CS316353B 04/04/2020, 12:22 PM

How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings

Cloth face coverings should—

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

• be secured with ties or ear loops

• include multiple layers of fabric

• allow for breathing without restriction

• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or 

change to shape

CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other 

social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and 

pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. 

CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of 

the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from 

transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household 

items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an 

additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 

2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or 

otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 

respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for 

healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by 

current CDC guidance.

Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise 

cleaned regularly? How regularly?

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency 

of use.

How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering?

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a cloth face covering.

How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth 

when removing their cloth face covering and wash hands immediately 

after removing.

Use of Cloth Face Coverings to 

Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

cdc.gov/coronavirus
Sewn Cloth Face Covering

Materials

• Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric

• Two 6” pieces of elastic 

(or rubber bands, string, 

cloth strips, or hair ties)

• Needle and thread (or bobby pin)

• Scissors

• Sewing machine

3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem 

on each side of the cloth face covering. These will be the ear loops. 

Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends 

tight.

Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only 

have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the cloth face 

covering behind your head.

4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots 

are tucked inside the hem. 

Gather the sides of the cloth face covering 

on the elastic and adjust so the cloth face 

covering fits your face. Then securely stitch 

the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.

Tutorial

1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton 

fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting 

fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in 

a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew 

the cloth face covering as if it was a single piece 

of fabric. 

2. Fold over the long sides 1⁄4 inch and hem. Then fold the 

double layer of fabric over 1⁄2 inch along the short sides 

and stitch down.

10 inches

thread 

through

tuck in knot

6 inches

fold

fold

knot

fold

fold

stitch 1/4 inch

1/4 inch

1/2 inch 1/2 inch

stitch

stitch

stitch

stitch

stitch
Quick Cut T-shirt Cloth Face Covering (no sew method)

Materials

• T-shirt

• Scissors

Tutorial

Bandana Cloth Face Covering (no sew method)

Materials

• Bandana (or square cotton cloth approximately 20”x20”)

• Coffee filter

• Rubber bands (or hair ties)

• Scissors (if you are cutting your own cloth)

Tutorial

1.

1.

4.

2.

5.

3.

6. 7.

2. 3.

cut coffee filter

7–8 inches

6–7 inches

cut out

cut tie strings

Tie strings 

around neck, 

then over top 

of head.

Place rubber bands or hair ties

about 6 inches apart. 

Fold side to the middle and tuck. 

Fold filter in center 

of folded bandana. 

Fold top down. Fold bottom up.