“Mama, where’s my mask?” Anyone heard that line lately?
Meet M(Ask) Mama – a professional organizer who has some helpful tips to keep track of those little, life-saving masks that have become a part of our everyday lives. They seem to be even trickier to keep track of than socks or gloves. No matter how many I order, they just seem to mysteriously disappear. So even though we cannot control Coronavirus, we CAN attempt to exert control over the masks we wear to keep it at bay!
M(Ask) Mama is here to give you some simple solutions to help you find the best masks, and keep them organized, clean and available at all times for anyone who leaves the house each day.
Where do you keep them? How do you wash them? How do you remember where you bought the ones you really like, or nix the ones you don’t! Here’s what I have found works at my house.
Q: What are the best face masks to help stop the spread?
A: Not all face masks are created equal. As you may have noticed, everyone is getting in on the act, and that’s a good thing! I even got a set of 3 from Nordstrom the other day. But just because a mask is “cute” doesn’t mean it will do the trick. According to Johns Hopkins, “Look for masks made with at least 2 layers of fabric. It should cover your nose and mouth without large gaps. The mask should have ear loops or ties so you can adjust it. For people who wear glasses, look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so you can mold the mask to fit the bridge of your nose and prevent your glasses from fogging. Professional masks should be reserved for frontline health care workers. A new study by Duke University found that except for the medical grade N95 and surgical masks, the synthetic material polypropylene, laid in between two layers of cotton, was the third most effective type of mask at preventing transmission of droplets. See the CDC’s guidance on masks for more information. Also consider masks that have a pocket for a reusable filter, or masks made from anti-microbial fabric.
Need some new masks? Scroll through to see a broad range of masks available online. If one strikes your fancy, does it measure up to the basic criteria above? I recommend ordering just one (or a set) first to see if you like the mask before stocking up! Steer away from any that have a long wait time. Don’t see any that speak to your inner mask maven self? Here’s another comprehensive list.
Q: How can I keep track of all these masks?
A: Set up a system! Whether you live alone or have a full house, it’s hard to keep track of all these little pieces of cloth playing THE starring role in the pandemic. Set up a simple system so you always have clean masks on hand. (Note that reusable cotton masks should be changed out each day.) 1. Inventory: Count up the number of masks you have. Divide them by the number of people in your home who need them. Decide how many masks you need per person.This is best determined by how often you plan to properly wash your masks. Some people just have a few that they rotate. Other people want a 7-day supply. Once school starts, it will be important to establish a good system for your kids.
2. Designate where/how you will make masks available each day or when needed. Will you have a communal supply or will it work better to have each person get their weekly allotment to manage on their own? Get buy in for whatever strategy you use.
3. Have a convenient basket or small laundry bag for depositing used masks at the end of the day. (I put used masks right into a lingerie bag and then stick in the washing machine.) I recommend one person be in charge of laundering the masks for quality control.
4. Provide everyone with at least one backup mask at all times to have in car, backpack, purse, etc. carried in a plastic baggie or a special pouch made for masks.
Q: How should I clean my masks?
- Fabric masks should only be worn once and then washed, using common sense. If you use a mask with filter, each type of filter has different directions for how long each can be used. The #1 best-selling filter right now is on Amazon – 20 activated charcoal filters for just $7.00, and a good range of options can be found here. The CDC guidelines for cleaning and drying your masks are very straightforward. Make sure your kids are NOT using the same mask over and over! Once masks have been properly cleaned and dried – start back at the beginning.
You ask (M)Ask Mamma what’s the bottom-line on masks? Like all my organizing advice, make it easy for everyone to do the right thing! Get your team on board. Buy masks that each person likes, finds comfortable, and that meet the criteria to maximize effectiveness. Make sure everyone knows the correct way to put masks on and take masks off to avoid any contamination in the process. And practice all recommended Covid-19 prevention measures to stop the spread.
And don’t worry – even with your mask on, your smiling eyes will shine through for all to see.