Mask USE and CARE for non-medical masks

I hope you enjoy use of your fabric masks, from ElleFagan.com, or any nice source.

USE and CARE:

1. KEEP THE MASKS in the ZIPLOCK bag that came with them before and after wearing, and for disposal of them, when they seem to need to be thrown away. Zip the bag securely always. I keep a zipped bag of 2 in my day bag to be sure I have one with me when I leave my home. Since the idea is to keep the germs contained.

2. HAZARD NOTE -
NOSE WIRE HAZARD! After wash and re-use, the twist-tie nose wires can wiggle right through even the strongest fabric, and scratch skin and eyes, particularly dangerous for children.

My new design uses NO wires but holds onto the nose well. My elastics go over and behind the ear softly and gently, and have a wooden bead that slides to adjust the fit nicely.
What to do: throw it away. If the wires will poke thru when you test it for safety. Get your money back.
IF you like the mask, pull the wires out with pliers or tweezers and take a stitch to the area to make it fit snugly over the nose.

3. - keyword “HEAT”. HEAT kills the covid-19 germ -

After each use, wash your masks in soap and hot water, rinse and dry in HOT dryer or press with HOT iron if air-drying. Kills the germs, so you can safely wear the masks again and again.

The masks from ellefagan.com were fashioned of quality materials in a smoke-free, pet-free environment, with frequent washings of everything, by a healthy person.
They should be fine to use immediately, but feel free to launder before use if you like.

CDC.gov says these non-medical masks of cotton ARE good to use because https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html

• they keep us mindful that these are special days and our caution is not an option.

• they prevent moisture droplets from noses and mouths from being shared

• they MAY BE REWASHED up to TEN TIMES before disposing of them-
  I have used some of mine longer than that, as long as I know I definitely disinfected the mask after use and kept it in its bag.

• they should be at least surface cleaned and aired between uses Apparently, the germ dies on its own on inanimate surfaces after a half hour or so - usually but NOT ALWAYS.

• they should be kept in a ziplock when not in use

• they should be disposed of in the ziplock when it is time to trash them

• A hot iron will disinfect as well as other methods - HEAT, not ice, works to kill covid.

  
  

If you want more masks, they are everywhere. My few for sale to cover my supply costs are at the site homepage toplink, or directly here:
https://ellefagan.com/fineartstorepage/cotton-non-medical-masks-limited-quantity

I discovered I am one soldier in and army of sewists, making masks for FREE Distribution through local town pathways. I started making mine by request.
Then after my first hundred, I began to sell some, just enough to recoup my costs.
So I do hope you will want some.

May the time when The Novel Coronavirus is memory come swiftly!
In the meantime, we have been amazing.

May we remain THE BEST!

Ellen Smith Fagan ellefagan.com

p.s. National Geographic has more on cleaning masks https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/05/coronavirus-best-way-to-clean-your-face-mask