WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS POST ABOUT REUSABLE COTTON FACE MASKS!

√ Links to 5 reusable cotton face masks you’ll love that will last a long time.

√ Short reminder about why it’s important to wear a mask.

√ Update on how much plastic pollution throwaway masks create.

The coronavirus pandemic isn’t going away any time soon. That probably means you’ll need more and better face masks that won’t create plastic trash and can last you through the end of 2020 and potentially way into 2021. Of the many brands and varieties available, we knew you’d most be on the look-out for reusable cotton face masks that you could wear comfortably and securely and that are plastic-free.

Here are five of the best options we’ve found, plus filters you can get for them.  (NOTE: Some products are linked to sites we have affiliate relationships with, so we might earn a few pennies if you make a purchase. Thanks!)

USA Reusable Cotton Face Masks – 100% Cotton with Filter Pocket, Ear Loops and Nose Wire Bridge for closer fit. Made in the USA. (I haven’t tried this one, but it got lots of 5 star ratings on Amazon!)

Avocado Organic Cotton Face Masks – These 100% organic certified face masks are made with two layers of organic cotton canvas, a pocket so you can insert a filter (not included), and simple tie straps.

Triple Layered 100% Cotton Face Mask with Filter Pocket – This made-in-the-USA mask comes with a flexible nose clip for a better fit and adjustable ear loops. Does not come with filters, but you can buy some separately and insert them in the mask pocket.

 Cotton Face Mask with Replaceable Filters – This mask uses activated carbon PM 2.5 filters for extra-effective particle capture. Adjustable ear loops make for a closer fit.

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Cotton Reusable Face Masks With Filters – Here’s another option for a face mask that comes with adjustable straps, a nose bridge, and activated carbon filters for extra protections.

Activated Carbon Filter Inserts for Reusable Face Masks – If you only wear your mask a little while each day (which is what I do), these filters will last a long time. If you wear your mask a lot, the manufacturer recommends changing the filter every three days.

By the way, if you don’t have a “professional” filter, you can make one out of a coffee filter.

Here’s a short refresher course from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on why face masks are essential.

Centers for Disease Control: Wear a Mask!

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Studies and evidence on infection control report that these droplets usually travel around 6 feet (about two arms lengths). So, stay 6 feet away from anyone who you are not certain is not infected. (If you’ve quarantined with someone for two weeks and neither of you has gotten sick, you’re probably fine. If you’re getting together with friends or family to hang out, you should all wear masks and still stay 6 feet apart.)

Also, wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.

This is another important point: Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus by people who may have it but not know it. If you have it but don’t have any symptoms, you could still spread it just by talking, coughing, sneezing, and even singing. Wear a face mask to keep your viral germs to yourself!

NOTE: The CDC says that children younger than 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing or is incapacitated should not wear a mask.

I personally expect to wear a face mask for years to come. In addition to protecting against COVID-19, my mask could also help protect me from the flu and the common cold. I never wore a mask before, but from here on out, I’m going to wear it all the time when I’m out shopping, on the subway or bus, or at a public event.

Single-Use Throwaway Masks Pollute the Seas and Could Kill Wildlife. Plus, They Create Ugly Litter.

Throwaway plastic-based masks, along with single-use plastic gloves and wipes, are quickly becoming a significant source of pollution. Environmental group OceansAsia’s recent survey of the waters around HongKong found dozens of masks washed up on shore and floating in the water.*

Opération Mer Propre (clean seas), a French nonprofit, worries that there may soon be more masks than jellyfish in the Mediterranean.* Even in my neighborhood outside Washington, D.C., every day I find throwaway masks on the ground, where they can get washed into the storm drain and end up in the Chesapeake Bay and, eventually, the Atlantic Ocean.

Most single-use masks are made from polypropylene, a plastic that does not break down. It’s already estimated that over eight million tons of plastic enter our oceans. Some of that breaks down into micro plastic. Animals eat some of it, dying in the process.

Some people are adding to the problem by just tossing their mask out the window or to the ground, where it becomes ugly litter that no one wants to pick up.

Reusable face masks last many times over. And even if they’re thrown out as litter, cotton masks will biodegrade into harmless fibers.

What To Look For In a Reusable Cotton Face Mask

There are many masks on the market. CDC recommends we wear cloth masks like the ones featured in this post to help prevent all of us from spreading the disease.

