N95 are the best protectors followed by surgical masks and three-layer cloth masks.

Griffin says the best material to use is a tight-weave cotton. "Don't use a synthetic or a polyester because they've looked at the virus's ability to survive on surfaces, and spandex is the worst," he says.

Johns Hopkins Medicine has one design you might try. Kaiser Permanente has another design, as well as a video showing how to make a mask using a sewing machine. Both recommend 100% woven cotton fabric. Kaiser recommends washing and drying the fabric two or three times before cutting it, so it doesn't shrink later.

You can make a mask out of a T-shirt, no sewing machine required. You could also try making one out of (unused) shop towels. But no matter what you make it out of, try to make it fit closely to your face and don't touch the front of it once you've started wearing it.

If you use cloth masks, make a number of them so you can wear a fresh one each time you go out.

Those droplets from a cough or sneeze would hit your mask instead of your mouth and nose — good news. But the next step is to take the mask off by the ear bands and either wash or discard it — without touching the front of it.

"That's what I see all the time," says Griffin. "That's why in the studies, masks fail — people don't use them [correctly]. They touch the front of it. They adjust it. They push it down somehow to get their nose stuck out."

If you touch the front of the mask, whatever that person coughed or sneezed on it is now on your hands.

You should take off your mask by removing the elastics or straps from behind your ears. Don't touch the front, and keep the mask away from your face.

One other thing: Ideally you would have eye protection, too, to keep that stranger's sneeze from getting in. Glasses and sunglasses aren't perfect but can help. (Do not be afraid to wear Chem lab googles!!)

So if you're wearing a cloth mask, put it into the laundry basket immediately. If it's disposable, throw it away.

It's a big no-no to pull the mask down to eat a snack, then pull it back up: You've just gotten whatever dirty stuff is on the mask on your hands and into your mouth.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Face-Coverings-Guidance.aspx

Fun related story: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/492003-masked-uk-activist-handing-out-free-coronavirus-essentials-weed-toilet-paper

With supplies running low here are ways to get vital sanitizing products and useful alernatives:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/well/how-to-make-and-use-a-disinfectant-against-coronavirus.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/09/coronavirus-clorox-lysol-shortages-walmart-costco-publix-winco-lowes/2961818001/

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/need-toilet-paper-and-clorox-wipes-how-to-get-in-stock-alerts-when-you-run-low/

Many companies like Young Living will try to sell you non-FDA approved essential oil products. There are a few small studies that suggest some benefits of Thieves' Oil and other essential oils on some bacteria/viruses. These are NOT verified and should be used AFTER disinfecting products. Also, these have NOT been tested against coronaviruses in general let alone COVID-19.