Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
America loves the Crayola masks, however, a group of moms said it just wasn't enough to protect their kids living with immunodeficiency. They needed a high-performance, multi-layer, high PFE rated, mask. They all had a growing concern that as America relaxes mask regulations, the public would grow less cautious and would start to pose a greater risk to their children.
So, how do you fix that? We created the ultimate mask! Here are 5 things on the 7-layer mask, you didn't know were designed to specifically help children with immunodeficiency.
Let me know in the comments which of the features your child LOVES the most!
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
This was the main requirement. The mask needs to be reusable, but it also needs to have sufficient filtration. We adopted a sandwich-layer approach with a robust liquid repellent outer layer, a 5-layer filter at the center, and a cooling moisture wicking fabric on the inside. Droplet protective, filter functional, AND cooling; excellent!
The 7 layer design gives kids a HUGE 96% Particle Filtration Efficiency rating. That's MORE than the filtration power of medical N95! All contained in a reusable fabric mask, amazing!
"It's been a really tough year, but I think things will soon get worse [for my daughter]. Less masks means more chance of contamination and a greater possibility of my daughter getting sick. We bought this mask to try and help her get back to normal. We can't control others, but we can invest in a good mask to try and make the situation as safe as possible for her."
Emma Miller, New York
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
It needed a barrier. We worked to create a specialized liquid-repellent treatment that creates a hydrophobic barrier on fabric. This turned the outer layer into a protective barrier, which stops any liquid droplets that may contain harmful germs from soaking into the mask!
The mom's loved this piece of tech! They were happy with the filtration and the barrier... but what would happen if they dropped it?
"The restrictions may be easing, but for our son, it means it's about to get worse. Everything is opening again and I see people walking around without a mask, coughing and sneezing, then touching surfaces. For his sake, I hope all this goes away soon so he can have some semblance of normality back in his life."
Janice Davis, New York
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
The moms were very concerned that since others wouldn't be wearing masks, being in close quarters in restaurants, public transport, or a school cafeteria would create huge problems; other people will become more negligent toward safety. Their kids have to be able to remove their mask to eat, but need a solution to keep it (and them) safe.
The solution was fairly simple. Firstly, a built-in lanyard so they couldn't drop it, and secondly, name tags (so if they did) it wouldn't get mixed up with others by accident! This great lanyard-mask combination has now benefited MILLIONS of children (and parents) across America.
"I would feel a lot better if everyone would just keep wearing masks until this has all passed. However, since other people are careless, we have to be careful. Investing in a mask like this certainly helps relieve some worry."
John Brown, Washington
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
This request was added by the moms quite late in the game. Can we make it breathable? This then created a sub-question, can it be done without affecting the performance? Both were tricky questions, but ultimately it boiled down to, how do you make a 7 Layer mask breathable and cool? Challenge accepted!
Was there a solution? Of course! We built technical moisture-wicking fabric on the inner layer of the mask, making it soft to the touch and able to keep your face cool and dry for all-day comfort. The moisture-wicking helps to draw moisture away from the body keep cooling air closer to the skin.
"I certainly feel better when Emma is wearing this. With less and less people wearing masks outside now, the risk keeps getting higher. The issue is that even WITH the vaccine, she is still vulnerable. The more protection I can find her, the better."
Katherine Jones, Montana
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
We couldn't make a mask without proving it works! And we nailed it! The mask filters small particles (0.1 micron) including bacteria, cigarette smoke, smog and dust to a rating of 96% PFE. Ensuring maximum efficiency, cooling, and deflection, all while maintaining breathability and comfort.
But, who tested it?? Only one of the best, global leading testing, inspection and certification companies, Bureau Veritas (box definitely checked)! If we are going to do something, we'll definitely be doing it right....
"My husband and I have been looking for a mask like this for our son... and we've looked everywhere! A friend saw this advertised and send me the link. It works really well, this is the first reusable, 7-layer mask I've seen that has a high PFE rating. Fantastic!"
Heather Anderson, New Jersey
Photo Credit: School Mask Pack
We found that best ideas certainly come from necessity, and ultimately, you!
Our most positive reviews and compliments have also come directly from the ideas our mommy-groups. Their efforts to create a mask perfect for their babies, has in-turn helped millions of others.
Do you have anything you know needs fixing? Feel free to Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you! Who knows, maybe you'll inspire the next, Super Mask!
Immunodeficient Inspired Reusable Mask
"These masks are perfect for what need."
