Harriet wrote:I am experimenting with cannibalizing disposable masks, either completely removing the wire or keeping some of the soft perforated surround.
I kept the perforated surround. I'm pulling it out each wash, anyway. But mine are only backup, we mostly use the coated plant wire for nose pieces.
I'll put in another plug for adding a 'pad' of flannel along the top of the mask to stop exhaled air from going up and fogging glasses. The flannel provides both a physical barrier and absorbs the moisture better than my lining material (cotton/poly blend.) I figured this myself after using a folded-up tissue just pressure held in place (saw a YouTube video of that hack for keeping glasses clear.) I've retrofitted all my masks to include the flannel.
Dd made her first masks out of flannel receiving blankets and they fit really well and have no fogging issues either. Plus the patterns are cute. Dgs and dsil have matching masks and the fit is great for both of them. Dgs is happy in his and we can understand him when he talks which is a BIG bonus. Not that he wears it that often but masks are needed here for outside activities where 6' can't be maintained (i.e. crowded parking lot on the way to pick apples.)
I really need to sew some more masks just because my favourites get used more often and I don't want them to wear out. I want to retry doing one in denim. DC has my first two attempt at those (they were too small for me.)
We put two tiny, clear, Command Hooks on the inside of our door and hang our current masks on those. That way we see them before we leave (apparently having them 4' away from the door was too far away!) And, if we forget them, we can just unlock the door and put our hand around to grab the mask. There's a mask wearing sign at the elevator and we are still forgetting from time to time so having them closer gives us a fighting chance to get from the elevator back to the apartment, open the door, grab a mask, lock the door, run back to the elevator before the elevator arrives.