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Small Bathroom Remodeling
Housing Tips

Small Bathroom Remodeling

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Small Bathroom Remodeling

Basic Design

While you plan to re-work the bathroom space, the first thing you need to consider is its design. While working on bathroom remodeling ideas for small bathrooms, try not to change the existing layout and plumbing’s. You can either add or reduce the elements, but avoid shifting the major elements. If you have a bathtub then you can consider adding a shower enclosure. With the required shower fixtures and a classic shower curtain, you can enjoy the soothing shower as well as the relaxing bathtub. Apart from this, add a wall hung vanity to the basin. Corner, wall hung basin is best to be added instead of pedestal basins that occupy a lot of space. Utilize the corner space as much as you can. If you are adding a shower stall consider using glass as this will not give a blocking effect.

Add Storage

Once the basic design is worked over, you need to add some extra storage here. Remember that lack of storage is sure to make your small bathroom look cluttered and messy. As mentioned above, add wall hung bathroom vanity that will not occupy the floor space. Make arrangements to place your towels, bathrobes, etc. Have a vertical mirror over the basin and add small shelves on either sides of the mirror. These shelves will help you place the toiletries. One of the best small bathroom remodeling ideas is to add more shelves and closed cabinets on a side wall where you can keep grooming essentials and other bathroom accessories.

Color it Fresh

Giving a fresh coat to your bathroom needs no mention while you remodel it. Browse through the remodeling ideas for small bathrooms and you will find a lot of lively colors covering the bathroom walls. While it is best to paint small spaces in lighter shades like white, peach, lemon yellow, you can consider adding spicy element with a hint of flashy shade. Go for wall texturing or add a dark shade between the light colors. If bathroom walls are covered with tiles, make sure you clean them and the grout thoroughly and make them anew.

Bathroom Safety

It’s important to consider adding safety products to prevent falls if this a bathroom used by seniors. Consider that over 85% of home accidents occur in the bathroom with a slip on a bathroom rug, wet floors or stepping in/out of a shower or bathtub. Bath or shower bars placed in appropriate places can help reduce the opportunity for a major accident. Remove rugs that can cause trips. Instead consider putting in an anti-slip flooring. Click here for 12 more tips on adding bathroom safety.

Spice it Up

One you have finished implementing the basic bathroom remodeling ideas for small bathrooms, it is time to spruce up the area. Add decorative accent pieces like potted plants near the entrance and empty shelves. You can use decorative show pieces, wall hangings and frames to play up the bathing area. Use colorful, scented candles and decorative candle holders to further brighten up the small bathroom remodeling designs.

With the aforementioned bathroom remodeling ideas for small bathrooms, get ready to have a great looking bathing space. Make sure you maintain uniformity in terms of colors to get the best effect while bathroom remodeling for small bathrooms. With latest bathroom fixtures that area available in classy finishes and designs, you can give a grand touch to the area. Fresh and bright colors will help give a lively look to the bathroom designs for small spaces. So when are you remodeling your small bathroom?

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Hobbies

How Do You Know What an Autograph is Worth?

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

How Do You Know What an Autograph is Worth?

Have you recently started to become interested in autograph collecting and would like to know the present day market value of an autograph that you are interested in purchasing? Or have you inherited an estate from a family member and was surprised to find an abundance of autographed photos, items, cards, posters that you have no idea how to find the value much less who to sell them too?

There are several sources to find out how much your collectible or autographed collectible is worth. The internet has open a world at our finger tips, with online auctions to online stores, published price guides that can be purchased at most bookstores offer a ” rough estimate”, mainly it is worth what someone is will to pay for the item. Online Auctions are now a great source of finding out just that.

The key points that influence the value of autographed memorabilia is supply, demand, condition, form, content, subject, rarity. There is a demand for certain celebrity autographs and people willing to buy and sell them. That creates the market, which determines the value which is understood by both buyer and seller. Collecting autographs usually starts with a particular interest in and individual or occupation or interest in a certain subject. It is one of those hobbies that once you dibble in become a passion. Then in time become a very nice investment as those of you who have inherited collections and were surprise to find out that their value was more than you had ever imagined.

Many categories determine the price of a signature from an individual. The following abbreviations are used to help describe the type of letter or document that is being offered for sale.