"We searched for such a long time for masks that are reusable and that will also ensure my daughter would be properly protected. As soon as we saw these, we just knew we hit the jackpot! We've never used anything else since."
Roy Johnson, California
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
Masks are a hot-topic in all circles. Opinions differ; some are in denial of their effectiveness, others think it's a government conspiracy, while most [thankfully] are absolute advocates of their necessity. Freedom of opinion is what makes living today the best its ever been, but not for everyone.
There is one group who quite simply don't have the option of opinion; those who are immunocompromised or living with immunodeficiency. The events of the past few years have certainly been testing, but with restrictions lifting and only partial vaccinations in place, a whole new nightmare is about to begin...
This is where the story slightly segues into another, we also created the Crayola mask. The Crayola concept came from a group of moms who approached us for support. They needed a mask that would help their children with sensory issues adapt to the new normal.
After months of working closely on the design with the Crayola moms, the pain-points were solved and this solution became the Crayola mask you know and love today! It was certainly an amazing journey, however, this also attracted the attention of another group of moms hoping we could help them too.
The new group of moms loved the Crayola line, but said it just wasn't enough to protect their kids living with immunodeficiency. They needed a high-performance, multi-layer, high PFE rated, mask. They all had a growing concern that the public would continue to grow less cautious and would start to pose a greater risk to their children.
Never to shy away from a challenge, we rolled up our sleeves! Here are 5 things on the 7-layer mask, you didn't know were designed to specifically help children with immunodeficiency:
Have a read through and let me know in the comments which feature you LOVE the most for your kids! OR, if you have any new ideas you'd like to see included in future developments, we'd love to hear about them!
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
Naturally, when our mommy group was tasked with making a list of major pain-points, blocking germs was right at the top of the list! With vaccination rates rising and restrictions to be relaxed, they expect germs from increased carelessness to become a much larger risk factor in the coming year.
They still needed for the mask to be reusable, but they also needed to be sure the filtration was sufficient. A sandwich-layer approach was adopted with a robust liquid repellent outer layer, a 5-layer filter at the center, and a cooling moisture wicking fabric on the inside. Droplet protective, filter functional, AND cooling; excellent!
The 7 layer design gave their kids a HUGE 96% Particle Filtration Efficiency rating. That's MORE than the filtration power of medical N95! All contained in a reusable fabric mask, amazing!
The mommy group was motivated and they had just ticked off their first 'perfect mask' box... Lets see what else they came up with!
"It's been a really tough year, but I think things will soon get worse [for my daughter]. Less masks means more chance of contamination and a greater possibility of my daughter getting sick. We bought this mask to try and help her get back to normal. We can't control others, but we can invest in a good mask to try and make the situation as safe as possible for her."
Emma Miller, New York
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
The mom's second on-the-list was a little tougher to check off. They wanted to stop the germs all-together. Now, we couldn't create a bubble around their head (well, we could, but that would look silly) but, we knew we would need a barrier of some kind to ensure the germs bounce off. Luckily, we had a trick up our sleeve...
We had been working on a specialized liquid-repellent treatment that creates a hydrophobic barrier on fabric. This would turn the outer layer into a protective barrier, which would stop any liquid droplets that may contain harmful germs from soaking into the mask. A barrier, without the bubble!
The mom's were happy! We had given them the filtration and a barrier. So far, so good! That's the face checked off... but what would happen if they dropped it?
"The restrictions may be easing, but for our son, it means it's about to get worse. Everything is opening again and I see people walking around without a mask, coughing and sneezing, then touching surfaces. For his sake, I hope all this goes away soon so he can have some semblance of normality back in his life."
Janice Davis, New York
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
So, having a mask is great until you drop it or have to take it off to eat. This was a huge issue for the mom's as this is when their kids are most vulnerable.
They were very concerned that since others won't be wearing masks, being in close quarters in restaurants, public transport, or a school cafeteria will create huge problems; other people will become more negligent toward safety. Their kids have to be able to remove their mask to eat, but need a solution to keep it (and them) safe.
The solution was fairly simple. Firstly, a built-in lanyard so they couldn't drop it, and secondly, name tags (so if they did) it wouldn't get swapped by accident! This great lanyard-mask combination has now benefited MILLIONS of children (and parents) across America.
"I would feel a lot better if everyone would just keep wearing masks until this has all passed. However, since other people are careless, we have to be careful. Investing in a mask like this certainly helps relieve some worry."