CDC does NOT recommend an “N-95” mask regularly. N-95s are what doctors and first-line responders need to protect themselves when they help people who are sick with COVID-19. Some of us with compromised immune systems and respiratory diseases might need them, too. Or if you’re getting on an airplane or otherwise will be in an enclosed space in close proximity to other people, an N-95 could be your best option, because the N-95 prevents almost all particles from coming through your mask, where you might inhale them.

However, on the whole, the CDC says if we all wear tight-fitting, multi-layered cloth masks, we’ll go a long way to protecting ourselves and each other. Here’s me in one of my masks!

Reusable Cloth – You might be able to wear a paper mask a few times, but ultimately, it will end up in the trash. Get a cloth mask you can wash and reuse frequently.

Two Layers of Fabric – Choose (or make) a mask that has at least two separate layers of cloth. When you hold your mask up to  the light, the cloth needs to be woven so tightly that you can’t see through it.

Filter Pocket – In addition to two layers of fabric, you’ll get extra protection from having a filter between the layers. Before I had an actual mask, I rolled up a cotton bandana and put a folded coffee filter between the layers. That worked really well and provided extra protection! The mask I now use most often has a pocket in the middle that I can slip a filter into. I have bought some charcoal filters that will trap really very tiny particles.

NOTE: You may have heard about using a vacuum HEPA filter for your face mask. Make sure the filter is NOT made of fiberglass, as minuscule particles of glass may break off and be accidentally inhaled. A coffee filter folded in half adds more protection. This Merv 13 Material is not fiberglass and is designed to stop tiny airborne particles, increasing your masks’ effectiveness.

Proper Fit – The mask should cover both your nose and your mouth snugly without slipping down. It should either have ear loops to hold it on properly, or two sets of ties, one to tie the top sides of the mask around the back of your head, and one set to tie the bottom sides. It should extend an inch or so beyond your nose and mouth and fit snugly under your chin. I got one mask that looked pretty nice but kept slipping down off my nose. That forced me to keep adjusting it, which wasn’t particularly safe. I had to stop using it. I personally prefer the adjustable ear loops because I can tighten them around my face better.

Enough Masks – I have three masks I rotate among: one to wash, one to wear, and one as a back-up. Some moms had told me that they have gotten seven masks for their kids, one for every day of the week. You decide how much you need.

We are not recommending masks made from recycled plastic because plastic-based fabric can shed micro-plastic when it wears out or is washed. There are so many cotton masks to choose from, there’s no need to use recycled plastic fabric.

If you want to make your own mask, here are some sew and no-sew DIY instructions.

How to Wear Your Reusable Cotton Face Mask Correctly

• Wash your hands before putting on your mask
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face; use adjustable ear loops to pull the mask tight.
• Make sure you can breathe easily

And to reiterate, make sure your mask covers your nose as well as your mouth for the max protection the mask offers.

**SOURCES**

Coronavirus face masks ‘could have a devastating effect on the environment’

More masks than jellyfish in the sea!

The post 5 Plastic-Free Reusable Cotton Face Masks To Outlast Coronavirus appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Plastic-free reusable produce bags are the MUST HAVE way to avoid those flimsy single-use plastic bags you grab when you’re shopping bulk produce aisles.

I’ve updated this post for Plastic-Free July to remind you how great reusable produce bags are and help you find ones that work for you.

Get some and do what I do: keep them with my reusable cloth shopping bags. That way, I’m sure to take them into the store and have them handy when I need to stock up on loose green beans or a half dozen apples. I LOVE not having to use  throwaway plastic bags that are so thin they can’t be used more than once.

We originally partnered with SGM Reusable Mesh Produce Bags to let you know what plastic-free alternatives were readily available. While those are out of stock, here are three other great options so you’ll never need to use ANY plastic bags again.

Organic Cotton Mesh Reusable Produce Bags – These bags come in a set of 3 large bags, 3 small bags, and 4 medium bags. I have a set of 3 medium cotton mesh bags. I use them for everything except bulk beans. I can put them and the produce they carry directly in the fridge, so they’re very convenient. They’ll get a little stretchy if you put heavy food in them, but that doesn’t affect their performance.

Simply Eco Reusable Produce Bags With See-Through Window – This set of 7 bags includes muslin bags for bulk shopping. It also includes mesh bags for produce shopping, and a bag the manufacturer says works like a lettuce keeper in the fridge.

