# Masks to keep out the bad while letting in the good for pennies **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 12, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462 "2020-11-12T20:57:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/21 "2020-11-23T16:33:37Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > **[1]** Do not smell your mask You’re going to have to help me out here. Why should I not smell my mask? I breathe through my nose, mask-smelling is pretty much mandatory. If you follow my helpful Coffee Bandit advice, mask-smelling is the _entire point_. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I also didn’t think that coffee filters were still a thing, doesn’t everyone have a Keurig nowadays? I would cheerfully revisit this tangent elsewhere, but no, I don’t have a Keurig and I’d very politely refuse or refund one if it were offered as a gift. I do get excellent use out of my collection of [phins](https://nguyencoffeesupply.com/blogs/news/vietnamese-coffee-phin-filter-stainless-steel) that I purchased from the local Vietnamese grocery, for when I’m entertaining and conversation over coffee is the point more than the coffee itself. By the time the coffee is brewed, you’ve forgotten why you wanted to go outside in the first place. So you don’t use a mask, you do get a tasty cup, and life is good. I expect they’d filter the germs at least as well as any other homebrew device listed in this thread too. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/22 "2020-11-24T01:21:48Z")
> [@Acierocolotl](#): > > You’re going to have to help me out here. Why should I not smell my mask? I breathe through my nose, mask-smelling is pretty much mandatory. If you follow my helpful Coffee Bandit advice, mask-smelling is the _entire point_ . The virous clings to the outside surface of your mask. This may be one of the reasons COVID continues to spread in enlarging numbers. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/23 "2020-11-24T01:31:19Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I know for a fact that if you microwave coffee filters for longer than 10 seconds they will catch fire as soon as you open the door and grab them. I put a filter in my microwave for one (1) minute. As soon as the timer stopped I opened the door and grabbed the filter. It was not even warm. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/24 "2020-11-24T01:39:07Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > > [@Acierocolotl](#): > > > > You’re going to have to help me out here. Why should I not smell my mask? I breathe through my nose, mask-smelling is pretty much mandatory. If you follow my helpful Coffee Bandit advice, mask-smelling is the _entire point_ . > > The virous clings to the outside surface of your mask. > This may be one of the reasons COVID continues to spread in enlarging numbers Mask-sniffing? ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/25 "2020-11-24T01:40:51Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Mask-sniffing? Mask smelling/sniffing the outside surface defeats the purpose of the mask ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/26 "2020-11-24T01:55:05Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > Mask smelling/sniffing the outside surface defeats the purpose of the mask Good news, rboyce. The germs aren’t all getting caught on the outside surface of the mask unless it’s atomic levels of thinness. They’re making it some distance through and then getting stuck; the thicker the mask, the more likely this will happen. So you can probably have a snorf or two of your mask and not get sick. And frankly, the large reason people are getting sick is because they’re going maskless to giant “superspreader” events. While I can’t rule out the occasional, ah, used-mask-whiffery as an infection vector, it’s going to be vanishingly small. So anyway, your #1 rule isn’t bad, but maybe it should be like #4. You could replace your #1 with, “For heaven’s sake, don’t go cheap! Is your life only worth ten cents to you? Use the best-quality mask you can afford, because you! are! worth it!” ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/27 "2020-11-24T02:14:23Z")
Really? I almost set the kitchen on fire when I did that (but it was almost at a minute, not 10 seconds when I pulled it out). Different filter composition, different powered microwave? I dunno. I do know that it takes almost 4 minutes to set a linen tea towel on fire, but once again I had to open the door and let the air in before it caught. @Acierocolotl I was trying to be a smart ass when I posted that. I know that coffee filters are easy to find, I use them for other things than coffee, though, hence me trying to sanitize them in the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/28 "2020-11-24T02:16:47Z")
Try walking around with five French presses strapped to your face. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/29 "2020-11-24T02:19:33Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > Below are a few more precautions when using masks that I did not state in the beginning I’m just going to go with the [CDC Guidelines](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html). Many of your comments don’t really make much sense. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/30 "2020-11-24T02:21:13Z")
> [@Acierocolotl](#): > > The germs aren’t all getting caught on the outside surface of the mask unless it’s atomic levels of thinness. They’re making it some distance through and then getting stuck; the thicker the mask, the more likely this will happen. So you can probably have a snorf or two of your mask and not get sick. > > And frankly, the large reason people are getting sick is because they’re going maskless to giant “superspreader” events. While I can’t rule out the occasional, ah, used-mask-whiffery as an infection vector, it’s going to be vanishingly small. > > So anyway, your #1 rule isn’t bad, but maybe it should be like #4. You could replace your #1 with, “For heaven’s sake, don’t go cheap! Is your life only worth ten cents to you? Use the best-quality mask you can afford, because you! are! worth it!” Some things need repeating ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/31 "2020-11-24T02:24:24Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Different filter composition, different powered microwave? I dunno A microwave makes water vibrate and this vibration is registered as heat. No liquids, no heat ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/32 "2020-11-24T02:24:31Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I know that coffee filters are easy to find, I use them for other things than coffee, though, hence me trying to sanitize them in the microwave. The thing is, microwaving items really does sterilize them pretty quickly, though I expect you need an industrial microwave with really good radiation distribution. I don’t view myself as strictly responsible for people here, but when we’ve got a thread about cutting corners to save a literal dime, I didn’t want to contribute on the cheap side. But anyway, [here’s the cite](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3884686/). I do want to stress the “proper modifications” and “radar-absorbent materials” in the summary. That’s square in the "don’t do this at home!’ category. Besides, I love coffee. I make myself only drink a little bit a day, so I make sure it’s the best I can make. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/33 "2020-11-24T02:25:55Z")
> [@Acierocolotl](#): > > Besides, I love coffee. I make myself only drink a little bit a day, so I make sure it’s the best I can make. I drink 8-10 cups of coffee every day ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/34 "2020-11-24T02:37:30Z")
> [@Acierocolotl](#): > > I don’t view myself as strictly responsible for people here, but when we’ve got a thread about cutting corners to save a literal dime, I didn’t want to contribute on the cheap side. Actually, this thread is about risking one’s life to spend a few pennies. Depending on the make coffee filters run 3-20 cents each. The last box of surgical masks I bought cost 23 cents each. If your life means so little to you that you are going to cheap out on something like this, you will buy the cheapo filters (which I won’t use because they are too flimsy), as well as whatever you are using to attach the 4 filters to your face AND spend time fiddlefarting around with your makeshift mask before and probably during use to save or spend maybe 15 cents a day either way. I’m too lazy to bother. I don’t bother trying to sanitize my disposable masks either. I know I am being very wasteful, and that’s alright with me at this point in time. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/35 "2020-11-24T02:40:40Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > If your life means so little to you that you are going to cheap out on something like this, you will buy the cheapo filters I use N95 masks ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/36 "2020-11-24T02:41:18Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Actually, this thread is about risking one’s life to spend a few pennies. You could always reuse the filters for your coffee. And the boiling water will kill all the germs. Repeat. Win-win!!! ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/37 "2020-11-24T02:43:23Z")
Recycling gone wild! ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/38 "2020-11-24T02:46:13Z")
Its been fun but I must go. I wish you and yours a great day and beyond. Last but not least Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well Bye until another day ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/39 "2020-11-24T03:54:51Z")
Or depending on the mask, just throw it in the washing machine with your laundry. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462/40 "2020-11-24T04:37:53Z")
Can’t believe that microwaving coffee filters is still on my to do list. I had all day.☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-to-keep-out-the-bad-while-letting-in-the-good-for-pennies/925462.md?page=3)