John Brown, Washington
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
This request was added by the moms as the list grew. Can we make it breathable? This then created a sub-question, can it be done without affecting the performance? Both were tricky questions, but ultimately it boiled down to, how do you make a 7 Layer mask breathable and cool? Challenge accepted!
Was there a solution? Of course! We built technical moisture-wicking fabric on the inner layer of the mask, making it soft to the touch and able to keep your face cool and dry for all-day comfort. The moisture-wicking helps to draw moisture away from the body keep cooling air closer to the skin.
Problems solved! Right? Not entirely, we can build a mask, but we've got to prove that it works...
"I certainly feel better when Emma is wearing this. With less and less people wearing masks outside now, the risk keeps getting higher. The issue is that even WITH the vaccine, she is still vulnerable. The more protection I can find her, the better."
Katherine Jones, Montana
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
That's right, we couldn't make a mask without proving it works! The mom's contacted us for a reason, let see if we delivered...
We got the results... and... we nailed it! The mask filters small particles (0.1 micron) including bacteria, cigarette smoke, smog and dust to a rating of 96% PFE. Ensuring maximum efficiency, cooling, and deflection, all while maintaining breathability and comfort.
But, who tested it?? Only one of the best, global leading testing, inspection and certification companies, Bureau Veritas (box definitely checked)! If we are going to do something, we'll definitely be doing it right....
"My husband and I have been looking for a mask like this for our son... and we've looked everywhere! A friend saw this advertised and send me the link. It works really well, this is the first reusable, 7-layer mask I've seen that has a high PFE rating. Fantastic!"
Heather Anderson, New Jersey
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
So, what did we learn? Well, as this was our second creation designed solely because people needed it, we learned a lot!
We found that best ideas certainly come from necessity, and ultimately, you! Since launching we've sold over 8 MILLION masks in America. This is such an incredible testament to the dedication of moms!
Our most positive reviews and compliments have also come directly from the ideas our mommy-groups. Their efforts to create a mask perfect for their babies, has in-turn helped millions of others.
Do you have anything you know needs fixing? Feel free to Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you! Who knows, maybe you'll inspire the next, Super Mask!
Immunodeficient Inspired Reusable Mask
"These masks are perfect for what need."
"We searched for such a long time for masks that are reusable and that will also ensure my daughter would be properly protected. As soon as we saw these, we just knew we hit the jackpot! We've never used anything else since."
Roy Johnson, California
Photo Credit: Ourrobinsnest
The Crayola Mask has been a HUGE success. Over 8 MILLION Americans wear one! We've had so many questions about it's design and why it looks like it does. With that in mind, here are 5 things on the Crayola Mask, you didn't know were designed to specifically help children with sensory difficulties:
Let me know in the comments which of the features your child LOVES the most!
Photo Credit: Pink Salt and Sunshine
The request came from parents of children who had sensory issues. The parents were concerned that if they introduced their child to something out of routine, the request could become very distressing.
Giving their child control of choice could give them the opportunity to positively reinforce their decision and make wearing a mask less stressful. The whole range was then adapted to accommodate. The Cool Colors range was even chosen from the favorite colors of a small sample of parents whose children had sensory issues!
"We are so excited for our new face masks from @schoolmaskpack and they are super cute and come in fun designs and colors. They are comfortable and each pack comes with a washable laundry bag, masks for each day, and a calendar. One of my favorite things about the masks is that they are adjustable to fit your and your little ones needs."
RattlesandPearls
Photo Credit: Family Education
One of the most frequent request was to ensure any extra-sensitive ears were well looked after. This was particular high on the list of parents who had children with sensory issues.
The parents in the sample helped us elicit the major pain-points and create a workable design to eliminate as much stress as possible. As a result, all the adjustable beads, soft loops, and the CPSIA compliant bead-lock mechanism all came from the group's feedback!
"My favorite feature is the adjustable ear straps. That’s been our biggest struggle when Ryder needs to wear a mask and these fit AMAZING! My little sensory seeker actually is completely comfortable in these, so I feel safer now when I need to take him to a public place."
PinkSaltandSunshine
Photo Credit: Laynee
For this, the topic of discussion focused on how it covered their face. The sample of mom's children, each had individual personal sensory experiences and different ways to help reduce stress for their child.
The best-fit overall was a snug, full-cover, 3D fit, with a nose clip to reduce fogging. The material, a wash-friendly, 2-layer, light and pure, 100% cotton. This, combined with the mommy-designed ear loops proved a HUGE success.
