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Mask Wears

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I don't track wears on my masks, but I got to thinking recently...our mask mandate went into effect in mid-April last year. That means it's been about ten months, or 40ish weeks, since I got my first masks. I'm pretty sure I wash masks close to weekly--it depends how often we leave the house--and I wash my masks every time they're worn (as you should). Those first ones are certainly nearing or past 30 wears and, more importantly, 30 washes. If my masks were t-shirts, I'd be expecting to see some thinning fabric and pinprick holes at this point.

All of my masks are made from a woven material, not knit, so that will help them last longer, but I'm thinking, after ten months, it's super important to be vigilant about signs of wear--stretched out elastic, thinning fabric, holes, or tears. This is one item I don't want to use with any damage!

Have any of you had to discard a mask due to wear yet? Also, a friendly reminder to inspect those pieces before you put them on!

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from cindysmith

nuancedream

Veteran

I haven't had to discard a mask due to wear, but I did get rid of a mask because it literally started to fall apart after only one washing by hand! It was kind of pricey too...GRRR!! I have a collection of masks from Sanctuary clothing and I have noticed no signs of wear with them. I am very vigilant about ensuring my masks are in good condition.

Bonnie

Veteran

I have stopped wearing my original set of Johnny Was masks because of that same concern and have been wearing one use medical masks. Yesterday was my birthday and I got a new set of Johnny Was masks from my daughter. Hopefully I'm set for the rest of the pandemic.

Anonymous

Not yet, but some of my masks don't have pockets for filters- so will have to double those. Sigh :/
Runcarla's are the ones I wear the most

LaPed

Veteran

I have a feeling the ones I have with wire nose bridges will be the first to go; the wire does a number on the fabric and will probably start poking through one of these days (now I remember why I don't do underwire bras, lol). Unfortunately, those are also the ones with filter pockets, and full ties rather than ear loops...

kellygirl

Veteran

I've only discarded the uncomfortable ones--the ones that no one grabs and just sit at the bottom of the basket (they're the thick knit ones.) The Old Navy folded woven ones are the fam favorite. Those were recommended by MsMary and have the adjustable sliders on the ear loops. The Target ones with the metal wire at the nose get misshapen in the wash but can be straightened out with a bit of effort. I try to keep one in the car, one in my bag and I have surgicals at work so feel like I'm staying vigilant.

anchie

Veteran

I don’t wear clothes masks anymore since they are not acceptable here. It is about 2 weeks now since only FFP2 (EU equivalent of N95) masks are allowed here in Austria. Schools are opening tomorrow and my DD will also have to wear FFP2 the whole day there and it is a challenge since she has a very small face and masks are difficult to fit her. She will also get tested every Monday, we will see how it will all go tomorrow.

Runcarla

Veteran

After experimenting with different materials and patterns I settled on two different designs about 6 months ago. After making lots of them, I’ve fine tuned my method. My current collection numbers around 10 and are all in good shape. I’ve replaced the ear loops on some of the DS’s because they are out in the world (at work and at college) and their masks see more wear. Masks get inspected after every wash cycle.

Anonymous

Despite the questionable environmental impact, I usually use disposable masks now. I've tried what feels like every single iteration of cloth, knit, wire, no-wire, mask design there is - short of the UA training mask which is a favourite among my co-workers , and the disposable ones have less impact on my sinuses and allergies. So - yeah, I'm going through them like water , which does give me pause. I do have one nylon knit one with a woven liner and nose wire that I love, and it's going strong after about 5 months now . The very first mask purchase I made back in June was trashed a few weeks ago. Just didn't retain a close fit after months of washing and wearing - but for $15, I expected that.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Great topic that I’ve been thinking about too. For a while, I was mostly wearing the disposable surgical masks, because they’re more comfortable, but I’m no longer convinced they’re sufficient for situations in which you can’t socially distance. Probably fine for a quick trip to the grocery store, but not for my retail shifts where people are talking to me from two feet away most of the day. (Lots of anecdotal evidence from acquaintances with in person jobs who got covid even while masked.)

I have put aside all of the knit masks I had - some from Boden, some from Gymwrap, and a couple freebies - because the current advice is to stick with woven masks. So I’ve got some homemade ones, a couple from Madewell, some from Old Navy (which are my favorite pleated ones), and some origami style from Etsy. Honestly, none of them are perfect and some of them are starting to show a little wear (I wash each after one use, in a mesh bag). I’ve ordered a KN94 from iHerb to try, so we’ll see if it hits the right balance of good fitting and comfortable.

