Buzz
Proper mask fit is essential. The CDC's recent recommendation to double mask wasn’t just about the extra layer. The second mask enhances fit as well, as Anthony Fauci shared with the Today show. Another fitting tip from the CDC: consider using a mask fitter, often called a mask brace.
A mask fitter differs from mask brackets that go inside your mask. Instead, it sits outside the mask, pressing the material snugly around your nose, cheeks, and chin. Unlike a second mask, it doesn’t add an extra layer of filtration. You can use it with any mask, whether disposable or cloth. Plus, it prevents glasses from fogging up.
Many companies produce these, and there are even DIY guides if you want to make one yourself.
Fixthemask.com offers silicone mask fitters featuring brush-like nubs on the sides to ensure a good fit against your upper cheeks. They are priced at $15 each and come in various sizes, available in 2-packs or 10-packs.
Fixthemask also provides a free downloadable stencil that you can use to cut your own mask brace from a rubber sheet.
The Badger Seal is a DIY mask fitter created at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It takes just a few minutes to assemble, and the materials cost only $1 per mask. You can download the instructions here.
If you'd prefer, you can also visit Etsy for pre-made mask fitters. (Here’s a Badger Seal for $10.)
Mask fitters typically feature straps that go around your head, leaving your ears clear for the earloops of your mask. They are reusable, so you can use one or two fitters for all your masks in your collection.
