Storing + Washing + Wearing Masks
Post Summary: Drying and storing masks in a small space, and a multi-tasking accessory to remind you to bring and wear one.
At the start of the pandemic, my husband used to always have to remind me to grab my mask on the way out the door. Now, seven months in and counting, we’ve found a routine that seamlessly integrates these necessities into our small home and lives. By now, this is a well covered topic in general, but I still receive inquiries about our mask collection and storage, so here are the details. (Remember, masks aren’t just about keeping ourselves safer— they’re about keeping others safer. It’s our responsibility to look out for our communities and our neighbors, particularly those who are most at risk.)
MASK SOURCES
We’ve found our collection of face coverings via various small retailers and shops. The majority of our adult + child masks are from The Odells, and a handful (that can accommodate filters) are from Suay Sew Shop. Each mask that The Odells sells creates 10 meals for hungry children and adults, and a percentage of all Suay’s masks sales go to feeding LA garment workers affected by COVID-19. Suay uses deadstock, vintage and remnant linens to create adjustable masks with a filter pocket and reshapable nosepiece.
MASK STORAGE
We store our clean masks in a small woven basket that’s affixed directly to the inside of our front door via a simple metal hook. (The basket is several years old from Connected Goods. Other versions that would be good for serving the same purpose can be found here. Handmade or vintage onion baskets are often well-suited options, too.)
MASK WASHING
After wearing our masks, we toss them in a metal bucket that’s suspended from our shower curtain rod, where they wait to until their next trip to the washing machine.
MASK DRYING
To prolong the life and structure of our masks, we dry them on our makeshift clothesline, our bedroom curtain rod, or from a space-saving, 3-tiered herb hanger I found at a small boutique in Santa Fe last year.
MASK WEARING
As for remembering to wear my mask, my handmade, 3-in-1 holder (which can be converted into a long necklace or a wrapped bracelet) by Maddalena Bearzi is a practical piece of wearable art. It reminds me to always have my mask at-the-ready— especially when biking, walking the pups, or running after the little one as he practices riding his bike. (Plus it’s perfect for wearing to a secure ballot drop box or to the polls — just saying.)