  • AD: Autograph Document (hand-written by the person to be collected, but not signed)
  • ADS: Autograph Document Signed (written and signed by same individual)
  • AL: Autograph Letter (hand-written by the person to be collected, but not signed)
  • ALS: Autograph Letter Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
  • AMs: Autograph Manuscript (hand-written; such as the draft of a play, research paper or music sheet)
  • AMsS: Autograph Manuscript Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
  • AMusQs: Autograph Musical Quotation Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
  • AN: Autograph Note (much shorter than a letter)
  • ANS: Autograph Note Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
  • AQS: Autograph Quote Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual; poem verse, sentence, or bar-of-music)
  • DS: Document signed (printed, or while hand-written by another, is signed by individual sought to be collected)
  • LS: Letter Signed (hand-written by someone else, but signed by the individual sought to be collected)
  • PS: Photograph Signed or Postcard Signed
  • SIG: Signature on index card, cut out of autograph book or letter
  • SP: Signed Photograph
  • TLS: Typed Letter Signed
  • TNS: Typed Note Signed
  • folio: A printer’s sheet of paper folded once to make two leaves, double quarto size or larger.
  • octavo(8vo): A manuscript page about six-by-nine inches. (Originally determined by folding a printer’s sheet of paper to form eighty leaves.)
  • quarto(4to): A manuscript page of about nine and one-half by twelve inches. (Originally determined by folding a printer’s sheet of paper twice to form two leaves.)

Not only does the category determine price, but so does condition, quality, rarity and the person of interest celebrity will also play a major part in determining value. As you will see in future weekly articles; a detail definition of each abbreviation, so you will become more educated in the valuation process of collecting.
By: Anita Cola

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Home Improvements

10 Simple Bedroom Safety Updates Help Seniors Age in Place

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

The dangers in the bedroom
It’s easy for seniors to fall in the bedroom, especially when getting in or out of bed. Or, when getting dressed.
These, and other hazards, make the bedroom another room that would benefit from safety updates.

Safer bedrooms help seniors maintain independence
It’s important to make sure the rooms where seniors spend a lot of time are as safe as possible. Preventing falls is one of the best ways to help older adults stay independent.

10 easy bedroom safety updates

  1. Make it easier to turn lights on and off by making any bedside lamp touch activated. Use removable mounting strips to attach the touch sensor in a convenient place.
  2. Use an automatic LED night light so it’s easy to find and turn on the bedside lamp when getting up at night.
  3. Place a sturdy chair in the bedroom so your older adult can sit while dressing to prevent falls.
  4. Remove any throw rugs, electrical wires, or clutter from the floor to prevent tripping and falling.
  5. Clean and organize closets and drawers so frequently used items are within easy reach — avoid storing anything too high or too low.
  6. Make sure the bed is at the correct height so it’s easy to get in and out. Place the box spring on the floor if it’s too high or use inexpensive bed lifts if it’s too low.
  7. Consider adding a simple bed rail or a no-installation floor to ceiling grab bar next to the bed to help with getting up.
  8. Install an easy-to-use phone by the bed and post important phone numbers in large print.
  9. Make sure a smoke detector is installed on or near the ceiling. Get one with 10 year battery and low false alarm rate for low maintenance.
  10. Use a passive monitoring system like Evermind to discreetly monitor the bedside lamp. It lets you know that your senior’s usual routine is going smoothly and gives an added layer of safety.

About Daily Caring
Get free , practical advice that helps you care for your older adult. Our free website and email newsletter have the most useful caregiving and aging tips and resources. Visit DailyCaring.com today!

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Golf

Finding The Perfect Golf Clubs

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with golf clubs.
Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:
If you think any old golf clubs will do, you haven’t been on the course trying to compensate for a club that’s simply too long or two short. Besides making a shambles of your golf game, ill-fitting clubs can leave your body aching after the game. If you’re spending all your time compensating, you probably aren’t shooting your best or even enjoying the time on the course.

So does that mean that you’re going to spend hundreds of extra dollars on a set of clubs with a custom fit? While custom clubs are one answer, most people can find what they need from a well-stocked golf store. But there are some things to keep in mind.

Length of the club is important, but it’s not everything. The pros say that the size of your golf club’s grip should be comfortable for your hands. That’s why clubs for younger players and women often have a smaller grip.

If you should decide to go for a set of custom clubs, what is the process? It’s nothing like be measured for a suit. The point is not only to make the club reach from the point of your outstretched hand to the ground, but also to make the most of your body – your strengths and your weaknesses. So don’t go for your custom golf club fitting session expecting to spread your arms and stand still while someone uses a tape measure.

