Their main purpose is to protect others from your exhalations if you're asymptomatic, but they do also provide rudimentary protection. A good one can be a smart choice for higher-risk situations like commuting or travelling, while not creating as much waste as a single-use product. N95 masks are tight-fitting masks with respirators that can successfully filter at least 95 percent of particles in the air. While these masks are a great option, you can find plenty of other masks that also provide protection. How can you identify a good disposable mask? First, you should make sure your mask has more than one layer, or that it's woven with tight material. To figure out how tightly woven your mask is, you can conduct a candle test, says Suzanne Pham, MD, the Medical Director of the COVID-19 response team at Weiss Memorial Hospital. While wearing your mask as you regularly would, hold a candle about a foot away from you and try to blow it out. "If it blows out, that means your mask is probably not doing as great of a job. If it doesn’t blow out very easily, then that probably means the fibers are quite tight and are trapping in particles well," says Dr. Pham.

Single-use disposable surgical-style masks (the pleated blue ones) work to the same basic principles as a homemade version. They provide basic protection against large droplets and splashes, but not smaller particles.

Higher-grade respirators, like FFP2 masks, are designed to also filter finer aerosols coming in - so they offer a higher level of protection.

But the most important thing when it comes to a good disposable mask is ensuring the proper fit, says Dr. Pham. Your mask should fit properly above the nasal bridge and wrap under the chin. There should be no large gaps between the mask and your cheeks, adds Dr. Pham. The mask should also have a metal nose piece that allows you to shape the top of the mask around the bridge of your nose appropriately.Boots Reusable Face Masks: 95% bacterial filtration for 10 washes. Wash after every use. Filter should be added after 10 washes, then replaced after every use.