To help in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Think Crucial has partnered with Hedley & Bennett to help essential workers. In each Wake Up & Fight Mask, Think Crucial’s vacuum cleaner bag combines with Hedley and Bennetts’ reusable and washable protective face covering. The result is a safe filtration that is better than cloth alone.
When approached by Hedley & Bennett, Think Crucial was delighted to join their campaign. Intended to help those who work with the public every day during this coronavirus pandemic, the goal of this collaboration is to get more masks into their hands.
With the Buy One - Give One program, a mask is donated for each one purchased. Likewise, every purchase of our Think Crucial filtration media will provide a bag to an organization in need of using mask filters. Shoppers will also receive 30% off the cost of the vacuum bags through the partnership.
Fabric Masks Help Ease Demand
Although fabric masks are not a substitute for N95 or surgical masks, they are a valuable line of defense for all essential workers. Providing quality masks to those who must work with the public will free up supplies for hospitals and medical personnel. To help, Hedley & Bennett utilized their experience in the restaurant supply industry and recently converted their Vernon, CA factory line from professional grade aprons production to mask-making.
Together, the two companies are able to donate more masks and filters to essential service workers. For each filtration media purchased, a filter media bag will be donated for use in making more disposable filters for masks.
A Simple, Innovative Way to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission
The Wake Up & Fight Mask, designed in concert with pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Cho, is a comfortable, innovative design that’s easy to wash and reuse. Each cotton mask is designed with a pocket that allows the wearer to add a layer of filtration media, such as that used in our HEPA vacuum cleaner bags. This increases the overall filtration of any air that passes through them.
To make the process of using the filters as simple as possible, Hedley & Bennett have made the filter template available on their website, shown below, and you can also find it here.
How To Cut Your Filters Out
1. Cut out your stencil that Hedley & Bennett have provided to you.
2. Cut the Filter material open and lay it out flat
3. Trace the stencil onto the bag
4. Cut out the filters
5. Insert the filter into the mask and you are ready!
How To Wear Your Mask Correctly
- Wash both sides and the inner pocket of the Wake Up & Fight Mask in hot water
- Dry the mask thoroughly
- Wash your hands before touching the clean mask
- Insert your new filter into the mask
- Place the mask over your nose and mouth. Then pull the straps around your ears so it fits comfortably
Each filter is intended to be used once. It can then be replaced with a new filter once the mask has been laundered.
Think Crucial Supplies Safe, Effective Materials
The materials used in all Think Crucial vacuum cleaner bags are perfectly suited for efficient filtration. The synthetic material, called melt-blown fabric, is an incredibly fine mesh made from polyester and polypropylene fiber. Although it allows air to pass through, it also traps 86% of extremely fine particles - anything over 0.02 microns in size.
These cloth vacuum cleaner bags do not contain fiberglass of any kind, which is why they’re perfectly safe to use for personal air filtration in cloth masks. Think Crucial has verified with their suppliers that all their vacuum bag media is free of fiberglass material.
Two Companies, Innumerable Beneficiaries
With the Buy One - Give One campaign, both Think Crucial and Hedley & Bennett help small businesses stay operating and help keep essential workers safe. This sort of innovative partnership illuminates the central message of the project: “We’re All in This Together.”