A good custom fit will probably take place both inside and outside. The best custom fit clubs will be tailored so that your swing is taken into account. Sound expensive? Possibly.

While some major golf club manufacturers will charge (dearly) for the actual “fitting,” many offer up this service for free, with your commitment to buy clubs from that company. While custom clubs are more expensive than clubs purchased “off the shelf” from your local golf supplier or even from an outlet store or individual, the results will probably show themselves right away on the golf course.

Consider the shots that you may have been compensating for all your years of playing golf. If you’re taller or shorter than the “typical” golfer, or even if you have some muscle strengths or weaknesses that make your game a bit more of a challenge, custom clubs can help you compensate.

But what if you want the clubs immediately? Do you have to go with “off the shelf” clubs? Actually, many manufacturers who provide custom golf clubs promise delivery within just a few days, a week or two at most.

Among the few negatives of custom golf clubs is the potential for offering them up as a surprise gift and the potential for resale. But at the same time, the golfer who is going to receive the custom clubs will likely gladly give up the “surprise” and most who go to this expense and trouble aren’t going to offer the clubs for sale.

Only you can decide whether custom golf clubs are a good investment for you. If you’re going to spend a bundle of money for an awesome set of clubs, you may very well take the extra step to get custom clubs.

There’s a lot to understand about golf clubs. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

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Senior woman standing alone at home
Seniors & Covid

10+ Ways to Connect and Care During COVID

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

As our elders stay inside their homes, their apartments and their residential communities, we search for ways to connect with them as well as to make their lives and their care better. Here are 10+ ways to connect and care for your elders during this unprecedented time.

 

Some are simple, but simple works right now.

Engage with Them:
  • Send a note or card in the mail. Include a photo, a drawing, or news clipping that you want to share. Elders love getting snail mail.
  • Ask them to write you a story that they’ve never told you before.
  • If your elder has FaceTime or their community has a tablet that they are using for family connections, use this means to have some virtual face-to-face time.
  • Set up a daily or weekly chat time. Stick to it.
  • Send them magazines, puzzles, books, craft supplies. You can order online and have them delivered.
  • Some floral companies are doing contact-free deliveries. Order balloons or flowers to brighten your elder’s day. Springtime is great for blooming plants.
  • Send your elder a box of blank cards and a book of stamps. They can use them to write to loved ones and friends. Send addresses or suggestions so they don’t have to search.
  • Offer to do their spring yard work. You can visit from a distance that way.
  • If you live nearby, order a food delivery for them and the same one for you. Then call them while you enjoy the same meal.
Make Sure Your Elders Are Getting Consistently Good Care:
  • Check to see if your elder’s doctor or care provider is offering telehealth visits. Sign your elder up for telehealth instead of their next in-person visit, if appropriate.
  • Set up a Care Conference with your elder’s care providers via video or phone. Ask about physical, cognitive and mental health.
  • If your elder lives in a care community or retirement community, call the Activities Director and ask if you can order or send something for their residents to enjoy. Trivia books to use? Puzzle books? Individual crafts?
  • Now is a great time to set up mail order Rx deliveries for maintenance meds. If your elder is using a retail pharmacy, set up delivery with them (or move to a retail pharmacy that does do delivery).
  • Staff members at retirement and care communities are running ragged right now. Order delivery of meals, snacks or gift cards. Call and ask what they need.
  • Check with your local Area Agency on Aging to see what resources are available at low or no cost to assist your elder right now.

 

More than anything, find ways to stay connected. Isolation is not a good place for anyone, but especially not elders.

Stay well, friends. Know we’ll work our way through this time and find some very special connections along the way.

Author Suzanne Blankenship

 

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Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors
Money Tips

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

With about 40% of adults in the U.S. foregoing life insurance, it makes sense to discuss how this can affect family members and close friends. For those of you who have played a part in financing a funeral when an uninsured family member or friend has passed away, certainly, you are intimately familiar with the financial burden that can accompany the grief of losing a loved one or close friend. Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors
When the market crashed in 2007, practically every working person in America felt the impact. Many seniors who were hoping to stop working postponed their retirement parties for financial reasons while others had to make tough decisions in order to make ends meet. For most, identify and reducing non-essential expenses was necessary so that essential expenses could be met. Some seniors cut off cable TV, others stopped eating out and going to the movies, and a fairly large group either cashed in or canceled their life insurance.
When you reach the point of “do I pay for my life insurance or do I get my meds refilled?” the answer is typical. I’ll cancel the insurance and then buy more later. Certainly, not taken into consideration is how you will buy more life insurance when you are 65 with multiple health conditions.
Maybe you have noticed that life insurance companies responded by consistently advertising their life insurance products targeting these seniors with health issues and letting them know that getting burial insurance is not as difficult as it may have appeared.

