# Effective homemade surgical face masks -- possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 14, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465 "2020-03-14T04:54:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/1 "2020-03-14T04:54:44Z")
Since face masks are so badly needed by health care professionals, but in such short supply, I go to wondering whether it’s possible to make such masks. I suspect that years ago surgical masks were made of fabric and sterilized after each use along with the fabric surgical gowns. When one-use, disposable, sterile masks became available, they probably pretty quickly supplanted the fabric ones. But was this because the disposables are significantly better, or because they are a lot more convenient. There are instructions online on how to make masks, but an ineffective mask may be no better than no mask at all (and might I guess be worse). Can an effective mask be homemade? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/2 "2020-03-14T06:50:16Z")
A homemade mask would be better than none at all, if you need one, and probably not hard to make either if you know how to use a sewing machine. ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/3 "2020-03-14T08:45:31Z")
You might use cheesecloth or gauze. If you could sew part of a HEPA filter element into a mask, it might work better than a generic surgical mask. It’s not easy to sterilize things in an autoclave, so I imagine that was a big selling point for disposable masks. But you could always boil yours! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/4 "2020-03-14T09:50:26Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > A homemade mask would be better than none at all, if you need one, and probably not hard to make either if you know how to use a sewing machine. Nope. You’re better of using no mask than some cloth that collects airborne contaminants in front of your nose, providing a false sense of security. > [@OSHA](#): > > Surgical Masks > > Surgical masks are used as a physical barrier to protect the user from hazards, such as splashes of large droplets of blood or body fluids. > > Surgical masks also protect other people against infection from the person wearing the surgical mask. Such masks trap large particles of body fluids that may contain bacteria or viruses expelled by the wearer. > > Surgical masks are used for several different purposes, including the following: > > Placed on sick people to limit the spread of infectious respiratory secretions to others. > Worn by healthcare providers to prevent accidental contamination of patients’ wounds by the organisms normally present in mucus and saliva. > Worn by workers to protect themselves from splashes or sprays of blood or bodily fluids; they may also keep contaminated fingers/hands away from the mouth and nose. > Surgical masks are not designed or certified to prevent the inhalation of small airborne contaminants. These particles are not visible to the naked eye but may still be capable of causing infection. Surgical masks are not designed to seal tightly against the user’s face. During inhalation, much of the potentially contaminated air can pass through gaps between the face and the surgical mask and not be pulled through the filter material of the mask. Their ability to filter small particles varies significantly based upon the type of material used to make the surgical mask, so they cannot be relied upon to protect workers against airborne infectious agents. Only surgical masks that are cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be legally marketed in the United States have been tested for their ability to resist blood and body fluids. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/5 "2020-03-14T10:11:46Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Since face masks are so badly needed by health care professionals, but in such short supply, I go to wondering whether it’s possible to make such masks. I suspect that years ago surgical masks were made of fabric and sterilized after each use along with the fabric surgical gowns. When one-use, disposable, sterile masks became available, they probably pretty quickly supplanted the fabric ones. But was this because the disposables are significantly better, or because they are a lot more convenient. Surgical masks were always disposable. There never existed a reusable one nor does it exist today. > [@](#): > > There are instructions online on how to make masks, but an ineffective mask may be no better than no mask at all (and might I guess be worse). Can an effective mask be homemade? How are you defining “effective”? If you’re trying to filter out viruses, good luck. Even commercial face masks can’t do that. Viruses are small enough to pass through the fibres of the mask. If you’re trying to avoid droplets of saliva from a cough or sneeze landing on your mouth and nose area, then I guess you could make something out of out of whatever material that you can fashion a mask out of. Or, you can just wear a full face visor. Much more effective in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/6 "2020-03-14T17:09:22Z")
> [@Saturn\_Dreams](#): > > Surgical masks were always disposable. There never existed a reusable one nor does it exist today. I got interested in this and spent a few minutes googling. I found [an article](https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-S0001209208713590/first-page-pdf) (Warning-- this is a PDF of the first page) from the journal of Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. > [@](#): > > It is interesting to note that he recommended sterilization of masks after each use, and replacing a mask with a sterile one when it became moist, and that he cautioned against hands being placed on the mask. I think it can be reasonably inferred from this that the very first masks were reused. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/7 "2020-03-14T18:33:36Z")
