How to Make a Face Mask at Home

Slowing the spread of germs is key during the coronavirus pandemic. You can do your part by keeping your apartment clean and wearing a face mask. But with masks in high demand, it may be hard to find one.

Instead of frantically searching for a mask, you can make your own with materials you've got lying around at home — in less than five minutes. Here's how to make a face mask to fight the advancement of coronavirus.

What you'll need

• Cloth (bandana, tea towel, handkerchief, old T-shirt, etc.)
• String (shoelace, yarn, a cut strip of T-shirt, etc.)
• Paper towel or coffee filters

Step 1: Lay it out

Lay the cloth flat on a surface. The cloth should be a square that's between a foot and a foot-and-a-half in width and length. If you're using a T-shirt or large piece of cloth, you'll need to cut it to the right size.

Lay your paper towel or coffee filters in the middle of the cloth. Fold or cut it to be between three and four inches tall and slightly shorter than the width of the cloth.

Step 2: Fold it

Fold the bottom of the cloth over the paper towel or coffee filters.

Then fold the top of the cloth down.

Step 3: Add the string

Lay your string in an upside-down "U" shape over the folded cloth, leaving room in the middle and on either side of the cloth.

Step 4: Fold it again

Fold in the sides of the cloth over the string. Hold it up to your face and make sure that the folded cloth will cover your entire moth. Adjust as needed until it properly and comfortably covers your mouth.

Step 5: Wear it

To wear your mask, hold the cloth up to your mouth and slip the closed end of the string over your head and above your ears.

Pull the loose ends of the string to adjust the fit to your head and tie them together.

Stay safe!

Wear your mask whenever you leave the house to prevent the spread of harmful germs and protect yourself while you're out and about. Make sure you wash your mask between outings to further protect yourself (and others) by either putting it in the washing machine or hand-washing with detergent and a little bit of bleach.

We all need to do whatever we can to slow the spread of coronavirus and something as simple as wearing a mask can keep you safe and healthy!