What is Burial Insurance?

Burial insurance is actually not a type of life insurance, but rather a purpose for life insurance. When you get a burial insurance policy, you will not find “BURIAL INSURANCE” prominently stamped on the front of the policy.
The Insurance Information Institute refers to burial insurance as :
“a whole life insurance policy with a death benefit of from $5,000 to $25,000. As its nickname implies, people buy this type of policy to provide money for funeral and burial costs for themselves and/or family members. It is possible to buy a policy after answering a few health-related questions on the application and with no medical exam.
Premiums are payable weekly or monthly. The premium is usually collected at the policy owner’s home or workplace, and the premium is usually a small round number, such as $2 or $3 per week; the death benefit is whatever that premium will buy given the insured’s current age. For example, a $3 per week premium might buy a $6,000 death benefit for a 36-year-old man or an $18,000 death benefit for a 9-year-old boy.
Burial policies may be designed to cover one person or everyone in a family.
Under some state laws, funeral homes may be licensed to sell burial insurance, but it is mainly sold through brokers and agents of insurance companies licensed to sell life insurance.” Read More…
The burial insurance policies being offered today are typically sold over the phone or online and are very affordable for the seniors they were designed for. There are two sub-types of burial insurance available, and we will discuss them near the end of this article.

Why Should I Buy Burial Insurance?

The most common reason that consumers give for buying burial insurance is that they do not wish to leave the financial burden of their funeral or cremation to their surviving loved ones and friends. Many folks understand how this burden can lead to additional stress that must be dealt with while survivors and grieving at the death of a loved one.
When you think about it, purchasing burial insurance is an act of love that you are leaving to your surviving loved ones instead of a financial burden. Knowing this, a burial insurance policyholder should speak with their designated beneficiary in advance to let them know that the insurance is available and provide instructions on filing a claim and dealing with last wishes.
For seniors with grown children, the decision is very simple. You don’t want your kids to have to pay for your funeral, so you buy burial insurance to make certain the funds are available. It makes complete sense to most people, but not everyone acts on it, that’s why we see television ads every day about purchasing burial insurance; also referred to as final expense insurance.

How much Burial Insurance do I Need?

It’s surprising that most adults have never considered how much a funeral or cremation costs. In fact, unless you’ve participated in paying for or arranging a funeral, you are likely unaware of what is involved and how much it costs. This goes for cremation as well.
Fortunately, there are several websites that offer advice on funeral planning and how to purchase products and services at a discount. The following websites serve as great resources for planning a funeral or cremation and offer certain strategies for reducing the costs:

Everplans.com is all about planning. Not just funerals but also advance directives, wills and trusts, final wishes and complete funeral planning. Check them out for the ultimate funeral planning checklist.

Parting.com takes funeral planning one step further by allowing you to compare funeral costs among funeral homes in your area. Their blog contains many articles about strategies to help you save money on your funeral arrangements.

Funeralwise.com can provide answers to anything funeral related, including funerals for Pets. Their “Funeralwise Forums” tab will take you to a plethora of articles dealing with everything from funeral etiquette to pet loss.

Funerals360.com is all about resources. Visitors should be able to nail down information about anything funeral related and methods for funding.
The number that is most commonly put out there for the cost of an average funeral is $8,000. It’s important, however, to do your own research for the area where you live and also consider that with any life event, unexpected expenses are likely on the horizon.

Which Insurance Companies should I Consider?