Masks are useful to the general public because they prevent one from touching one’s mouth and nose. They also signal social distancing to others. A simple cowl or scarf wrapped around the lower face will accomplish the same purpose, and will be a more useful long-term purchase. They are detrimental if the user believes it is filtering out viruses and therefore does not practice distancing from crowds or from someone who is sick. I know people who are making felted masks from wool. They are very careful to explain these points to their customers. They are still selling as fast as they can work. N95 and N99 rated masks do filter viruses when they are dry and the filters are fresh. If you are lucky enough to find such a mask available, buy two, so that one can dry while you use the other one. And get as many re-fill filters as the number of days you expect to use them. Otherwise you are just wasting money. Also,keep in mind that the mask will still carry a viral load on the outside, and will need to be taken off and decontaminated. If you set it down on your dresser at the end of the day, congratulations, you just picked up those germs. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/8 "2020-03-14T21:03:27Z")
A full face CPAP mask should make a good starting point: [full face CPAP mask at DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=full+face+CPAP+mask&t=ftas&iax=images&ia=images) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/9 "2020-03-14T22:49:38Z")
Or go for Neil Gaiman’s Morpheus helm look. That’ll get you a bit of social distancing right there. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/10 "2020-03-14T23:02:03Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > I got interested in this and spent a few minutes googling. I found [an article](https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-S0001209208713590/first-page-pdf) (Warning-- this is a PDF of the first page) from the journal of Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. > > I think it can be reasonably inferred from this that the very first masks were reused. Doesn’t mean they were very effective. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/11 "2020-03-14T23:54:39Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Or go for Neil Gaiman’s Morpheus helm look. That’ll get you a bit of social distancing right there. [OG](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Medico_peste.jpg) [plague doctor](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Paul_F%C3%BCrst%2C_Der_Doctor_Schnabel_von_Rom_%28Holl%C3%A4nder_version%29.png). Don’t forget the cane! ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/12 "2020-03-15T00:10:29Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > I got interested in this and spent a few minutes googling. I found [an article](https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-S0001209208713590/first-page-pdf) (Warning-- this is a PDF of the first page) from the journal of Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. > > I think it can be reasonably inferred from this that the very first masks were reused. That article mentions a certain “Weaver” (whomever or whatever his/her credentials are) \*recommending \*sterilization of masks after each use. This doesn’t mean masks were meant to be reused. An individual’s personal method of usage does not make it its intended usage. I don’t know what particular situation warranted sterilizing and reusing masks, but if you gave me more background info of this person or situation I’d be interested in trying to find out. Where’s the rest of the article with the references? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/13 "2020-03-16T21:11:19Z")
Cloth masks to “avoid disease” long pre-date any understanding to germs. People work cloth over their faces to protect themselves from mal-aria, miasma, and “the great stink”. Looking at random pictures of surgeons, surgical masks were introduced sometime between 1995 and 1915. I think Lister introduced white s sterile gowns, but not masks. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/14 "2020-03-17T13:49:28Z")
Just keep in mind that the point of _surgical_ masks is to protect the _patient_ and not the doctor. They’re loose fitting, so they don’t filter incoming air. They don’t even really filter outgoing air either, they just collect droplets from the doctor’s breath so they’re not expelled directly on the patient. That’s why dentists use them too, because they’re hovering right over your face. The N95 and other full-face masks are an attempt to protect the wearer, but that’s much more difficult and not something that can just be MacGyver’d out of stuff from the hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/15 "2020-03-17T14:45:20Z")
[This article](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic) was linked-to from the NY Times today. It’s a study on the efficacy of homemade face masks (made from a T-shirt). The conclusion is that it’s better than not doing anything. The abstract says: > [@](#): > > This study examined homemade masks as an alternative to commercial face masks. Several household materials were evaluated for the capacity to block bacterial and viral aerosols. Twenty-one healthy volunteers made their own face masks from cotton t-shirts; the masks were then tested for fit. The number of microorganisms isolated from coughs of healthy volunteers wearing their homemade mask, a surgical mask, or no mask was compared using several air-sampling techniques. The median-fit factor of the homemade masks was one-half that of the surgical masks. Both masks significantly reduced the number of microorganisms expelled by volunteers, although the surgical mask was 3 times more effective in blocking transmission than the homemade mask. Our findings suggest that a homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals, but it would be better than no protection. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/16 "2020-03-17T14:57:25Z")
