Shop Towels for masks? 93% of particles down to 0.3 microns?

[Roland99]

https://www.businessinsider.com/homemade-mask-using-hydro-knit-shop-towel-filters-better-2020-4

The ideal material turned out to be stretchy blue shop towels made from a polyester hydro knit.

Inserting two of these towels into an ordinary cotton mask brought filtration up to 93% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, the smallest their machine could test. Meanwhile, the cotton masks filtered 60% of particles at best in their tests, Schempf said.

[northoftheborder]

1. Does Home Depot carry these?

[Roland99]

2. Probably

And AutoZone, Pep Boys, etc

Probably Ace HW too

[Blue_true]

14. If you buy "microfiber" cleaning cloths, you already have them.

Just use the clean ones, or ones that are not too dirty. If you plan to buy them, hurry, they will be gone in a few days.

[eleny]

24. Respectfully, can you please tell me how you know this?

I didn't realize that microfiber towels have the same properties as hydro knit. I"d like to check it out before I use them. it sounds like such an easy solution since so many of us keep these towels on hand.

Microfiber towels really hold up in the wash, too. I toss them in with other towels and wash them on a fierce Sanitize setting and I add the Steam function to that. It takes over 2 hours to finish the wash load and those microfibers look like brand new and never lose their cleanup functionality.

Hope to hear from you soon.

[Blue_true]

25. Put a microfiber towel over your mouth and try breathing in.

They don't let in air very easily.

[Blue_true]

30. Yes, I know. It doesn't stop everything, it is just harder to take in air through it. nt

[eleny]

28. So it hasn't been tested like the hydro knit towels?

I see your reasoning and was hoping that testing was done. Thanks for your reply.

[Blue_true]

31. No, it has not been tested. nt

[northoftheborder]

3. Lowe's and Walmart do, at least online

[Blue_true]

15. They will have them in the stores also.

They are used heavily by mechanic, contractors, in machine shops and by many homeowners. They are excellent for cleaning things like grease, they suck for finishing things like cleaning windows.

[gademocrat7]

4. Swiffer dry sheets

I have doubled one sheet over and put it inside the face mask.

[Blue_true]

16. I plan to test a paper towel inside my N95 mask. nt

[Chiyo-chichi]

23. This instructable uses Swiffer dry sheets as a filter.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Olson-Mask-for-PPE-With-Filter-for-Personal-and-No/

I bought a couple boxes and am going to try my hand at making some Olson masks for my family.

[gibraltar72]

5. We gearheads have them in place of the old orange cloth shop rags. Go to Oreillys

or any auto supply chain. I usually have a couple rolls in stock Look for Scott towels.

[Blue_true]

17. I think they are sold under the tag "microfiber". nt

[cayugafalls]

6. After searching online, Harbor Freight has the ones they tested.

A lot of other stores were out of stock on the brands they tested.

Stay well.

[CurtEastPoint]

7. never mind...found them!

[MLAA]

9. Thanks I just ordered some 😉😷

[lindysalsagal]

12. Can you send me the link?

[northoftheborder]

19. every site I've tried does not have them in stock to order or buy in store

[MLAA]

20. here you go!

https://www.harborfreight.com/toolbox-big-grip-bucket-blue-shop-towels-64928.html?cid=paid_google%7C%7C%7C64928&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAjw4KD0BRBUEiwA7MFNTfNuFsECnRcTHLM4bUhiVliCzJy4gDPBiEnzgMCUAfRi7sLQPlTRlBoCvWwQAvD_BwE

[lindysalsagal]

21. THANKS!!! GOTTIT!

200: I'll be able to share.

[SheltieLover]

33. TY!

Our store was out, but was able to order online!

