While these masks have utility in daily use, it is important to remember that homemade masks crafted from found materials are not as effective as medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE). We are not making surgical masks, N95 respirators, or any form of approved medical PPE; they have not been tested or approved by any institution. These are to be used only as a “better than nothing” alternative when no approved medical PPE is available.
N95 respirators form a firm seal against the face, forcing all airflow through a filtering material which captures at least 95% of .3 um particles. Our masks have not been tested for filtration and cannot be compared to respirators.
In addition, our masks are not surgical masks. Surgical masks are manufactured in tightly controlled environments with materials not readily available to consumers, and are not designed to be washed. Similar to surgical masks, our masks cover the nose and wrap under the chin, and can have some gaps around the edges which reduce effectiveness.