Reusable Produce and Muslin Bags, Plus Bonus Bag – This looks like a good set. It includes three  produce bags and three muslin bags (good for seeds, oats and grains, rice, cereals, etc.). And the large drawstring bag can be used either for bulky items like apples or corn on the cob, or as a grocery bag.

Here’s Why You’ll Love Reusable Produce Bags

⇒ They’re both durable and washable. They can be used over and over and over again, so each bag could probably replace thousands of throwaways. They’ll last pretty much as many times as you go shopping.

⇒ They often come in “value packs” of 12, in three sizes: 3 small, 6 medium and 3 large. Use the small ones for foods like herbs, nuts, and raisins that you buy in bulk. Use the medium sized ones for lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, radishes, onions, carrots, plums, and more. Use the large ones for grapefruit, apples, oranges, bananas, and larger quantities of anything else you need to get. (I personally don’t need more than 8-10. You might need a couple more or less.)

⇒ They’re “Multi-Purpose.” In addition to using them for produce, you can also use them as mini laundry bags when you travel, or to hold kids’ toys, office supplies, and laundry “delicates” (i.e., underwear!).

⇒ They’re cheap. And once you buy them, you don’t need to buy them again.

⇒ You can rinse fruit right in the bag and then put the bag directly in the fridge. They create no extra waste or packaging.

⇒ They’re versatile. Use them in the grocery store but at the farmer’s market, too.

⇒ They’re easy to store. Just place them in one of the reusable tote bags you take to the grocery store.

At least once a day, someone from the Big Green Purse community contacts me asking where she can get reusable produce bags. For a lot of people, getting rid of single-use throwaway plastic produce bags is the last step to truly plastic-free shopping!

We’re happy to link you to these bags and hope you’ll get some straight away. And please share this post and the links on your own social media. The more people use them, the less plastic we’ll be throwing away.

NOTE: Partnerships and affiliate links enable us to bring the expert green living content you want at no expense to you. Our editorial recommendations remain our own. Thanks!

The post Don’t Shop ‘Til You Get These Plastic-Free Reusable Produce Bags appeared first on Big Green Purse.

When it comes to living plastic-free, party supplies can be the last thing you might think about. But it’s so easy to shift to plastic-free options, why not put them on your list now?

You’ll save money in the long run by buying long-lasting reusable supplies once instead of throwaways over and over again. And you’ll throw away a lot less trash, too.(We’re updating this post for Plastic-Free July 2020.)

NOTE: Even though “compostable” paper plates and napkins are available, they usually can only be composted in an industrial facility – not in your home compost pile. If they are “recyclable,” check with your local recycling facility to see if they will accept them – many don’t.

Here are the 5 Plastic-Free Party Supplies I Have That You Don’t Want to Miss

Here’s a picture of the plastic-free party supplies I usually use.

1. Plates – I have several sizes of reusable plates: salad-sized dinnerware for buffets, and full-sized plates for potluck dinners. I have bought the salad-sized plates over time when they were on sale after the Christmas holidays.

The dinner-sized reusable plates are by Preserve. They’re made from 100% recycled #5 plastic. They’re dishwasher-friendly and if you ever decide you want to get rid of them, Preserve will take them back and recycle them. I have both the 10.5″ size and the 7″ size, which are perfect for dessert, fruit, or salad.

NOTE: I normally don’t recommend using recycled plastic, but because these last so long and you won’t be throwing them away, they’re a good alternative, especially for an outdoor picnic or party.

2. Napkins – I went to the local Dollar store and bought the festive 100% cotton bandanas pictured above. They’re big enough to cover a lap, colorful, and very easy to wash. I think I have around 50 of them at this point. They’re good for picnics, too.

3. Table cloths – If you like to have seasonal or holiday themed table cloths (like for birthday parties, Thanksgiving, or Christmas), you’ll find a wide variety of reusable cotton table cloths online, at thrift stores, on sale in department stores, and at local yard sales. At this point, I have reusable table cloths for the 4th of July, Halloween, general birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, plus table cloths I use for picnics.

4. Forks, Knives, Spoons – Plastic-free cutlery makes so much sense. The plastic stuff is usually so weak it breaks (I was at a party just today where the knives and forks weren’t strong enough and kept splintering.) You can get a 36-piece set of stainless steel flatware on Amazon that will last you 20 or 30 years. The set includes 12 each of a fork, knife and teaspoon.

