Build your own with our take-home mask kit!
Please read carefully from top to bottom to make our DIY, no-sew high filtration mask.
A take-home mask kit: “Filti” (fabric mask material) might be white or green. Either performs the same. Some other items may be slightly different, but the Filti, elastic, silicone tubing, nose-bridges, and staples are required.
Prepare your work area.
These will eventually go on someone’s face, so we try and keep everything very clean. Cover or tie back hair. Wash your hands well, and put on a mask of your own. Clean off your work surface, and finish with a disinfecting wipe if possible.
Take everything out of your kit and assess if you have everything.
Watch our tutorial for assembly. Follow along.
Once you’ve made a few, take a second to check that they’re folded correctly. Compare them to photos below.
Front of a folded mask; should have 4 “ridges.”
Back of the mask; should have 3 “ridges” in the middle and the edge should flap on the top and bottom.
When opened up, the folds should unfurl to form a cup shape for the face.
Wrap-up: dating the masks & returning the tools to CHC
If you’re returning the masks for us to distribute, pack everything back into the grocery sack and write the day’s date by “Date Sealed” on the sack label. There’s a waiting period to allow for viral inactivation before they are distributed.
If you’re using the masks yourself, this waiting period may be less important. If possible, arrange to return the heavy duty stapler to CHC.
The new packaging: 1 info card (cartoon people facing out) and 4 masks go into one narrow plastic bag
Important Notes:
In the video, CHC organizer Chris assembles a mask start to finish as a demonstration, but usually it’s faster to do steps in batches (e.g., fold and do the first staple for all your masks, then proceed to the next step).
The video shows a small sticker being applied to each mask. We now have larger info cards that are packed in a bag with 4 masks.
There are instructions for loading and unjamming the heavy staplers on the box or on the stapler itself. Steadily pushing the stapler lever down until it stops completely will help prevent jams.