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Well, you can go ahead and file this under Posts I Never Thought I’d Write. Sigh. However, it’s 2020 and face masks are now the norm (but not forever, people!), and since they’re probably here to stay for at least a few more months, I thought it would be worth my time and effort to come up with a way to label ours and get them organized.
We have been huge mask advocates from the very beginning, and our kids, who have been back in school in-person for seven weeks now, are required to wear face masks all day every day. This means that we have accumulated quite the family collection of masks these last six months.
The Best Face Masks + the Easiest Way to Wash Them
We’ve tried several different brands for our kids, and their very favorites are these from Gap. The masks fit their faces perfectly, they are breathable, they’re comfortable for long-term wear (the ear bands are super soft and stretchy), they come in tons of cute colors and patterns, and they’re so durable… seriously, we’ve washed and dried all of ours in the machines dozens of times already and they’re all like new. I highly recommend them!
Yes, you read that right, we just throw all of our masks in the washing machine and the dryer with our regular laundry and they’ve all held up beautifully. No hand washing, no air drying… just the washing machine and dryer like everything else! Easy peasy!
The Easiest
Way to Label Face Masks
All items that our kids take to school have to be labeled, so that means their masks must be labeled, too. It’s pretty easy to label a lunchbox or a jacket, but when it comes to face masks, they’re a little bit trickier…
Where on earth do you put the label since the masks are so small?
Do you stick the label on the inside where it could potentially rub up against their little faces or do you stick it on the outside?
If you stick it on the outside, isn’t it a little weird to have their name right there for everyone to see?
If you use a Sharpie to label the kids’ names, will the kids smell the Sharpie fumes all day?
Those were just a few of the questions swirling around in my head when I was prepping to send them back to school. And to answer your question, yes, yes I do overanalyze everything. ;o)
Well friends, I’m here to tell you how to do this today, and it’s much easier than you think. All you need is the following and you’ll be ready to go:
Simply write your child’s name on the labels using your Sharpie marker, stick the label to the bottom corner of the inside of the mask (up against the edge), and voila, you’re done.
By putting the labels inside the masks, your child’s name won’t be on display, and as long as you stick them near the edge of the mask, the labels don’t come in direct contact with their skin.
As for the worry about them breathing the Sharpie fumes, all you have to do is wash and dry the masks once before they wear them, and the fumes completely disappear. Just be sure to wait 24 hours before you wash them after you’ve applied the labels because the labels have to “set” before they can get wet.
These labels are specifically made for fabric, so they won’t come off in the washing machine or the dryer, and the Sharpie won’t wear off of the label either. I’m telling you, we have washed all of our kids’ masks numerous times and the labels are still perfectly in tact.
The Easiest
Way to Organize Face Masks
Okay, so, what’s a family of four to do with 20+ masks laying around? Ugggghhhh. In the beginning, we had masks everywhere – in my purse, in the car, in the kids’ book bags, on the kitchen counter, hanging on door knobs, scattered on the floor – I couldn’t take it – so I came up with the simplest solution ever.
All you need is the following:
One Command Hook for each member of your family
A strip of wall
nearest the door you use when exiting your house each day
We have a very narrow strip of wall between our kitchen counter and the door that leads to our garage, so I thought it made the most sense to hang ours there. I hung one Command hook for Brian, one for myself, one for Jacob, and one for Olivia. All clean masks are hung on those hooks, and everyone has their own designated mask spot, so masks don’t get mixed up. The mask spot is right by the door, so we never forget to grab them as we walk out of the house.
And since wearing face masks is only a temporary thing, as soon as this pandemic is over and we don’t have to wear them anymore, all I have to do is take the Command hooks down. No holes, no marks, no chipped paint, and no damage done to the walls in any way… it’ll be like they were never even there!
I think we can all agree that we’re all looking forward to that day!
Time for a link party! Blogging friends, share your post below and meet your hosts!
Great tips! So do you and your husband use the masks from Gap too?
ReplyDeleteWe actually don't. My mother-in-law makes masks and she has kept us fully stocked! She made masks for the kids, too, but they prefer the Gap ones. I did buy myself one pack of Gap masks, and I like them okay, but I prefer the ones from my MIL!
DeleteWhoever would’ve thought as a blogger we would need to do post about masks? It’s crazy but you are brilliant! I love your hooks for them and the label tip is so good. Did not even think about having to label the kids masks.
ReplyDeleteYep, who would have thought this topic would ever be a post topic! Great tips and I love the idea of putting hooks by the back door!
ReplyDeleteJill - Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! It really is convenient to have them right by the door... we always have to pass right by them before leaving, so we rarely forget to grab them now!
DeleteSuch a great idea! If Annabelle ends up back to school I will need to make her more masks, and this is some helpful info.
ReplyDeleteGlad to help! And it's so nice that you can make them! That would definitely come in handy right now!
DeleteI need to wash ours more than I do!! It's amazing that we have a mask station in our house too! xo, Biana BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteLol to things you never would have to write, this year has been nuts! I only have one mask and I do not wash it enough. I just wear it into the gym and at the grocery store, literally the only two places I feel like I ever go!
ReplyDeleteWe did the same thing with the hooks. Sadly mine look a lot more messy than yours do! Love how you labeled them as well.
ReplyDeleteI have been washing our masks by hand with Savon de Marseille I had brought back from France and really hot water. Then we hang them to dry since boys have certain ones they really like. Ours are from Old Navy and I wear the kids size. I am going to check these!
ReplyDeletewww.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
That sounds like a great way to wash them, too! I haven't checked out Old Navy's selection, but I might have to do that now!
DeleteGreat tips! Ella is struggling wearing her mask all day with her glasses fogging up! We tried rain-x but they still fog some! I wash just a load of mask with Woolite and hang them to dry!
ReplyDeleteI always wash mine in a lingerie bag and hang dry them. I may have to check out the Gap ones to see if they hold up better. I just worry about ear pieces stretching out.
ReplyDeleteAlso not a post I ever thought I'd need to read! :) Great ideas. The fabric label is genius. Thank you for sharing! I saw your link on the Tuesdays with a Twist link up. Joined your link up as well today! Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYay, we're so happy that you were able to join our link-up! Welcome, and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteCan I just say that I am super impressed with your mask collection! Holy cow, girl, you're all covered with masks...literally. I too can't believe this is a topic in our current world. Still catches me off guard at times. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of keeping them on a hook. Ours usually end up in the car or stuffed in my purse. We try to wash them weekly. I love the idea of the inside label. The boys might be going back to school in a few weeks so I'm sure we'll need to label them.
ReplyDelete