5. Glasses/Cups/Tumblers – Of all the items listed here, glasses take up the most space. I have about 40 8 oz. glasses at this point, and I keep them in a couple of boxes that I stack and put in the back of a closet.

NOTE: You can get stackable stainless steel pint cups, with the advantage being both that they’re durable and they are unbreakable. But the smallest size they come in is 10 oz. I prefer to serve smaller drink portions, which is why I go with an 8 oz. glass. Figure out what’s right for you.

Preserve, the same company that makes reusable plastic plates, also makes reusable cups. They’re a bit big for me, but they might be perfect for you. Take a look.

I store all the table cloths, plates, napkins and cutlery in the cute duffle bag in the picture. Then I just tuck the bag out of the way in a closet, where it can easily be retrieved.

Get More “Green” Party Tips Right Here!

Where Can You Get Affordable Plastic-Free Party Supplies?

Speaking of Sales…

I buy many plastic-free party supplies on sale. All holiday-themed supplies will be 50 or 60 or 70% off the day after the holiday. Department stores like Macy’s, as well as the Big Box stores like Wal Mart and Target, are the place to look for post-holiday supply sales.

Borrow and Lend…

A Big Green Purse reader (and neighbor) wrote recently to say she’d accumulated enough reusable plates and glasses for a party for 40. She has let the neighborhood know that they’re available for anyone to borrow!

The post How Many Of These 5 Plastic-Free Party Supplies Are You Missing? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Why plastic-free straws? Because throwaway plastic straws suck – and I don’t just mean literally.

They can kill wildlife – like one almost did in the case of this poor sea turtle.

The darn things are made from petroleum – aka, OIL – and once they’re loose in the environment, they can last thousands of years.

Manufacturing plastic pollutes the air, emitting toxic emissions like benzene, toluene, xylene, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that “affect the health of everyone within breathing distance,” says renowned plastic-free activist Beth Terry.

They can break into tiny pieces of micro plastic, then get ground into sea salt or get embedded in oysters and other seafood, so we end up eating plastic along with our dinner.

PLUS, they’re designed to be trash. Use them once, and throw them away. What a waste!

I’ve updated this post to include new information and new straws. Read on!!

You Don’t Have To Give Up All Straws – Just Plastic Ones

No doubt about it: sometimes, straws come in handy. It’s hard to drink a root beer float (my personal summer guilty pleasure) without a straw. Some people have sensitive teeth and find it easier to drink a cold beverage if they use a straw. And it can be easier for little kids especially to sip a drink using some kind of straw.

So the point isn’t to give up straws per se – just the plastic ones (I’m not big on throwaway paper straws, either).

You know how you take your own reusable shopping bags to the store, and drink from your own reusable water bottles? Now, there are reusable straws you can make your own, too.

Here are 10 Plastic-Free straws that will help you kick your plastic straw habit.

10 Plastic-Free Straws That Will Make It Easy to Kick Your Plastic Straw Habit

NOTE: I don’t recommend switching to paper straws because paper straws can only be used once. Even though they’re not the pollution problem plastic is, they do just add to the trash we throw away.

Stainless Steel Straws – Highly durable. Easy to pack. Angled or straight, depending on how you like to sip. Rounded and smooth, so very pleasant and comfortable to stip. Buy them in a two-pack or in a set to accommodate the whole family or a group.

Stainless Steel Straw & Brush Set The straws can be washed in the dishwasher, but the straw brush makes it easy to thoroughly clean the inside of the straw.

Stainless Steel 2 Pack One is good, two are better!

Mini Stainless Steel Straws – 4 pack These are idea for kids cups or tumblers, cocktail glasses and small glasses of water or juice.

8 Pack in a Pouch – Want some regular width and some wide? Get four of each, plus cleaning brushes and a pouch to carry them all in. (Note: This is an Amazon product, not EarthHero.)

Silicone – Straws made from premium food-grade, FDA approved silicone. They’re durable, flexible, reusable, washable and easy to travel with.

Set of 12 Silicone and Stainless Steel Drinking Straws with Cleaning Brushes

Glass Straws – Help eliminate the millions of plastic straws Americans throw away every day with this heavy duty and dishwasher safe plastic-free straw.

Wide Glass Smoothie Straw: This size straw is perfect for thick smoothies, milkshakes, Slurpees, and pureed cold soups.