[MLAA]

35. Glad to hear it

[boston bean]

36. Are Wypall hydroknits the same? Do you happen to know?

[MLAA]

38. The people in the article tested a few different shop wipes

Here is an excerpt from the original article:

‘Polyester hydro knit towels are readily available at hardware and automotive stores. The two brands they tested were ToolBox's shop towel and ZEP's industrial blue towel. Interestingly, Scott's pro shop towels, which are also made with a hydro knit fabric, didn't work as well, Schempf said.’

Leads me to believe not all hydro knit towels are created equal 😬

[consider_this]

40. dang - order was cancelled

I ordered from them, but now got a message that they cancelled and they are on backorder.

[MLAA]

41. Mine too!

It sounded like they sent me an email I overlooked saying it was on backorder and needed my approval. I don’t remember seeing it. I reordered so will watch more carefully to see if they send another request for me to approve backorder....

[consider_this]

42. i got that same bogus email.

i got nothing but the first order confirmation, then the one saying they cancelled because I did not respond to something. I think they are just out of stock. The site says 'in store only' now.

[MLAA]

8. Thank you. Ordered some.

[mitch96]

10. I found a few rolls in my paint locker. My HEPA vacuum bags just showed up to...

Off to make some masks!!
m

[csziggy]

11. My husband needed something for a mask today and used a paint rag

From a bag we bought at Lowes. The rags are just that - off cuts of various types of materials that vary widely as to thickness and stretchiness. The one he picked is kind of a double knit, extra thick tee shirt material.

While he was out he tried to find my sewing machine. Instead he found my serger, which I have not yet learned to use, so I will get used to it making masks!

I found directions for making masks and ties from tee shirts and will try that first.

[SharonAnn]

26. That's awesome. Thanks for osting. I can make these. Sewing machine, skills, t-shirts. I have all

[csziggy]

32. Made my first one today!

Used a cheap undershirt/t-shirt for the "cords" - biggest problem is if you tear them like she did, the cheap shirts are not cut straight on the grain and tear at an angle. It worked out, since I tore and tore and it went around the shirt at a spiral, making a really long length.

Second problem is that I am using a cheap serger and so far I have not found a straight stitch or how to get both knives out of the way so I couldn't make the channel for the cords. The mask still worked just fine without the channels.

Right now I'm taking a lunch break and watching YouTube videos on how to use this machine. Maybe I can find out how to straight stitch and how to get both knives out of the way - I did find out how to lower one, but not the other. Since I'm serging I may skip turning the fabric and just let the stitches sit on top. I just want a quick and dirty mask method to whip out masks for friends.

My regular machine is in storage - husband tried to find it yesterday but could only find the serger. I do have three (or maybe four) antique machines upstairs. The Pritzlaff Electric that belonged to my grandmother (and maybe her mother before her) badly needs cleaning so I don't want to use it right now. The others, old Singers my husband picked up cheap, have not been cleaned or used since we got them, so I don't want to try them at all.

This is OK - I bought the serger years ago and never bothered to learn how to use it. So far I can thread it - a pretty good accomplishment!

A note - My husband found that putting the loop part of the cord on the lower part of the neck and tying the upper parts over the ears much easier than the way she shows in the video.

[Progressive Law]

13. Auto parts stores carry these.

Autozone, O'Reilly's, Pep Boys, etc.

I happen to have a large stock of these because I like to work on cars as my hobby.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. "surgical-style masks like these aren't likely to protect a healthy person from getting the virus ..

... if people with COVID-19 wear them — especially along with following social distancing — that could help minimize the spread."

If you use this, that's important to remember - it's not about keeping you safe, it's keeping others safe from you. Don't alter the rest of your behaviour just because you wear this.

[Dem2theMax]

22. Thank you for posting!

Harbor Freight still has them. You can only order two, but that's 400 towels. Yay!

[Roland99]

29. You're welcome!

[ananda]

34. I think I have some of those.

Wow

[Demovictory9]

37. kick

[Bengus81]

39. Oh oh...the newest thing for hoarders to hoard??

Just now starting to see TP show up on the shelves.........