Now we are living through a pandemic and need to wear a mask in public, I felt there was a real need for a better, non-medical grade mask than the cloth masks currently available.

The Cinderloop Mask is fitted around the nose and cheekbones and is shaped to fit your face. There are three layers to the mask: a cotton woven top layer, a microfilament filter middle, and a thin cotton knit lining.

• Evolon microfilament layer will filter down to one micron size particles
• padded nose wire to contour to your face so your glasses don't fog up as much
  
• mask will stay dry around the mouth thanks to the highly absorbent, wicking and fast-drying Evolon filter
• jersey lycra ear loops are adjustable and more comfortable than elastic loops
  
• no center seam (you don't want a line of stitch holes near your nose and mouth)
• thin cotton knit lining is soft against your skin
  

To read more about Evolon microfilament textile go to the company site.

Fabric top layer is 100% cotton

Availability: These masks are sewn to order so will take at least a week to ship.

Current choices: Blue oxford shirting, Watermelon yarn dye, Oyster Grey twill, Grey oxford shirting, Red broadcloth, Navy twill, Olive mini cord, Faded Black twill

(Western Avenue neighbors please email me to order masks without added shipping costs).

Sizing

Sizing is determined by the distance between the bridge of your nose and your chin, so the length of your face not the width. See the measuring guide (scroll down) for details.

Medium: small to average woman's face, small man's face. Nearly all women will be medium.

Large: average man's face, large woman's face. Nearly all men will be large.

XL/Custom option if you think you won't fit a standard size. Please contact me by email.

How to Fit

Instructions are included with each mask order.

Put on mask and adjust the nose wire first so you get a close fit around the nose and cheekbones.

Tighten ear loops by pulling on knotted tie ends until you get a comfortable fit. The sides of the mask will gather. Then tie a knot to keep the loop secure.

Try to see where the air is going when you breathe out. As much as possible the air should go through the filter and not out the top of the mask.

Pull the knot around and hide it inside the ear loop channel. It's easier to go through the top. The tie ends will not fray inside.

Washing Instructions

Machine wash hot or hand wash hot (recommended if you need to wash the mask every night), drip dry. No bleach, no hot dryer. I wash mine in the sink in hot water and a bit of detergent and it dries overnight.

Returns or exchanges

For health and safety reasons I cannot accept exchanges or returns on masks while there is a threat of contamination. Please email me before you order if you have questions about fit.

Important Disclaimer

Wearing a Cinderloop mask will not necessarily prevent you from catching Covid-19 and it is not an approved medical grade mask. Following a good mask-wearing protocol is an important factor in keeping yourself safe.

From the CDC website

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

CDC also advises 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.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering?

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.