"I bought these masks for my son after our homemade ones broke. He is 6 and has a small face and these fit very well and were easy to adjust. They are comfortable for him which is very important because he has sensory concerns due to Autism. Now I hope they make more designs!"
Laynee
Photo Credit: Rattlesandpearls
Feedback varied but remained on the whole consistent. Their child [with sensory issues] seeing them wearing a mask could help positively reinforce the situation. A mommy-mask would also create key visual assistance to aid verbal communication and information.
It could also help create a routine that they would both need to do together, a schedule for their daily mask selection. We needed to make the transition as seamless as possible and ultimately feel more so like an activity for both of them.
"My theme song lately is Drive by Incubus. “Whatever tomorrow brings I’ll be there..” ...with open arms and reliable facesmasks! @schoolmaskpack is easy to wear, care for and keep track of to help make masks less intimidating for daily use especially for our little ones. They are comfortable to wear and they have adjustable ear straps for children with sensory issues. Each pack includes a name tag to help keep track of you or your little ones masks and a tracker to keep track of use..."
Ourrobinsnest
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
This is a point our mommy group were very vocal about. They were a little concerned that since the mask is a new item, that it could be disassociated to them as a belonging and left. Alternatively, they could pick up another mask by accident.
The solution was fairly simple in the end. Firstly, a lanyard so they couldn't drop it, and secondly, name tags (so if they did) it would be easy to find the owner! This great lanyard-mask combination has now benefited MILLIONS of children (and parents) across America.
"Absolutely love your masks. My son has sensory issues and will only wear the ones from Crayola, says they are the best ones!" - Maureen
"These masks fit my 3 yo and 5 yo perfectly! my 5 y/o has sensory issues and does not mind these masks at all. We get tons of compliments on them. Cutest ever!" - Lauren
Photo Credit: Pinhole Press
The success of the Crayola mask is such an incredible testament to the dedication of moms!
Our most positive reviews and compliments have also come directly from the ideas our mommy-group gave during feedback. Their efforts to create a mask perfect for their babies, has in-turn helped millions of others.
Do you have any ideas for products you'd like to see? Feel free to Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you! Who knows, maybe you'll inspire the next, Crayola Mask!
Stain Free T-Shirt from The Good Day Lab
"My little sensory seeker is completely comfortable"
"My favorite feature is the adjustable ear straps. That’s been our biggest struggle when Ryder needs to wear a mask and these fit AMAZING! My little sensory seeker actually is completely comfortable in these, so I feel safer now when I need to take him to a public place."
@pinksaltandsunshine
Photo Credit: Ourrobinsnest
Wind back to late 2019 and the world we knew was slowly starting to re-shape itself. What initially seemed innocuous, soon ground everything we knew to a halt and left us wondering, how on earth did all this happen?!
Fast-forward a few a months and we had a HUGE new problem to face; how do we protect everyone? After a quick brainstorm with some caffeine-fueled office elves, the Crayola mask hit floor as the front runner.
However, we soon realized the initial concept of an easy-clean 5-pack, with some funky patterns wasn't even close to the answer. It was a start, but it only touched on a tiny percent of the NEEDS of parents.
We had to think like a mom... Thankfully, we had A LOT of help! Parent's from all over the world flooded us with thousands of ideas for designs, colors, and styles. Every idea also had a pattern, they always led back to comfort and safety.
Parents found the 5-pack concept great for practicality, but it was only ever a bonus feature to their primary concern, "if they have to wear a mask, it has to be the best". That made us think; what would make a mask, the best?
We started to listen more carefully to the answers and look deeper at the reasons why. The 'what-they-want' answers were the easy ones, we just tick all the boxes, anti-fog, adjustable, 100% cotton, etc. The second part was a little more tricky...
The parent's who reached out, were doing so because they had children with sensory issues and were worried that they wouldn't adjust well to wearing masks.
This was invaluable, and also became the wire-frame to the Crayola masks you see today! If we can make them fun, practical, and importantly, sensory-friendly, we can try to make an already difficult situation, slightly better, for everyone.
We had a group of motivated moms and a platform to help! Here are 5 things on the Crayola Mask, you didn't know were designed to specifically help children with sensory difficulties:
Have a read through and let me know in the comments which of the features your child LOVES the most! OR, if you have any new ideas you'd like to see included in future developments, we'd love to hear about them!
Photo Credit: Pink Salt and Sunshine
The idea of a multi-color pack was a request that came up many times. The primary reason being that parents needed an easy way to see clean from dirty. Other reasons included matching masks with different outfits, and also that it makes it all little more fun.
