Make mouth protection yourself: sewing instructions and what protection it offers against corona viruses

Can you make a mouthguard yourself and how useful is that? Here we explain what virologists recommend, where mask requirements now apply and how you sew a face mask.

For a long time it was said that it was not necessary to wear a face mask, it could not prevent infection with Covid-19. However, it is now clear that the masks do protect – but not the wearer himself, but the people around him.

The virologist Christian Drosten said already a few weeks ago, There are “good mechanical reasons” for face masks and masks: “When I sneeze, I distribute the smallest droplets and when I have a piece of cloth in front of my mouth, these large droplets are caught, and of course that’s good”. The virologist Alexander Kekulé too advisesTo wear masks.

From Monday, April 27, a mask requirement applies in all federal states, mainly in shops and public transport. Small children are mostly exempt, but the age limit varies. So find out exactly what the mask requirement in your state includes. Good to know: Even homemade masks are allowed.

Mask on: make your own mouthguard is not difficult

There is already a shortage of masks all over Europe. A mouthguard is really indispensable in healthcare. If the healthy population also buys appropriate masks, the prices go up and the already scarce stock is further reduced.

But there is a good alternative: Make mouthguard yourself. Making a mouthguard yourself is not too complicated. We show you step by step and with pictures how to sew a protective mask made of upcycling material yourself. You don’t need to have a sewing machine or fabric supplies to do this. The instructions are also suitable for beginners thanks to the simple upcycling technique.

Note: Other instructions include folds to make the mask more comfortable and a wire for better protection in the nose area. However, these are less suitable for beginners. When wearing the face mask, please note our safety instructions in the last paragraph.

Sew mouthguard yourself: material

(Photo: Maria Hohenthal / Utopia)

You need this to sew a mouthguard yourself:

• 1 t-shirt with long sleeves or leggings
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 sewing needle
• Sewing silk
• Retractable rubber
• Pins (optional)
• Tape measure or ruler
• 1 iron (optional)

If you do not have a rubber insert, you can alternatively use some gift ribbon, a cord, a cord or even shoelaces, for example.

For these instructions you use the two sleeves of the T-shirt. The sleeve material is enough to sew four face masks out of it. If you are already a little experienced and have a sewing machine, you can use the rest of the fabric to make additional face masks.

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Make mouthguard yourself: preparations

(Photo: Maria Hohenthal / Utopia)

These preparations will help you sew the face mask:

1. Cut both sleeves of the T-shirt straight at the armholes.
2. Cut the cuff off the two sleeves.
3. Iron the fabric smoothly. Annotation: Ironing is helpful, but not essential.
4. Cut each sleeve in half as shown in the picture. Each sleeve piece should measure approximately 24 centimeters by 14 centimeters. However, these are only guidelines, it does not have to be completely exact.
5. For each mouthguard, cut two pieces of 20 centimeters each from the rubber band. Alternatively, have two cords or shoelaces at least 40 centimeters long ready. On the picture you can see both variants.
6. Place a rubber band or string on the edge and bend approximately 1.5 centimeters of fabric around the rubber band. Pin the hem with pins. If you don’t have pins, you can also use sewing needles or skip this step and iron the hem well instead.
7. Repeat the sixth step on the opposite side.
8. Repeat points five to seven until you have prepared all the face masks.

Tip: If you don’t have a tape measure, that’s not a problem. Instead, just use a ruler. If neither is available to you, you can take your hand as a measure. The distance between the extended thumb and the index finger is around 15 centimeters. A DinA4 sheet can also help you, the width is exactly 21 centimeters.

So you sew your mouthguard yourself

(Photo: Maria Hohenthal / Utopia)

You only need a few minutes to sew the mouthguard yourself:

1. Cut a thread from the sewing silk and thread the thread into the needle.
2. Tie a knot at the end of the thread.
3. Stitch the needle through the folded fabric. The knot holds the thread.
4. Now sew the hem to the fabric. To do this, stitch the fabric next to the hem. The tip of the needle comes out through the hem. You can see exactly how this is done on the left picture.
5. Repeat this stitch two to three millimeters apart.
6. Sew the entire length of the hem with the same stitch. Make sure that you do not sew the rubber band or cord.
7. At the end of the hem, stitch two or three more times in the same place and tie a knot. Then you can cut the thread.
8. Sew the two ends of the rubber band together. You do not need to sew the cord together, you can knot it if you have adjusted the length.
9. Repeat all steps on the opposite side of the mouthguard.

If you like, you can now fix the rubber band or the cord.

1. Sew the elastic band in place where it comes out of the hem. On the right picture you can see what it looks like.
2. Push the hem together to about seven centimeters and then sew the elastic on the other side.
3. Repeat the two steps on the opposite side of the face mask.
4. This gives the mouthguard a stable hold and the typical shape.
5. Repeat all steps with the other face masks.

Self-made mouthguard: you should pay attention to that

(Photo: Maria Hohenthal / Utopia)

The transmission of the corona viruses takes place, among other things, through dropletthat occur when you speak, cough or sneeze. Not every sufferer shows strong symptoms that infection can also be done without or with only mild symptoms. A mouthguard is designed to prevent the droplets from spreading.

Caution: This makeshift, homemade mouthguard cannot ward off viruses from other people. You are only protecting other people from coarse droplets, so that’s it no complete protection. The mask can even be a wrong feeling of security give. You can minimize the risk of infecting others with a mouthguard, but not completely prevent it.

The best protection against Sars-CoV-2 is to avoid contact with other people, to stay at home and to wash your hands properly.

Note the following for one safe use of the self-made mouthguard:

• Always wear the face mask when you leave the house.
• The face mask must fit snugly.
• Change the face mask as soon as it is wet.
• Remove the face mask when you get home.
• Immediately soak the protective mask in a soap or detergent solution.
• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Rinse out the face mask before washing it with the rest of the laundry in the washing machine.

If you use your self-made mouthguard laundry detergent washes, that’s loud Ärzteblatt sufficient. Corona viruses are enveloped viruses, the genome of which is encased in a lipid layer. They are therefore sensitive to alcohols or surfactants, which are contained in soaps, detergents and detergents as degreasing agents. However, the washing temperature should be 60 degrees or more, which in turn requires a lot of energy.

(Photo: Photo: Getty Imags Pro / Dragan Grkic)

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