Vida KN95 Recycle Masks

Every day we keep hearing that everyone should wear a face mask. We have been wearing them since last March starting with some three layer material from a place in Wisconsin, then Caraa two layer material with filter, Vida two layer material with filter, some surgical masks, and a few KN95’s. As time goes on more and more recommendations are surfacing to double mask, or wear KN95’s. Since most of our masks are already two layers with a “5 layer” filter inside the pocket, one wonders if that is more than enough. Since we have behaved according to recommendations, we don’t want to get the virus NOW. My husband was lucky enough to get his first vaccine with the second dose coming next week. I am still on the wait list. Thanks Virginia. Most of my high school classmates who live in Florida already got theirs too. Something just isn’t fair - especially since I am a retired RN. Anyway, since mask wearing is not going away any time soon, and eventual doctor visits will happen, I just ordered a ten pack of KN95’s from Vida. They tout a recycle program. You use the envelope the masks come in, put in the used masks, and send back to Vida with the enclosed paid sticker. It’s that simple but I sure wish it wasn’t necessary. So we have a variety of masks and wear the appropriate one based on the activity. I know I’m probably going overboard. But in this instance I would rather be safe than sorry. 

Tenrai Laundry bags

When I worked it was customary to wear pantyhose. That was back in the day when people “dressed” differently - particularly in the hospital and hospital office settings. When I worked at the Library of Congress I wore hose there too - but towards the end I quit. The summer months were overkill. In order to avoid hand washing, I got a laundry bag from the Container Store to put them in so they wouldn’t get destroyed in the washing machine. Other “delicates” were added for the same reason. Now with all the face coverings and cloth masks it’s getting to be a hassle to hand wash those. So I checked out Amazon for a medium size bag and found a Tenrai option that had both a medium and a larger size bag. My husband oftentimes has a shirt or something that he wants to protect in the wash. It seems most of any purchase we make lately is virus related - soap for the Simple Human automatic soap dispenser, soap dishes, plastic sheeting for the “decontamination” area in the foyer, paper towels holders, and an assortment of other things one can’t get at the grocery store. So the laundry bags were hung on the hooks on the door of the washer/dryer for the next load of face masks. After walking in the heat they get pretty soggy and we definitely wouldn’t wear them again without washing. That goes for pantyhose too. 

A Basket of Face Masks

The last bunch arrived yesterday. I ordered cloth face masks from Caraa quite some time ago. Who ever thought you would need to wear a mask? Both my husband and I are familiar with and have worn masks at work - he as a surgeon, and me as an RN for a variety of reasons - cath lab, isolation rooms, etc. Since I don’t have a sewing machine, I couldn’t make any. However, I did make coffee filter masks using two filters, rubber bands, staples, and paper clips. They actually work really well. Since then we now have a basket of masks in the closet - my husband’s are on the right side and mine are in the left. We now have disposable paper/surgical masks; four different cloth masks - some with filters and some without. Some have ties, others have loops. Some have adjustable ear loops. The white cloth masks are actually very comfortable and were tested at Wisconsin hospitals. I felt a connection to those products having lived in Wisconsin thirty years and worked at Wisconsin hospitals. And we also have five N95 masks that we keep for rare visits to health care facilities. We had to use one last week when my husband needed a test at the hospital. I’m sure any new home built today will make accommodations for masks and hand sanitizer at the entryway or mud room. I ordered a Vizsla face mask for my daughter in law from my Redbubble website and have created mask products using my digitalart on Zazzle and Pixels/Fine Art America. Someone from Canada purchased a Wheaton terrier mask. As for us, we keep our masks simple, single color, and understated. Being in the high risk group necessitates our wearing them. I wonder how long this whole change in everyone’s life will go on? 

Redbubble, Zazzle and Pixels LITDigitalart Face Masks

None of them have arrived yet. Not the ones from China, or anywhere else. After searching for nondescript cloth face masks, we are still waiting for them to show up. Since I no longer own a sewing machine, nor have the material to make one, ordering for us made sense. Yes, I’ve made several masks out of coffee filters, rubber bands, staples and paper clips. But if and when we venture outside we would prefer cloth. Both my husband and I wore masks when we worked in health care. Having to wear one now is very strange. Nevertheless, all of my Digitalart websites are getting in to the business. That means that designs that I already have on Zazzle, Redbubble, and Pixels can be used as images on masks. But it all needs to be done one by one, which is time consuming.... but that’s not a big deal. So yesterday I updated a few images that now include face masks, and am thinking about adding more. Personally I prefer an understated and plain color compared to a bright or bold image. If this becomes a requirement to wear forever I’m sure everyone will adopt a personal style. It hardly matters if the mask isn’t worn correctly - covering the nose and mouth is necessary to do any good. All I know is that I didn’t care to wear a mask for work, and I really don’t want to wear one now. But we really don’t have a choice in the matter - for everyone’s sake. 

Face Masks - Cloth, Paper and Everything in Between

I used to wear them when I worked as A staff nurse for a patient in isolation, and as the nursing supervisor in the cath lab. It was a sterile environment and part of the garb that was required for a lot of reasons. My husband is a retired surgeon and wore them all the time. Now face masks are required just to walk outside. Since I don’t have a sewing machine or material I can’t make my own. Back in the day I used to make a lot of my cloths. My mom taught us how to see when she managed a fabric store. I don’t even own any scarves anymore thanks to downsizing 16 years ago. So I’ve put a couple of pieces together with shoe covers and rubber bands, and tried using a table linen napkin but they are too bulky. I assembled several more using number 4 and number 2 coffee filters, rubber bands, paper clips, staples, and tape. They actually feel the best and are a neutral tan color! I’ve also ordered a few more cloth options since I think we are going to be stuck with this “accessory” for quite some time - from Vida & Co, Caraa, and Denali. I just looked around the internet and they are each a little different. It seems that’s all the advertising is about these days. I’m not in to the fashion statements - just plain and simple. Disposables will be used more for inside the building for grocery picks and mail runs to the lobby at midnight. Yesterday I read that a stocking over the face mask would make the mask more “protective” - but how ridiculous would that look? All I know is whenever we watch TV there are many people wearing face masks - but their noses aren’t covered and they keep fiddling with them which defeats the purpose. I guess I’m just glad we are familiar with using them regardless of what type they are. We are still waiting for all of our cloth masks to be delivered. They are obviously in high demand. For now I have thE current supply all tucked away in a basket in the closet. Pretty soon they’ll move to the front of the house along with the gloves and sanitizers.