Penguin 26,233 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 What are you putting in your mask's filter pocket? Have you read any recent research on filters? Any thoughts on the disposable PM 2.5 filters ? I bought some and they are a little small. They don't really cover all of the nose and mouth area. But they are readily available and not overly expensive. And I find them breathable. I'm not sure how often to change them out, either. I have read that they last a week. How does that work? Take them out and move them to a clean mask? I have also read that OLY*fun fabric might be a good choice because it holds an electostatic charge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
historically accurate 7,780 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 We use the blue shop towels. At the beginning of the pandemic, that was something that was shown in a study to work well, and we haven't bothered to look again if that recommendation has changed since we have the blue shop towels. We do have one HaloLife mask which has its own filters as well. 2 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MEmama 12,362 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 I use a coffee filter for the above reason—early on I read they work well, and I have a large stash of filters that are too small for our coffee maker but fit perfectly in our masks. Currently the longest I ever need to wear one is 15-20 minutes in the grocery or Target every few weeks though. When schools open and numbers rise I’ll be on the lookout for “the best”. By that time I probably won’t be going out in public nearly at all though. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Innisfree 7,488 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 HaloLife masks and filters here too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
happi duck 15,439 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 When my mask is "just in case the hiking trail gets crowded" then I don't bother with a filter. When going to the grocery store I use a blue mask as a filter...basically wearing two masks. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pen 26,934 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 I used blue shop towels or a polypropylene similar towel for my homemade masks - but I have now switched to Happy Mask with built in filter 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rebcoola 3,175 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 We have some that came with the charcoal filters. We mostly just use blue shop towels since they are supposed to be good and we already had a huge tub. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Penguin 26,233 Posted August 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 I had forgotten about the blue shop towels! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catwoman 74,049 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) 6 hours ago, beckyjo said: We use the blue shop towels. At the beginning of the pandemic, that was something that was shown in a study to work well, and we haven't bothered to look again if that recommendation has changed since we have the blue shop towels. We do have one HaloLife mask which has its own filters as well. 1 hour ago, Pen said: I used blue shop towels or a polypropylene similar towel for my homemade masks - but I have now switched to Happy Mask with built in filter 48 minutes ago, rebcoola said: We have some that came with the charcoal filters. We mostly just use blue shop towels since they are supposed to be good and we already had a huge tub. I’m just wondering what brand of blue shop towels (or polypropylene material) you are using. At one point, I had read that the Scott brand wasn’t as good as some others, but I can’t remember what brand was recommended (and it was only one article, so I’m not sure if the info about the Scott brand was accurate, anyway!) Edited August 28, 2020 by Catwoman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Selkie 23,367 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 13 minutes ago, Catwoman said: I’m just wondering what brand of blue shop towels (or polypropylene material) you are using. At one point, I had read that the Scott brand wasn’t as good as some others, but I can’t remember what brand was recommended (and it was only one article, so I’m not sure if the info about the Scott brand was accurate, anyway!) ToolBox or ZEP shop towels were found to be more effective than Scott. https://www.businessinsider.com/homemade-mask-using-hydro-knit-shop-towel-filters-better-2020-4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pen 26,934 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 41 minutes ago, Catwoman said: I’m just wondering what brand of blue shop towels (or polypropylene material) you are using. At one point, I had read that the Scott brand wasn’t as good as some others, but I can’t remember what brand was recommended (and it was only one article, so I’m not sure if the info about the Scott brand was accurate, anyway!) I used what I already had on hand which was Scott for the shop towels and Idk a brand name for the polypropylene ones. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catwoman 74,049 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 26 minutes ago, Selkie said: ToolBox or ZEP shop towels were found to be more effective than Scott. https://www.businessinsider.com/homemade-mask-using-hydro-knit-shop-towel-filters-better-2020-4 THANK YOU!!! 😃 That was the exact article I read a while back! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kand 10,865 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 I use non-woven medical polypropylene fabric. