A New Study Finds the Most Effective Type of DIY Face Mask

The study stacks up the results of each kind of DIY mask, and you're not going to like the results. If you've been rocking a bandana like you're about to rob a saloon, bad news. Bandanas only protect you up to three feet. The folded cotton handkerchief route only protects you up to 1.25 feet, so you can put your hair ties to better use. The cone-style mask, for those who was a light summer take a Plague Doctor look, can barricade germs from an eight inch distance. And then there's good-old stitched-quilting fabric masks; beautiful in their simplicity, they'll guard against droplets that come 2.5 inches away from you.

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Of course the resounding message here is that any mask is better than none, so you know... wear a mask. And proper mask maintenance is essential to doing this safely as well: the World Health Organization notes that if you reuse your mask, it needs be washed daily with soap and water at least. Likewise it should've be hanging off your face and needs to cover both your mouth and your nose. If you're still humoring makeup during this pandemic, it's high time to step up your eyeliner game.

This all being said, I'm 110 percent sure I'm not the only one with zero sewing skills. That might be a cute excuse when this pandemic started, but there's like a gazillion places where you can get a gorgeous cotton stitched mask instead.

Some of the most effective machine-washable face masks you can buy

Shop: Watermelon Face Mask, $14

Society6 recently put machine-washable face masks on their lists on things that can be customized. You get the feel-good vibes of supporting an independent artist, and some of the proceeds benefit the World Central Kitchen's COVID-19 relief efforts. This one gives off summer-appropriate "Watermelon Sugar" vibes, but there's tons and tons and tons of pretty options to choose from.