How to make or buy a covid-19 face mask that actually works

Your mask should be easy to sanitize by boiling or throwing in the washing machine. That means it shouldn’t have fabric glues, delicate materials, or funky decorations (other than prints on the fabric). Embellishments like sequins (yes, there are people selling sequined masks right now) provide surfaces that viral particles can linger on for days.

If you buy a fashionable cover to go over your mask—some stores are selling glittery fabric covers and chainmail overlays, for example—remember that this outer layer is being exposed to viral particles. You must remove it and sanitize it just like you would with the mask itself.