Now that the CDC suggests that it’s a good idea to wear a face mask, lots of people are getting creative. From an old t-shirt or bandana held in place with 2 hair ties, to a bandana, coffee filter and rubber band combo, the important thing is that it fit snugly, be secured around your ears and include multiple layers of fabric.

The CDC emphasized that this is a voluntary measure, and it is still important to maintain 6 ft. social distancing whenever possible. In the CDC’s words, it “recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.” Please note the CDC advised that no one under the age of 2, or anyone having trouble breathing should wear a cloth face cover.

Make when you get home that you wash or disinfect your face covering and that you wash your hands! Cloth or fabric face masks for home use can be sterilized by washing them in the washing machine. We spray ours down with Lysol for good measure.

Below is a video by the Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams on how to make a face covering in a few easy steps.

For those of you who own a sewing machine, the CDC provided some detailed instructions on how to sew a cloth face coverage. Please see the information below.

And then for those of us who happen to know how to sew a hem, or a button and nothing else, there is a video from Joanne’s fabric that shows a simple design where minimal sewing is needed, or you can use safety pins in place of sewing.

We decided to give this version a try, and here is the finished product.

Tips: Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before touching or putting on your mask. Make sure your nose and mouth are covered. Avoid touching the mask while you are out in public. You should immediately wash the mask. Wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds after removing it. To clean your facial covering, it is suggested that you hand wash them, or put it in a mesh wash bag in the washing machine. Staying home of course is the best defense.

Note: We share tips for travel, preparedness & health, but this is not official medical or health advice. Please contact your medical professional if you have questions or symptoms.