Which company you should purchase burial insurance from depends on several different factors. For example, some companies might offer a $10,000 policy for an 80-year-old male at $145 per month while others charge $210 per month. The rate you pay is based on that particular company’s claim experience with different age brackets.
While not appearing to dodge the question here, let’s just say that the insurance companies you consider will be based on several individual factors regarding the applicant. The factors that all these companies will inquire about is:

  • Your age
  • Your current health and your health history
  • Your lifestyle
  • The amount of coverage you require

Let’s consider, for example, a 65-year-old female non-smoker looking for a $10,000 death benefit. The following rates are for a level benefit with first-day coverage:
 

Insurance Company Monthly Premium
Mutual of Omaha $41.01
Americo Insurance Company $42.80
Liberty Bankers Life $42.81
United Home Life $42.45
Foresters Life Insurance $42.80

Based on the assumptions provided, the above-listed companies fall in the top five, and all have similar premiums listed. If the assumptions change, for instance, a 70-year-old female wanting $12,000 in coverage, these five companies may not remain the top five.
The good news for seniors looking for burial insurance is that there are many independent agents out there who offer burial insurance, and those agents who specialize in the senior market are likely to represent all of the insurance companies that offer burial insurance. This means that you can contact one broker who will shop your policy needs with all the companies they represent. Doing so will allow the broker to offer you the most affordable insurance solution based on your needs.

The Two types of Burial Insurance Policies

It’s important to know that there are two types of burial insurance policies and that if you qualify for one you should not apply for the other.

  • Level Benefit Coverage – Level benefit policies are whole life insurance policies, and although they rarely require a medical exam, there are various health insurance questions on the application and your answers to those questions will determine if your application is accepted or declined.

Level benefit policies provide coverage for the full benefit amount from the first day of coverage. Although there are health questions on the application, if you are approved for this coverage you will pay less premium and your policy will be active on the first day for death for natural or accidental causes. Applicants who qualify for this coverage should not purchase the second option which is graded benefit or guaranteed issue.

  • Graded Benefit Coverage – This coverage is also known as modified whole life or guaranteed issue whole life insurance. This type of policy is suited for applicants who cannot qualify for a level benefit policy because of health issues. Although practically anyone in the required age group can qualify for this coverage because no health questions are considered for coverage, there are three caveats that the applicant should understand.
  1. Waiting Period – There is a two or three year waiting period before the full death benefit will be paid when death is the result of natural causes. If the insured dies during the waiting period, the insurer will typically refund all the premiums paid into the policy, and with some insurers, they will include an additional percentage of five to ten percent of that amount. Death resulting from an accident is covered from the first day for the full death benefit.
  2. Higher Premiums – Since the insurance company does not require any health information, they are accepting an unknown medical risk and will, therefore, charge more premium than a level benefit policy.
  3. Lower Death Benefit – Many of the insurance companies that offer graded benefit insurance policies place a lower cap on the death benefit. In fact, in some cases, the available death benefit is based on the age of the applicant.

How much will my Burial Insurance Cost?

As we stated previously, the cost of your burial insurance will depend on your age and the amount of insurance you are asking to purchase. To provide a comparison between level benefit and graded benefit policies, we have provided some actual rates below.
These rates are for a $10,000 level benefit for a male and female non-smoker living in Florida.
Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors
Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors
As you can see from the chart above, the rates for men are higher than for women. This is because women typically live longer than men and the company is able to spread the cost of insurance over a longer period of time.
If you are Declined
If your coverage is declined for a level benefit policy, your insurance agent will recommend a graded benefit policy since it is issued without regard for health issues.
These rates are for a $10,000 level benefit for a male and female non-smoker living in Florida.

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors
Notice that the rates for the graded benefit policy are higher than the level benefit policy. Also in this sample, the best rate for an 85-year-old applicant is provided by AIG since Gerber Life does not offer coverage for applicants older the 80 years-old.

How can I find an Expert to Help Me?

There are many life insurance agents out there that offer coverage online and over the phone. To get the most affordable solution for burial insurance for seniors, visit the LifePolicyShopper website and use our world-class quote engine or call our insurance professionals at
(540) 226-8715 during normal business hours.

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors

Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors Ultimate Guide to Burial Insurance for Seniors
 

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Elderly woman fell on the floor
Fall Prevention TipsSafety & Fall Prevention

10 Steps to Help Older Adults Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Some of the most serious injuries among older adults, age 65 and older, are caused by falling. More than 1.6 million older Americans end up in the emergency room or hospital because of a fall, according to the National Institutes of Health. Seniors who have broken a hip by falling can have trouble recovering and regaining mobility.110 Steps to Help Older Adults Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls0 Steps to Help Older Adults Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls
The good news is many falls are preventable. One of the first things you can do if you take prescription medication is have your health care team review your medication.

“Some prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs, or a combination of them, can make you dizzy or sleepy. Either can lead to a fall,” said ” said Jaza Marina, M.D., a geriatrician at Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta. “If you fall, be sure to let your doctor know, even if you aren’t hurt. Sometimes falls are a sign of a new medical problem that needs attention.”