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pen 26,934 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) They now sell polypropylene in rolls about the right width for masks, so it doesn’t have to be as make shift. It is much more breathable IME than shop towels Edited August 28, 2020 by Pen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MEmama 12,362 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 3 minutes ago, Pen said: They now sell polypropylene in rolls about the right width for masks, so it doesn’t have to be as make shift. It is much more breathable IME than shop towels Where would one find such a thing and what should I search under? When I did a quick search on Amazon it brought up labels. Lol 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catwoman 74,049 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 12 minutes ago, kand said: I use non-woven medical polypropylene fabric. 6 minutes ago, Pen said: They now sell polypropylene in rolls about the right width for masks, so it doesn’t have to be as make shift. It is much more breathable IME than shop towels Thanks! Do you know where I can order it? Sorry to ask so many questions! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catwoman 74,049 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 1 minute ago, MEmama said: Where would one find such a thing and what should I search under? When I did a quick search on Amazon it brought up labels. Lol Ha! We were posting at the same time to ask the same question! Clueless minds think alike! 😆 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
itsheresomewhere 7,642 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 We use the 2.5 charcoal filters from amazon. These are large, completely cover the nose and mouth and even my DH can breath using them. But we like to live on the edge and don’t use them daily. I tend to hoard them and only use them in certain situations right now. If our numbers go up, they will be used regularly again. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seasider too 9,192 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 Am I the only one who heard Jennifer Garner’s voice in my head when I read the thread title? 😆 OP I have used coffee filters and blue shop towels, but since I am largely avoiding crowds and indoor spaces, my three layer 100% cotton masks seem sufficient without a filter. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kand 10,865 Posted August 28, 2020 Report Share Posted August 28, 2020 2 hours ago, Catwoman said: Thanks! Do you know where I can order it? Sorry to ask so many questions! I’m interested to hear about the mask size rolls as well, but I bought mine on eBay. They are usually sold as sterilization wrap. If you happen to know a dentist, you can see if they’ll give you any of the blue wrap material they use to wrap the trays of instruments. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slackermom 3,590 Posted August 29, 2020 Report Share Posted August 29, 2020 I often use oly-fun fabric filters when I to a store. I got a bolt of it back in April. I cut a bunch of pieces to give out with the cotton masks I made for the extended family. But I found out nobody I gave them to was using the filters. So I started making new masks with non-woven interfacing sewn in as soon as I could get a bolt of that, about a month ago. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kand 10,865 Posted August 29, 2020 Report Share Posted August 29, 2020 1 hour ago, slackermom said: I often use oly-fun fabric filters when I to a store. I got a bolt of it back in April. I cut a bunch of pieces to give out with the cotton masks I made for the extended family. But I found out nobody I gave them to was using the filters. So I started making new masks with non-woven interfacing sewn in as soon as I could get a bolt of that, about a month ago. I’ve started sewing my filter layer in as well, though leaving the pocket open in case I need to add/replace. Sewing it in gives edge to edge coverage, and so far it’s holding up looking like new. It was hard to get the filter in really nicely, covering the whole inner surface, and I expect that leads to people skipping the filter. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pen 26,934 Posted August 29, 2020 Report Share Posted August 29, 2020 For those who asked search “polypropylene fabric roll” and the width you would like — A lot of stuff like this should come up: Disposable Non-Woven Fabric, 95% Polypropylene Fabric, Thickened Breathable Skin-Friendly and Soft Fabric, DIY Handmade Material(5 Meters) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0871MR1HK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eaEsFb3XRS356 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catwoman 74,049 Posted August 29, 2020 Report Share Posted August 29, 2020 1 hour ago, Pen said: For those who asked search “polypropylene fabric roll” and the width you would like — A lot of stuff like this should come up: Disposable Non-Woven Fabric, 95% Polypropylene Fabric, Thickened Breathable Skin-Friendly and Soft Fabric, DIY Handmade Material(5 Meters) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0871MR1HK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eaEsFb3XRS356 Thanks, Pen! 🙂 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CTVKath 259 Posted August 29, 2020 Report Share Posted August 29, 2020 If I use a filter, I use Olyfun. I bought a few yards of it from The Fabric Patch in Washington State but unfortunately it looks like they are out of stock now. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.