Last week, the CDC recommended that people wear some kind of face covering when going out to help curb the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Fortunately, I was able to put together stuff I already had at home to create a makeshift mask. While I haven’t worn it for an extended period of time yet, I feel that it will work.
After the recommendation, I decided to search around my house to see what I could find. I wasn’t sure I had any handkerchiefs or bandanas on hand. I went into my bathroom and started exploring the cabinets there. I found a container where I had kept some thick cotton headbands that I used to wear when my hair was longer. I tried one on by putting it around my head so that the top covered my nose and mouth. It seemed like it would work in spite of a little slippage. However, when I wore one to the grocery store, I kept having to pull it up, which is no good when your hands have been all over the shopping cart and store products! I needed to rethink my idea. I found a couple of spare shoelaces and figured out what I could do. I took each shoelace and put it on either side of the headband, like so.
I then tied the upper sections together into a knot.
After making the knot, I put the headband against my nose and mouth, and I pulled the knotted portion of the string over my head, with the string running over my ears. I then grasped the lower sections, pulled them tight, and then tied them together behind my head, below the previous knot. I then had a wearable mask that didn’t seem to slip! Here are photos showing the front and back.
I have multiple headbands, and I managed to find strings to use for each of them by pulling drawstrings out of pants and shorts that didn’t need them and by finding other spare strings. I plan to keep all headbands and strings washed as I use them and keep them in their own clean container. Before putting one on, I open the container and then wash my hands before taking a headband and strings out of it. I can use the inner portion of the container lid as a surface on which to place a headband and set of strings before I combine them to put them on.
I’m thankful I was able to figure out how to put together a makeshift mask out of materials I already had on hand. I was able to save myself a trip to the store and didn’t have to spend any money. It was also easy to put together, and no sewing was required. It was a little tricky to put on at first, but now that I’ve done it a few times, I’ve gotten used to it.
I hope this idea helps others who need a way to create a mask to wear out in public!
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