Yes, You Should Wear a Mask to the Grocery Store
Here’s where to buy one right now.
This article originally appeared on Food & Wine.
Since COVID-19 has taken hold, face masks have become the rule rather than the exception in our daily lives. It’s now clear that wearing a cloth face mask is the best way to prevent transmission while indoors and in public spaces, and that includes the most essential errand: getting groceries. The Centers for Disease Control recommends face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Until a vaccine is developed, wearing a mask is the most important habit we can practice to protect ourselves and the communities we live in.
Why You Should Wear a Mask
The best line of defense after grocery shopping or picking up food from your favorite restaurant is washing your hands for at least 20 seconds. While you’re on location at the grocery store, it is possible transmission might happen from non-food surfaces, but it’s far more likely to happen from the people around you. Cloth masks prevent contagious particles from spreading from person to person via coughing, sneezing, talking, and even just breathing. Though they are not 100% effective, they lower the risk considerably, according to research from the CDC. As for the types of masks that are acceptable for the general public, surgical masks and N-95 respirators should be reserved for healthcare workers and medical first responders. For the rest of us, cloth face masks are perfectly sufficient for preventing the spread of viral particles. It’s important to remember that even people who are completely asymptomatic can spread the virus just as easily as individuals with serious symptoms.
How to Wear a Face Covering Correctly
Every person over the age of 2 should be wearing a face mask when in public. According to the CDC guidelines, the most important rules around wearing a face mask include:
- Keep the mask on for the entire time you’re in the public space
- Don’t leave it around your neck or forehead
- Don’t touch the mask, and if you do, wash your hands for 20 seconds afterward
PARACHUTE
How to Clean Your Face Mask
The CDC has a list of guidelines for properly washing face masks. In the washing machine, use the warmest setting with regular laundry detergent (it is fine to wash with your other laundry). To wash by hand, make a simple bleach solution with 4 teaspoons of household bleach per quart of room temperature water, soak the mask for 5 minutes, then rinse it out. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. To dry the face mask, use the highest heat setting in the dryer or lay it flat in direct sunlight.
What to Look for in a Face Mask
There are a few types of face masks, including double-layered cotton, silicone styles with interchangeable filters, and the medical-grade masks (which, again, should be reserved for healthcare professionals treating sick patients). Your mask should cover your nose, mouth, and chin and use ear loops to stay in place. Ideally, cloth masks should be made of tightly woven layers of 100% cotton. Be sure to find the correct size for children, leaving no gaps. Look for materials that can be sanitized or washed easily and that won’t degrade after multiple rinses with bleach or a few rounds in the washing machine.
Old Navy
Where to Buy Face Masks
Hundreds of retailers are now selling masks at varying sizes, styles, and price points. We rounded up plenty of options, from standard cotton face masks to those with filters and a few with kids’ sizes as well. If you can afford it, consider some of the options that either donate masks or contribute to charities from proceeds. Giving back is a great bonus to protecting yourself and others. Be sure to wash your new masks before wearing for the first time and after each time you subsequently wear them. (Disclaimer: These are non-medical grade masksand are not acceptable replacements for N95, surgical, or procedural masks.)
