Why are there still people with cloth masks out there?
Also, I've been looking to upgrade my masks. I'm using a kn95 right now (I think the same kind Obiden is using in the comm banner). People on this comm have talked well of the 3M Aura but I don't like the elastic straps that go over your head; I have long hair. Is there anything you guys use that's more hearty than a kn but you either have it around your ears or (for long term) tie a bow behind your head?
What’s even crazier is still seeing people with their nose out of their mask. You know it’s not required right? If you don’t want to wear it you can simply not.
Some people wear it just to hide their face or jawline because it makes them feel more comfortable. Some people have worn it so long it's become a habit, like a security blanket. And my friend who works in retail says he wears it just so he doesn't have to smile
God just not having to pull that fake rictus grin in retail would sell me on them forever.
I think a lot of people just don't know. There's been so much misinformation, bad public health messaging, and outright lies.
Honestly I just got used to them after it was so hard to find N95s when the pandemic hit. My mom made a bunch of multi-layered cloth masks and they seemed to work just fine.
Even really well made cloth masks are far below N95. I think like 18-39% effective at removing particles, compared to the N95s 95%
Yeah, been thinking of ordering some N95s after reading this thread. I've probably been able to skate by since I changed jobs about a year into the pandemic, going from a customer facing job to a more isolated one, but I also ride public transit.
The elastomer straps on the 9205 are trash. The 9210 uses cloth-elastic straps that are much more durable and comfortable. It ends up being way cheaper than the 9205 because the straps don't break so you can reuse it more.
Good to know about the 9210, but they're almost 3 times more expensive on amazon. May look at buying some of those clothe elastic strips and fixing my 9205s up.
I wear mine to passive-aggressively annoy and remind people of the pandemic. I'm not min-maxing efficacy!
Also it has this on it!
Show
Knowing what happened to so many of the old MTV News cast and related staff, if Daria was a real person she'd probably be on
or Meatball Ron's campaign staff by now.Yeah, I've seen at least one essay on why Daria would probably be an utterly insufferable Gen X lib now.
I know real people that were a lot like her, and clung so tightly to "meh" and "who cares?" that they made it their mission in life to react with hostility to other people that cared too much. You know, scratched liberals.
I hate shill but I've been wearing these since shit started. About as comfortable as mask get.
I use Honeywell DF300, and they seem to work well. I work in a busy store and have been to a sold out concert and haven't caught anything since I started wearing them before omicron arrived. Last time I bought some they were about 25 cents each.
You can now also get a nasal spray called Covixyl for about 20 bucks a bottle that lasts quite a while. It basically coats your nasal passage to protect from covid and other viruses. I wouldn't rely on it in a packed enclosed room, since you can still get infected through your lungs, but it should help in situations where masking is not an option or if you have a lower quality mask. At the very least it will lower the viral load you are exposed to.
And apparently gargling with mouthwash that has CPC as an ingredient is supposed to help as well.
I wear the 3m aura with long hair, and eventually I just found it easier to pull the elastic over my pony tail without adjusting my hair afterwards. helps keep the elastic off my neck as well. ymmv tho.
When I see someone wearing a cloth or blue disposable I assume they have an active covid infection lol. Perhaps unfairly but I figure anyone who knows and cares enough to still be masking knows enough to wear an n95.
Theyre only good against droplets, covid went from transmission through primarily droplets to primarily through aerosol a while back, delta I think.
Cloth masks are still at least somewhat protective though right? I still mask but I feel really bad using disposable things so I try to have reusable shit whenever I can. The ones I buy aren't just cloth but have a filter on the inside of them. Still I replace them every 6 months which idk just feels better than throwing out so many disposable ones
Based on this cloth mask efficacy ranges from 2 to 38%. So we can say it is better than literally nothing in a similar way to putting your hand over your mouth or simply leaving faster.
Oof, 38% is worse than I thought
How long can you still wear a N95 for before replacing it with a new one? And do you know of a good place to buy them in bulk?
n95s are cheap on amazon right now. like 20 for $12. I think someone over estimated demand and have been trying to dump them.
I'd be kinda worried about counterfeits buying on amazon, tbh.
I ordered mine from Home Depot but they were almost double the price.
That's fair, but I kinda feel like that about everything nowadays.
yeah idk how much it matters. i read that the counterfeits don't come with the electrostatic something or other that makes them work. i don't normally care of something's authentic as long as it functions but this kinda stuff is out of my expertise.
Yeah there's some goofy physics going on in the masks. It's not just a sieve. I thought that was cool as hell when I learned about it.
I get mine from Uline. It costs, but if Uline has fallen there is no hope for Western Civilization™ 🗽
From what I was reading counterfeits were being found all up and down the supply chain. Even from official distributers. Apparently it was a real issue for a while. I'm not sure if it is now though. There was also a bunch of FEMA supplies and other similar org PPE that was dumped onto the market for cheap. So I'm not sure if I should be worried or not. But like I also wanna buy HEPA filters so I can DIY a 3d printed room purifier, and I'm not sure if I should go with a good deal I can afford or put myself out there for the higher priced stuff that's likely coming from the same supplier in china.
Depends on your use. Going to the store? You'll probably get quite a bit of reuse. Have a physically demanding job where you'll use them for 8+ hours? You'll probably need to replace.
General rule is toss em when they're dirty, damaged, or difficult to breathe through.
Prior to covid I'd heard you can wear them until breathing becomes difficult. Ie until the filter starts to clog. Idk if that applies to covid though.
I've read that your filter masks can be reusable as long as you let them sit in the air for long enough that the virus dies out, and the thing that really ruins them is moisture. It does seem like a good idea to replace them like you are, and I'm probably overdue at this point.
Okay good, thankfully I live in a pretty dry area so I don't really have to worry about moisture
It’s annoying to take off and put on with long hair, I also don’t like the indentation it puts on my head because I’ve always hated head indentations for example headphones The 3M Aura basically does the same thing but I’m having to compromise for health reasons. It sucks but head bands are the most effective method of creating a good deal around the face. Earloops are debatable
Im into fashion and wear masks as an accessory. So i wear cloth burberry and bathing ape masks etc. Literally zero people outside of my work wear masks it makes non difference
I wear a disposable surgical mask while commuting, so I breathe in fewer particulates on the side of the highway or in the subway stations (also helped in the spring with allergies). I bought a bulk 1000 mask pack, so I'll just use them until they run out.