Aquamarine

Veteran

We have quite the assortment in my house, and we no longer wear some of the first masks we purchased (or made), but nothing has worn out yet. I feel masks have gotten better and thru trial and error we have discovered the ones that fit our individual faces best as well as offer the best protection. It actually makes me angry to see ill-fitting masks on people now. Really, you haven’t figured it out yet?

The best masks for me are ones with multiple layers and a filter pocket as well as a nose wire. My latest fav is by Graf-Lantz. The folds really envelope my face nicely with no gaps.

I am now double-masking so I use a disposable paper mask under a cloth one. I put a pack of those in every car so we are covered in case we leave the house without a mask by accident.

Anonymous

I have only a few in use at a time because my exposure is low and I wash them by hand.

I don't feel safer in the paper masks as they're suspiciously easier to breath in and they gap. I just got knit ones from Etsy that fit very well. I can't see light through them, blow out a match inches away, or talk for more than a few minutes without getting breathless so I'm satisfied.

JAileen

Veteran

I haven’t noticed any wear on ours. I used quilting cotton that I had on hand, and then bought online (fabric.com). As an experiment, I sewed two existing masks together, for a total of four layers of fabric. It’s very breathable, and reasonably comfortable. My husband, son and I use shoe laces to tie them on. Our son’s girlfriend and my mother both prefer elastic. I have a roll of soft elastic that I use for theirs. I don’t go out very much, though. I think I’ve used only four tanks of gas in my car since the pandemic started.

Windchime

Veteran

I, too, wear cloth masks and wash them after each use. I was surprised that one of the masks I purchased from Nordstrom in August recently came out of the wash machine with a rip in it. That’s the only cloth mask I’ve discarded so far.

rachylou

Veteran

This is an excellent point. I did toss one that didn’t make it. I’ve acquired A LOT of masks: they are my new socks. I wear one a day and washing even every two days was getting to be too much work. They’re advising double masking now because of the new more transmissible strains... I guess I’ll have to buy a box of surgical masks...

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well not to be a Debbie Downer but with the new virus variants it may be advisable to wear a double mask cloth and medical, or a mask with a filter, which I know Angie and probably a lot of others already do. I would not rely on a cloth mask alone indoors these days.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m doubling the disposable masks under my woven cloth masks on the rare occasions I am going near people. And some of my woven masks have pockets inside for filters too, so I’m definitely multi-masking. None of my masks have worn out yet, but I got rid of a couple that were too big for my face, snd a Jersey knit one that just seemed too insubstantial.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I’ve been double-masking, too. Actually have done that indoors since the start. Now, I use a KN-95 with a cloth mask instead of the surgical + cloth I wore last summer. We’re required to mask up outdoors as well, and I often stick with just the cloth for that, especially if I’m just going for a walk and don’t expect any close contact with others.

nemosmom

Veteran

We haven't had any wear out, but you make a great point! I will make a point to inspect masks when they come out of the laundry! I sure wish there weren't a need for the disposable ones. Ugh, so much trash

Joy

Veteran

I have not had to discard any woven masks but we often wear the one wear industrial type. The others always get washed after each wear, and usually ironed too. Most of the time masks get washed in the washer in a lingerie bag and are hung to dry.. I suspect that they will need to be worn at least another six months.

Laurie

Veteran

Into double masking now, with a paper mask, or a filter even if just layered, under my regular cloth mask.

I wanted to love the masks that tied, that came from the place in Baltimore, but the ties were so fussy and uncomfortable if I needed to take the mask up and down. My favorites have ended up being Everlane's, grey and black in thick sweatshirt-weight, but breathable, cotton. They stay up. My husband has really liked a filter mask from Outdoor Research. They've run out of filters in the volume pack, unfortunately.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Masks have become a wardrobe basic! We've been in masks since late April last year too. So a LOT of wear. Had 6 and so far have had to retire one. Elastic shot. Filters replaced every 4 days. Now I am also double masking with a filter when I am indoors doing errands.

hereforthecake

I have to wear a mask every day, all day, for work. Like some others, I've thrown out a few masks that I no longer considered to be as safe. I now only wear those that have a slot for a filter. I wash them after every single use.

Sometimes I even use one of those blue medical masks as a filter, when I am working with someone who is not very good about wearing her mask consistently because I've read that it offers additional protection to the wearer. (Not sure if this is a good practice, but it seems like it should work??).

Still try to match my mask to my outfit in some way.

Glory

Veteran

I haven’t been to any stores in 10 months. My trips are outdoor walking and I wear a cloth mask for that. The only other trips are to the hospital and I am using an N95 mask or two surgical masks. I was using one but was advised to use two. I have three amazing cloth masks made by Carla and they are really incredible. I have disposed of all my uncomfortable ones.

cindysmith

Veteran

I've got some masks that I need to have the elastic replaced, but I have enough masks that it's not urgent