Grooming Smarter

New style cotton mask

I admit.  I was worried.  I almost didn't order this mask. It's COTTON. Hair will stick. 

And yet so far, this is my favorite mask I have tried. 

It has ear straps that are adjustable with tiny rubber bands, a "chin cup", nose bridge adjustment and a filter pocket inside that holds 2.5micron active charcoal filters.

Some hair sticks and I suggest washing them by hand or in an ultrasound machine, but it's nowhere near as bad as I expected. 

I've been wearing this mask for 5 days, including shopping and gardening,  at doctor's offices and working. I changed the filter when breathing became more difficult and fogging up my glasses was happening. 

Note: no visible hair buildup.

Now granted, I have only dried 3 or 4 dogs and I almost never touch a pomeranian or that type coat. But still, as static filled as the shop is due to heaters running, and tge Maltese I groom daily, I am impressed. 

Due to the high levels of steroids I am on for Sarcoidosis currently and the risk that ANYTHING can make me terribly ill, I wear this anytime I am not at home. 

I was given a hard time recently at Walmart,  but I threw right back I was trying to protect my health after a biopsy and the worker kinda disappeared.  

It is an N95 rated (according to Amazon's information) and that is what we should be wearing to work in.

The style is called Dust mask. I would give you a link, but they are going out of stock so fast I am afraid to do it. Just search for spring dustmask, women's dust mask, GOUER dust mask. Be prepared to order and wait.

The inserts are called "5 layer replacement face mask breathing insert". Again,  be prepared to order and wait.

Due to the Coronavirus fear worldwide masks are nearly impossible to get right now, fast. This should start to change, but, plan ahead. Order now. You need them long after this virus has hone tge way of SARS, Birdflu, Swineflu and whatever other pandemic follows. Dog hair is forever. Viruses, 2-6 weeks. 

 

Extending the life of your masks

So, now you have your favorite mask. Or, not. But keeping whichever mask you choose clean, well, that's the topic of today's post.

This is this inside filter of my RZ mask. It is an activate charcoal filter and it is, well, past it's best days. 

Hair has worked it's way through the filter to my face. Time to replace it!! I also wash the outer covering separately from anything else in a fresh ultrasonic machine with laundry soap and air dry after rinsing.  

When I take off whichever mask I am wearing I use a small force dryer to clean off any loose hairs, then put it directly into a plastic bag to keep dog hair off. I do not lay it down anywhere because of hair. I can often use the construction masks for 3 or 4 days by doing this and the respirator type up to a week.  

You can also use a rubbermaid type container. 

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for storage and disposal. Airflow can be limited due to incorrect or prolonged use of a "dirty" mask. 

Breathe healthy masks are cute, fabric masks with multilayered protection.  They are nice little masks, but they offer up a host of other problems. First of all, hair sticks to the cotton fabric. Once washed, the fabric can "fuzz" and trap more hair. They MUST be washed by hand, alone, or in an ultrasonic machine. If you toss them in the laundry with towels, this happens:

The photo of the inside of the mask is from one only ever hand washed.  It's still going strong! The other one, well, not so much. My bather was not paying attention.  

If you  have replacement filters for your masks, change them no less than one time per week or more often if you see hair or dirt building up inside. 

A dirty mask is almost no better than nothing at all. 

I am unsure on the use of bandanas or face sheild, tubular bandanas.  They will prevent some hair from being inhaled and they are protective of dust, but I am unable to find any evidence that they are beneficial. 

If you choose to use these, choose slick fabrics,  not fleece, and store sealed,  washing regularly,  by themselves.  

Protect your body before you wish you had!