These materials work best for making a face mask

Alisha Alam | Apr 9, 2020, 21:00 IST
The coronavirus pandemic has created a worldwide panic amongst people. Everyone has been forced into lockdown and quarantine while the governments have issued safety guidelines for people to follow. These guidelines include washing hands, sanitising living quarters as well as wearing a face mask every time one steps out. But unfortunately, due to mass panic buying, many stores have run out of masks.

However, that doesn't mean you can't make your own. You just need to know which materials work best. For those of you who are uninitiated, the coronavirus is 0.1 microns in size. The materials that will be mentioned ahead have the capacity to contain 0.02 micron particles which are five times smaller than coronavirus particles.

Here is a list of these materials and how effective they are- Surgical mask- 89% effectiveness, Vacuum cleaner bag- 86%, Dish towel- 73%, Cotton blend fabric- 70%, Linen- 62%, Pillowcase- 57%, Silk- 54%, 100% cotton t-shirt- 51%, Scarf- 49%. This shows that a surgical mask has the highest effectiveness in protecting you against the virus. However, if you are unable to get surgical masks, you can use the materials mentioned above to make a mask of your own at home.

Experts are also suggesting that people who are fine should refrain from purchasing surgical masks as there is already a shortage of these masks and this can prevent unwell people from having access to these masks. And they're the ones who really need them. So, make sure to follow all the guidelines set by the government and keep yourself safe. Stay tuned for more updates.
Copyright © 2021 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
All rights reserved.