Face Masks | CDC Recommendations

Face Masks and COVID-19

What Do the Experts Say About Face Masks?

With so much information about face masks, coronavirus, and COVID-19, it can be hard to know what you should do. We work closely with healthcare workers, policy experts, suppliers, and other relevant parties to stay as up-to-date as possible, but base our efforts most broadly on the recommendations and guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose

The CDC recommends that "everyone should...cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others [and] cover coughs and sneezes."

Even people who don't feel sick can still spread COVID-19 to others. It is important to maintain social distancing measures whenever possible, but when that becomes difficult, the CDC recommends wearing a face cover in addition to maintaining as much distance as you can. These face masks are "meant to protect other people in case you are infected." Both our Cloth Face Mask and 3-Layer Face Mask satisfy these guidelines.

Supplement Social Distancing

According to the CDC, "maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others."

Face masks are not meant to provide 100% prevention of, or protection from, the transmission of COVID-19. It is important to maintain effective preventative measures, like proper social distancing, hand washing, and disinfection efforts. Face coverings are recommended as an additional precaution to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Choose the Right Cloth Mask

There are 6 features that a cloth mask should have, according to the CDC:

1) Fit snugly but comfortably against your face.
2) Completely cover the nose and mouth.
3) Be secured with ties or ear loops.
4) Include multiple layers of fabric.
5) Allow for breathing without restriction.
6) Be able to be laundered and machine dried.

Our Cloth Face Mask satisfies these recommendations. You can find more information on the following pages:

Wash Your Cloth Face Mask

It is vital that you maintain your face mask in order for it to remain as effective as possible. Without proper maintenance, a mask may not help slow the spread of COVID-19. CDC guidelines state that face coverings "should be routinely washed depending on frequency of use" and that people "should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering." They also state that "a washing machine should suffice in properly washing [a cloth mask]."

With those guidelines in mind, we recommend that you regularly wash your Cloth Face Mask like you would a tee shirt. A standard cycle in a washing machine and tumble dry should sufficiently clean your mask without significantly changing or damaging it. We also recommend at least two Cloth Face Masks per person, so that you can clean your mask after each use and still have another one to wear.

Warning

These statements are intended for informational purposes only, meant to help you understand the positions, recommendations, and guidelines set forth by the CDC. They are not intended as medical advice or to provide a comprehensive explanation of the CDC's positions. This page should not be used as your only source of information. You should visit the CDC website or contact a healthcare professional with any questions or for more information.