Many underlying causes of falls can be treated or corrected. Dr. Marina recommends these 10 proactive steps to reduce the risk of falling.

Make your home safe.

  1. Remove clutter, throw rugs and electrical cords that might cause you to trip.
  2. Store items on bottom shelves
  3. Add grab bars where necessary — in hallways, stairways and bathtubs.
  4. Add a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub.
  5. Make sure your home is well lit. Use night-lights in hallways and bathrooms.
  6. Keep a phone and flashlight by your bed.
  7. Take care of yourself.
  8. Stay as physically active as you can.
  9. Wear comfortable shoes with good support.
  10. Have your vision and hearing checked.
  11. Use a cane or walker if you feel unsteady.

 

For more information on how to prevent falls, visit Senior.com, the experts in products to help you age well. Also check out everybodywalk.org for tips on walking as an exercise. For questions or advice about a specific condition, talk to your physician.

10 Steps to Help Older Adults Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls

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Senior woman against pink background looking straight at camera wearing face mask.
Protection Products

Staying Safe: How Should I Care for My Masks?

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Once you’ve chosen the right type of mask and learned about wearing it properly, check out these simple tips for caring for face masks and ensuring you get the best protection possible from them.

Reusing and Cleaning Masks

Depending on the type of mask and its condition, you may be able to clean, store and use it again.

Cloth face masks should be laundered after every wearing. After carefully removing your mask, place it in your washing machine or an enclosed hamper (then wash your hands). Dry your mask in the dryer or by hanging (in sunlight, if possible, see below). If your cloth mask becomes damaged or develops holes or visible stains, discard it.

Disposable masks (dust masks, surgical masks) made of paper are meant to be used once and discarded. However, if you wear one for only a short time and it’s still clean, you may consider wearing it later the same day. Remove the mask carefully (with clean hands, grasping only the loops or ties) and hang it (ideally near a window or in direct sunlight). Make sure it can’t be touched or fall to the ground.

Filtering/respirator masks can’t be cleaned because they have specialized filters that are damaged by chemicals and agitation. To reuse one of these masks, also known as N95 or KN95 masks, use strict clean-hands techniques and store it carefully in a secure place (also in the sun, if you can).

The Power of UV Light

Did you know that the sun can act as a disinfectant? When it comes to drying your cloth mask or airing out a filtering/respirator mask, hanging it in direct sunlight may help sterilize it. However, be aware that only the areas directly exposed to UV rays are affected, and the more time allowed, the better.

Discarding a Mask

When it’s time to dispose of any face mask, think about safety. Remove it with clean hands, place it in an enclosed trash container (not an open wastebasket) and then wash your hands again.

Get More Helpful Information

We’re committed to helping you and your loved ones find the resources you need. Check out all our Pandemic Health Tips articles as well as our latest news and posts.

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Woman Wearing Face Mask Close Up
Protection Products

Staying Safe: How to Wear Your Face Mask

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

You’ve chosen the mask you need and now you’re ready to wear it. The way you approach the simple task of putting it on, the things you do (and don’t do) while it’s on your face, and how you remove it will affect the level of protection the mask provides.

Technique Matters

No matter what mask you’re using, a few essential rules always apply.

  • Wash your hands and face before putting on your mask. Touch only the loops or ties and then the sides of the mask, if needed. And when it comes to gloves, don’t put them on until after your mask is securely in place.
  • Proper coverage. Slip on your mask, ensuring it covers your nose and mouth, reaching all the way under your chin. It should fit snugly across the bridge of your nose (preferably with a flexible nose strip), resting smoothly against the sides of your face and around your chin without gaps.
  • Hands off! Now that your mask is in place, avoid touching it as much as you can. You don’t want those gloves you’re using to touch surfaces and handle contaminated items to come in contact with your mask. If you must adjust it, grip the sides of your face mask near your ears.
  • Taking off your mask. You may be in a hurry to unmask but pause to wash your hands first! Once again, reach for the loops or ties and carefully remove the mask.

 

Learn More and Watch a Mask Demonstration

Watch this video to see how to properly put on and wear KN95 respirator filtration masks plus when to use different types of masks. Also read “Staying Safe: How Should I Care for My Masks?” or catch up on the first article in this series, “Staying Safe: Which Mask Should You Choose?”.

 

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