With the world slowly beginning to emerge from COVID19 lockdown, it is essential that we continue to keep ourselves and those around us safe. One was of achieving safety is by making and wearing a face covering.

• Why should you wear a face covering? 
• When should you wear a face covering?
• How to make a face covering from a T-shirt
• How to make a face covering from a bandanna 
• How to sew a face covering 
• How to look after your face covering

Why should you wear a face covering?

Despite the fact that many countries are beginning to ease their lockdown restrictions, Coronavirus has not disappeared. We still need to make sure that we are staying safe. Wearing a face covering helps reduce the risk of transmitting COVID19 when we do leave the house for essential reasons. Additionally, they will protect those who are asymptomatic from spreading Coronavirus unwittingly.

When should you wear a face covering?

Face coverings should be worn on public transport, in shops, and in enclosed spaces where social distancing can not be carried out and you are amongst people who are not living in your home. 

Before putting your face covering on you should wash your hands or use hand sanitiser to rid yourself of any bacteria. Once your hands are clean, place your face covering comfortably over your nose and mouth, making sure that you can still breathe.

Please note, face coverings should not be worn by children under the age of 2 or by those with respiratory problems.

How to make a face covering from a T-shirt 

You will need:

• An old T-shirt that you no longer want 
• A ruler 
• A pair of scissors 

1. Begin by laying your T-shirt on a flat surface. Using your ruler, measure 20 cm from the bottom of the T-shirt. From your 20 cm mark, use your scissors and cut a straight line across the width of your material, creating a rectangle. 
2. Using your ruler again, measure 2 cm from the top right corner of your fabric. From the 2 cm mark, make a 15 cm horizontal cut through your T-shirt that is parallel to the top of the rectangle. Repeat this process, parallel to the cut that you have just made. 
3. To make your ties, cut open the two long strips of fabric that you have just created. Unfold the main piece of fabric and place it over your nose and mouth, making sure that you can still breathe. Tie the top two ties around your head, and the bottom ties around your neck. You must make sure that your ties are secure and will not become unfastened. 

How to make a face covering from a bandanna 

You will need:

• A bandanna of at least 50 cm by 50 cm 
• Two elastic bands or hair ties 

1. Begin by laying your bandanna on a flat surface. Fold your bandanna in half from top to bottom. 
2. Next, fold the top half of your bandanna two-thirds of the way down and fold the bottom half up so that the two sections meet in the middle. 
3. Thread your elastic bands or hair ties through the bandanna, keeping them 12 cm apart. 
4. Finally, fold the overhanging ends of the bandanna into the centre and tuck them into your elastic bands or hair ties. 

How to sew a face covering 

You will need:

• Two 25 cm by 25 cm squares of cotton fabric 
• Two 20 cm pieces of elastic or string 
• A needle
• Thread
• A pair of scissors 

1. Begin by placing your two 25 cm by 25 cm squares of fabric on top of one another. Fold one side of the stacked fabric over by 0.75 cm and hem the material. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the fabric. 
2. Create two channels by folding over the stacked fabric by 1.5 cm on each side. Stick down both sides of the fabric, making sure that the stitches are strong enough to hold the material together. 
3. With your needle, run your 20 cm of elastic or string through the hem of your covering to create ear loops. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the covering, making sure that you tie the ends tightly.
4. To finish, gently pull your elastic or string so that your tied knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the fabric on the elastic and adjust them so that they comfortably fits your face. Securely stitch your elastic in place to ensure that your face covering will not fall below your nose and mouth. 

How to look after your face covering 

It is not enough to just wear a face covering, you also have to regularly clean it. When taking your face covering off do not touch the front of it or the section that has been touching your nose and mouth. Instead, remove your covering using the ties around your head. Once removed, immediately place it in a plastic bag until you are able to wash it. If your covering has touched any surface, you must disinfect those surfaces immediately. To best ensure that your face covering is rid of bacteria, wash it in your washing machine after every use on a hot wash.

If your face covering has been hand-stitched it may be better to hand wash to avoid it potentially falling apart in the washing machine. If you are hand-washing, lather the fabric in laundry detergent and scrub it for at least 20 seconds. Rinse with warm to hot water, and either leave to dry or use the hottest setting on your tumble dryer.  Once dried, iron your face covering. The heat from the iron will kill any residing bacteria and reduce your risk of contracting a bacterial respiratory infection.

We want to ensure that our drivers and customers remain safe during COVID19. That is why we now deliver your laundry contactless. To book your delivery slot head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.