Affordable Face Masks
These mask brands have bundles that add up to less than $10 per mask, and most are under $6 apiece:
Parachute, 5 masks for $30 at parachutehome.com
Avocado, 4 masks for $30 at avocadogreenmattress.com
American Eagle, 3 masks for $9-$13 at ae.com
Lucky Brand, 5 masks for $25 at luckybrand.com
Gap, 3 masks for $15 at gap.com
Old Navy, 5 masks for $12.50 at oldnavy.gap.com
Society of Threads, 6 masks for $25 at macys.com
Levi’s, 3 masks for $15 at levi.com
Everlane, 3 masks for $28 at everlane.com
Athleta, 5 masks for $30 at athleta.gap.com
Madewell, 3 masks for $20 at madewell.com
Anthropologie, 3 masks for $18-$25 at anthropologie.com
Sanctuary Clothing, 3 or 5 masks for $21-$28 at sanctuaryclothing.com
String King, $7 per mask at stringking.com
Buck Mason, 5 masks for $20 at buckmason.com
Vida, 2 for $18 at shopvida.com
Caraa, 5 for $25 at caraasport.com
Hedley & Bennett
Face Masks With Filters
These cloth masks have pockets sewn in for replaceable filters, for an extra level of protection:
Baggu, 3 for $32 at baggu.com
Society6, $14 each at society6.com
Avocado, 4 for $30 at avocadogreenmattress.com
Hedley & Bennett, 3 for $45 at hedleyandbennett.com
Society of Threads, 6 masks for $25 at macys.com
Vistaprint, $13-$18 each at vistaprint.com
Express, $16 each at express.com
Casetify, 3 for $40 at casetify.com
Subzero, $19-$29 each at subzeromasks.com
Abacaxi, $30 each at abacaxi-nyc.com
Vida, 2 for $18 at shopvida.com
Caraa, 5 for $25 at caraasport.com
Best Face Masks for People With Glasses
The following brands have options that include a built-in wire that can form the mask to your face, decreasing the chance of fogging up your glasses:
American Eagle, 3 masks for $9-$13 at ae.com
Society of Threads, 6 masks for $25 at macys.com
Athleta, 5 for $30 at athleta.gap.com
Anthropologie, 3 masks for $18-$25 at anthropologie.com
Los Angeles Apparel, 3 for $30 at losangelesapparel.com
Vida, 2 for $18 at shopvida.com
Caraa, 5 for $25 at caraasport.com
BAGGU
100 Percent Cotton Cloth Face Masks
Baggu, 3 for $32 at baggu.com
Parachute, 5 masks for $30 at parachutehome.com
Avocado, 4 masks for $30 at avocadogreenmattress.com
Hedley & Bennett, 3 for $45 at hedleyandbennett.com
Steele Canvas x Food52, 2 for $22 at food52.com
American Eagle, 3 masks for $9-$13 at ae.com
Lucky Brand, 5 for $25 at luckybrand.com
Gap, 3 masks for $15 at gap.com
Old Navy, 5 masks for $12.50 at oldnavy.gap.com
Society of Threads, 6 masks for $25 at macys.com
Levi’s, 3 masks for $15 at levi.com
Everlane, 3 masks for $28 at everlane.com
Rag & Bone, 3 for $55 at ragandbone.com
Los Angeles Apparel, 3 for $30 at losangelesapparel.com
Madewell, 3 masks for $20 at madewell.com
Anthropologie, 3 masks for $18-$25 at anthropologie.com
Sanctuary Clothing, 3 or 5 masks for $21-$28 at sanctuaryclothing.com
Uncommon Goods, 2 for $25 at uncommongoods.com
String King, $7 per mask at stringking.com
Express, $16 each at express.com
Casetify, 3 for $40 at casetify.com
Subzero, $19-$29 each at subzeromasks.com
Abacaxi, $30 each at abacaxi-nyc.com
Vida, 2 for $18 at shopvida.com
MACY'S
Mask Brands With Kids’ Sizes
Avocado, 4 masks for $30 at avocadogreenmattress.com
Steele Canvas x Food52, 2 for $22 at food52.com
Gap, 3 for $15 at gap.com
Old Navy, 5 fro $12.50 at oldnavy.gap.com
Athleta, 5 for $30 at athleta.gap.com
Society of Threads, 5 for $25 at macys.com
Levi’s, 3 for $15 at levi.com
Los Angeles Apparel, 3 for $30 at losangelesapparel.net
Sanctuary Clothing, 5 for $25 at sanctuaryclothing.com
Uncommon Goods, 2 for $25 at uncommongoods.com
Vistaprint, $13 each at vistaprint.com
String King, $7 each at stringking.com
General Mask Sellers
Etsy Reusable Face Masks, prices vary; etsy.com
Nordstrom Rack Masks, prices vary; nordstromrack.com
Anthropologie Reusable Face Masks, prices vary; anthropologie.com
Express Face Coverings, prices vary; express.com
Reusable Face Masks, prices vary; zazzle.com
This Story Originally Appeared On foodandwine.com