Regular-width Glass Straw: This straw is similar in size to the straw normally served with a glass of water or soda in a restaurant or fast-food place. It comes with a travel pouch and a cleaning brush.

Bamboo – Bamboo straws are reusable to a point. They will eventually splinter and wear out, so they’re probably not the best option for kids. On the positive side, they are made from the bamboo plant and can be composted with other organic material, as long as they haven’t been chemically treated.

EarthHero sells a pack of 12 organic bamboo straws that can be reused many times, then composted.

Skip the Straw – Use a Sippy Cup

Sippy cups are the perfect plastic-free straw option for toddlers and younger children. Take a look at this bundle of four 8 oz. stainless steel toddler cups, along with four colorful silicone spill proof sippy lids. They work well at home or in the car. At a restaurant, ask your server to put your child’s drink in their own cup rather than in a cup with a straw.

Eat the Straw!

A company called Loliware is in the process of developing “the worlds first edible hyper-compostable drinking straw.” In other words, a straw you can eat. It’s made of seaweed, can be flavored, and is non GMO. It’s not on the market quite yet, but the company has gotten Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban’s buy-in, so look for it in a drink coming to you soon.

The post Finally, 10 Plastic-Free Straws That Don’t Suck! appeared first on Big Green Purse.

The company is also introducing a reusable shopping tote. The foldable, metallic brushed linen bag will feature a cityscape design representing every city where a Nordstrom store can be found. The bag comes in a little case that serves as the bottom of the bag when it is unfolded. Big enough to fit two shoe boxes, the bag will retail for  $21.95. Look for it first in the Northwest, Northern California, and Southern California.

Let’s hope Nordstrom’s next step is to sell clothing made from recycled, hemp and organic cotton fibers.

The post Nordstrom Bags It appeared first on Big Green Purse.

It’s Plastic-Free July, so we’ve updated earlier posts and added new ones to bring you almost 30 ways to go plastic-free in 30 days. Our goal: to bring you as many ways as possible to help you replace your plastic stuff with, well, stuff that’s not plastic.

We’ll be saying a lot more about what’s wrong with plastic throughout the month. But for starters, one of the biggest problems with it is that the darn stuff just doesn’t biodegrade. In other words, it lasts forever (some of it lasts for thousands of years, which is forever as far as I’m concerned).

Even when you think it’s gone, it’s just broken down into tiny pieces of micro plastic that are getting into our food (like fish and oysters) and water.

Many plastic products also contain endocrine disrupting chemicals that leach into the food or water they touch. These are chemicals that can interfere with our ability to reproduce, as well as cause learning disorders in kids, and maybe even cancer.

Why continue to use plastic when there are so many better, healthier, more eco-friendly options?

A big reason is that you might not know how many great alternatives to plastic there really are.

That’s why we’re devoting this month to all things that are NOT plastic.

What You Can Switch Out During Plastic-Free July

Here’s what’s on our list to help you switch out during Plastic-Free July:

√ Plastic straws 

√ Plastic picnic and party-ware (look out, 4th of July)

√ Plastic face masks

√ Bathroom plastic (like shampoo and lotion bottles and plastic microbeads in face wash)

√ Plastic cups

√ Plastic water bottles

√ Plastic soda bottles (refill instead)

√ Yogurt in plastic tubs

√ Plastic holiday wrapping

√ Plastic cleaning products

√ Plastic Halloween trick-or-treat bags

√ Plastic ink cartridges

√ Plastic sunglasses

√ Plastic toys for babies and toddlers

√ Plastic produce bags

√ Plastic Easter stuff

√ Plastic pet supplies

√ Plastic ocean trash

I could keep adding to my list, but I want to know what you need the most help with when you think about getting plastic out of your life.

Please let me know! Either leave a comment below, or head on over to the Big Green Purse Facebook page and weigh in there.

Plus, let me know what your biggest challenges are when you think about going plastic-free. If I can help you, I will!

Full disclosure: Big Green Purse has affiliate relationships with several companies that offer plastic-free products we may highlight. We will earn a small commission if you purchase a product using our affiliate links. But please know that we’d never do business with any of these folks if we didn’t think they were terrific. And the commissions do enable us to bring you the expert information you need to live the greener life you want, at no additional cost to you. Thanks!

The post 30 Days, 30 Ways to Go Plastic-Free During Plastic-Free July appeared first on Big Green Purse.