Face masks from high street stores have been put to the test and ranked from best to worst in protecting from coronavirus.
Consumer watchdog Which? performed lab tests to find out which coverings provide the best defence from the virus while also being comfortable and breathable.
While some face masks produced great results, others performed so poorly that they have since been pulled from supermarket shelves.
During the lab tests, 15 reusable fabric face masks were shot with bacterial particles, including coverings that were pleated, moulded, stretch and multi-layer.
The results revealed that two face masks came out on top - the NEQI and Bags of Ethics masks, which both retail at £15 for a pack of three.
The Step Ahead mask, which is just £2, was also found to be an excellent option, scoring four out of five for filtration.
At the other end of the scale, three face masks were so bad at filtration that Which? told shoppers not to buy them.
The watchdog shared these results with the manufacturers, causing Asda to pull one of its face masks from sale.
To measure how effective the masks were at blocking particles you exhale, the watchdog used an aerosol generator to shoot bacterial particles at sections of the mask.
The researchers then measured the pressure required to draw air through the masks to see how breathable they were.
To find out how well the masks would last with repeated use, testers put on and took off each mask 80 times.
Finally, to assess how comfortable the masks were, three testers with different face shapes tried the masks on and rated them for comfort, fit and ease of adjustment.
As part of the study, the team also tested how well the face masks held up after being washed.
Almost all of the far masks proved to be effective at filtering particles after five hot washes, with one mask from ASOS proving particularly effective.
Based on the findings, Which? advises going for face masks that are at least two layers and made from woven cotton.
Anna Studman, a senior researcher at Which?, said: “Our first independent lab test of reusable face coverings has revealed that some cloth masks are highly effective at blocking particles, but that basic single-layer masks may not be up to the job.”
“These include the Termin8 face covering (sold in Lloyds Pharmacy and WHSmith) and Etiquette face covering (sold in Superdrug), and the Asda White Patterned face mask. All are single-layer stretchy fabric masks.”
Ms Studman added: “Make sure it’s adjustable or comes in different sizes – our testers rated face coverings higher for fit and comfort when they were adjustable, either by the ear loops and mouldable nose wire or because the mask came in different sizes.”
