mask, or even make your own from household items. In areas where COVID-19 is common, WHO recommends that people wear a cloth mask every time they go out. Wearing a mask isn't a substitute for social distancing. Even if you're wearing a mask, continue staying 6 ft (1.8 m) away from others in public.

Assessing a Cloth Mask

Confirm that the mask is made of cloth. Cloth is the only recommended material for a mask to protect against COVID-19. It blocks virus particles from passing through, so you won’t breathe them in or spread them to others, while also allowing you to breathe. Always start by confirming that a mask is made of cloth. Tightly-woven fabrics with a high thread count, like cotton, are good materials for a cloth mask. Plastic face shields are not currently recommended to protect against COVID-19. It’s easy for virus particles to travel around the mask and infect others. A mask that covers your face with any type of plastic or rubber will be difficult to breathe through, so this isn’t a good material for masks.

Use a mask with at least 2 layers of fabric. While a single layer of cloth is better than nothing, a good mask should have at least 2 layers for ideal protection. Check any mask that you’re considering to confirm that there are at least 2 cloth layers protecting your face. If you’re making your own mask, sew or fold it so there are at least 2 layers of cloth covering your mouth and nose.

Wear only an undamaged mask. Any damage to the mask puts you at risk for spreading or catching illnesses. Do a thorough check for any rips, tears, holes, or thinning areas on the mask. If there is any damage, then use a different mask. Don’t use a mask that looks dirty either. A contaminated mask could make you sick.

Make sure the mask is large enough to cover your mouth, nose, and chin. A good mask should reach from about the bridge of your nose down below your chin. It should also be wide enough to entirely cover your mouth. If a mask can't cover all these spots, then it's too small for you.

Confirm that the mask fits snugly over your face. A proper fit is also important for finding the right mask. Make sure the mask is tight enough and doesn’t leave any space around your face. Otherwise, you could still spread virus particles through these openings. If there are gaps around the mask, then it's probably too big. A snug fit is also important, so you don’t have to adjust the mask while you’re wearing it. If you touch it with dirty hands, you could contaminate it. A mask that’s too loose is still better than nothing, so you can still wear this if it’s all you have. Surgical masks, for example, are loose-fitting but still recommended to prevent spreading the virus. The mask shouldn’t be so tight that it’s uncomfortable or cuts off circulation. If your mask feels like this, then it’s probably too small, and you need a larger one.

Use a mask that you can easily breathe through. A good mask should be breathable. Make sure you can breathe comfortably through the mask while you’re wearing it. If not, then try a different type. If you do have a preexisting lung or breathing problem, then wearing a mask might not be right for you. Talk to your doctor and ask if wearing a mask is safe.

Wearing the Mask Correctly

Wash your hands before touching the mask. You prefer not to contaminate the mask before you even start wearing it. Wash your hands carefully before handling the mask to keep it as clean as possible. If you’re not near a sink, then you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead.

Identify the metal strip along the top of a surgical mask. If you're using a surgical or medical mask, there should be a metal strip along the top to keep the mask snug around your nose. Flip the mask, so this strip is pointing up, and you put it on in the right direction. N95 masks also have a metal strip around the nose area, but they also have an obvious slot for your nose.

Loop the straps from a respirator, surgical, or cloth mask around your ears. Most masks loop around your ears, so take the mask by the ear straps. Then loop the straps around your ears to secure it in place. If you’re using a tie-on mask, like a bandanna, then make sure it’s in a tight knot that won’t come undone while you’re wearing it. If you're using a surgical mask, then the white side should be facing in and the blue side should be facing out.

Adjust the mask, so there's no space around it. Once the mask is on, adjust it to make sure you didn’t leave any space where virus particles could get through. Make sure it covers your nose, mouth, chin, and cheeks. Once it’s snugly on your face, you can head out. It might help to shake your head a bit to make sure the mask stays in place. Do not wear a mask with your nose sticking out, even if this is more comfortable. This puts you at risk for spreading or catching the virus.

Avoid touching the mask while you’re wearing it out. The mask could have germs trapped on it, which might get on your hands if you touch it. Do your best to avoid touching or adjusting the mask while you’re out to avoid contaminating your hands. If you do accidentally touch the mask while you’re wearing it or have to adjust it, sanitize your hands afterward.

Remove the mask by grabbing it by the straps. When you’re back home, then remove the mask carefully to avoid spreading germs to yourself. Use your thumbs and index fingers and grab the mask carefully by its straps. Then pull the mask straight off your face. Be careful not to touch the front of the mask to your face while you’re removing it. This could spread germs to your face.

Dispose of a medical mask after one use. Medical or surgical masks are only designed for one use, so throw it in the garbage when you're finished with it. Medical masks aren't washable, so don't try to wash and reuse it.

Wash your hands after taking off the mask. When you handle the mask, you could pick up any germs that were trapped on it. Always wash your hands right away after removing the mask to avoid spreading germs to yourself. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you aren’t near a sink, but wash your hands properly as soon as you can.

Clean a cloth mask at least once a day. Cloth masks are washable, and you should wash your mask at least once a day if you wear it out regularly. Handwash it in hot water and detergent to kill any germs, then leave it out to airdry. Don’t put on your mask if it’s still wet. Let it dry completely first. You could also put your mask in the washing machine as long as you use the hot water setting. Cold water doesn’t kill viruses as well.