One thing that might work is furnace filters from the hardware store. The ones at 10-12 MERV rating say they trap ‘virus carriers’. But I’m not sure how comfortable the filter fabric would be against your face. However, if you have a respirator or something which takes a filter insert, you might be able to take apart the furnace filter and cut out sections to fit into the respirator. The real filter inserts are likely out of stock. A homemade solution might be to put a piece of the furnace filter between some fabric and put that on your face. For example, fold a piece of fabric in half, put a piece of filter inside, and then use that to cover your mouth and nose. I’m thinking lightweight fabric would be best for airflow since the filter will restrict some of the air. So maybe sheer curtain fabric or something. Any thoughts on how to sterilize masks so they can be reused? I was wondering about leaving them in bright sunlight since UV is supposed to degrade the virus. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/17 "2020-03-17T17:37:21Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > [This article](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic) was linked-to from the NY Times today. It’s a study on the efficacy of homemade face masks (made from a T-shirt). The conclusion is that it’s better than not doing anything. The abstract says: Interesting. The article is from 2013. I’m wondering if it’s really applicable to the coronavirus, since it’s shed at incredibly high rates. Avoidance of face-touching is a good idea, but since COVID-19 is highly transmissible by breathing alone, I wonder just how much good a homemade mask would do. ---
**Author:** ![Biggus\_Richard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@Biggus\_Richard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggus_Richard)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/18 "2020-03-18T01:27:26Z")
None of you were taught during primary school first aid? One hankie plus two rubber bands. Fold the hankie along two parallel lines to make a long rectangle with edges flush. Then fold the rectangle transverse to form three equal-sized segments. Slip a rubber band through each “arm” and let it rest within the folds. Now, take one arm and insert it into the fold of the other arm. Voila! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/19 "2020-03-18T01:40:56Z")
> [@Saturn\_Dreams](#): > > How are you defining “effective”? If you’re trying to filter out viruses, good luck. Even commercial face masks can’t do that. Viruses are small enough to pass through the fibres of the mask. Not quite that simple actually. Firstly because we’re mostly talking about stopping micro droplets of water, not somehow free-floating virus particles. But also because…actually masks do provide some benefit for tiny particles, even particles much smaller than the gaps between the fibres. Not perfect protection, but certainly better than wearing nothing at all. I got these cites from **RaftPeople** : A facemask study using mannequin’s and artificial sneezing, 35nm particles: > **[Effectiveness of facemasks to reduce exposure hazards for airborne infections...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306645/)** > > Facemasks are widely used as a protective measure by general public to prevent inhalation of airborne pathogens including seasonal, swine and other forms of influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), etc. However, scientific data on... Coronavirus about 125nm according to [https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/...surgical-mask/](https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/...surgical-mask/) ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465/20 "2020-03-18T02:13:45Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Not quite that simple actually. > > Firstly because we’re mostly talking about stopping micro droplets of water, not somehow free-floating virus particles. > > But also because…actually masks do provide some benefit for tiny particles, even particles much smaller than the gaps between the fibres. Not perfect protection, but certainly better than wearing nothing at all. > > I got these cites from **RaftPeople** : > > A facemask study using mannequin’s and artificial sneezing, 35nm particles: > [Effectiveness of facemasks to reduce exposure hazards for airborne infections among general populations - PMC](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306645/) > > Coronavirus about 125nm according to [https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/...surgical-mask/](https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/...surgical-mask/) If the goal is to block droplets of saliva, masks will work. So will anything covering your face, like a burka. If you’re trying to block viruses, they’re not effective. Some particulates can get blocked on the surface and within the fibres of the mask I suppose but saying that this better than nothing is like saying using a newspaper as a cover in a monsoon is better than nothing. Technically, better than nothing. Effective? Not really. Plus, those viruses that do get caught in the fibres can get inhaled if the mask isn’t changed regularly, which is every 20 minutes to two hours depending on who you ask. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-homemade-surgical-face-masks-possible/849465.md?page=2)