There was also another very noticeable reason too, parents wanted their child to be able to choose a mask depending on how feel. After a few follow up questions and a little more sleuthing, we finally got to the bottom of it, the requests came from parents of children who had sensory issues.
These parents were concerned that if they introduced their child to something out of routine, the request could become very distressing. Giving their child control of choice could give them the opportunity to positively reinforce their decision and make wearing a mask in the future less stressful.
We listened. The whole range was adapted to include different colors, and as a result, we also have a line designed by you! We asked a mom group with sensory-sensitive children for their children's favorite colors, we tallied-up the most popular 5 and this became the Cool Color range!
"We are so excited for our new face masks from @schoolmaskpack and they are super cute and come in fun designs and colors. They are comfortable and each pack comes with a washable laundry bag, masks for each day, and a calendar. One of my favorite things about the masks is that they are adjustable to fit your and your little ones needs."
RattlesandPearls
Photo Credit: Family Education
Our parental super-stars have given us some amazing feedback so far, so why stop at the 5-color mask set? Well, as I'm sure you have guessed already, we didn't!
One of the most frequent request from all the feedback we received, was to ensure any extra-sensitive ears were well looked after. This was particular high on the list of parents who had children with sensory issues.
To ensure we got this right, we re-visited a group of mega-moms that helped to design the 5-color concept and asked them guide us through their child's specific sensory needs. And it worked!
Now, as each child is unique, the goal wasn't to meet every need as some would naturally conflict with others, but to get enough information from the mommy super-squad to help us elicit the major pain-points and create a workable design to eliminate as much stress as possible.
As a result, all the adjustable beads, soft loops, and the CPSIA compliant bead-lock mechanism all came from the group's feedback! Most of our positive feedback comes from the unique design, comfort, and versatility of the ear loops.
Way to go mommy group!
"My favorite feature is the adjustable ear straps. That’s been our biggest struggle when Ryder needs to wear a mask and these fit AMAZING! My little sensory seeker actually is completely comfortable in these, so I feel safer now when I need to take him to a public place."
PinkSaltandSunshine
Photo Credit: Laynee
This part got a little more tricky and was probably the most contentious. At the end of the day, we can't make a mask, without the mask itself, right? Something had to give...
The feedback was to create a mask which not only felt lightweight, but it needed to be easy to clean, made from natural fiber, and also cause the wearer the least amount of discomfort as possible.
For this, the topic of discussion focused on how it covered their face... and, oh boy... was that a discussion! There was a lot of very different opinions based on individual personal sensory experiences and how each had helped reduce stress for their child in the past.
Ultimately, a final mask had to be decided on. The result? A snug full-cover, 3D fit, with a nose clip to reduce fogging. The material, a wash-friendly, 2-layer, light and pure, 100% cotton.
The overwhelming feedback was to have a close-fitted mask to hug the contours and also prevent the spread of germs. This, combined with the mommy-designed ear loops proved a HUGE success.
We had the perfect mask! Now, let's get those other boxes ticked...
"I bought these masks for my son after our homemade ones broke. He is 6 and has a small face and these fit very well and were easy to adjust. They are comfortable for him which is very important because he has sensory concerns due to Autism. Now I hope they make more designs!"
Laynee
Photo Credit: Rattlesandpearls
Matching Mommy and Daddy's Double! This was more than just a cute alliteration thrown into the hat by the group... so they say...
Their feedback varied but remained on the whole consistent. Their own child seeing them wearing a mask could help positively reinforce the situation. A mommy-mask would also create key visual assistance to aid verbal communication and information.
Secondly, it could also help create a routine that they would both need to do together, a schedule for their daily mask selection. If the masks were to become a HUGE part of life, we needed to make the transition as seamless as possible and ultimately feel more so like an activity.
Initially, the Crayola mask concept was only intended for kids. However, after speaking with all the moms, we revised the range to include adults so anyone who wanted to match, could!
"My theme song lately is Drive by Incubus. “Whatever tomorrow brings I’ll be there..” ...with open arms and reliable facesmasks! @schoolmaskpack is easy to wear, care for and keep track of to help make masks less intimidating for daily use especially for our little ones. They are comfortable to wear and they have adjustable ear straps for children with sensory issues. Each pack includes a name tag to help keep track of you or your little ones masks and a tracker to keep track of use..."
Ourrobinsnest
Photo Credit: Schoolmaskpack
Having a mask is great tool to keep you safer. However, it will only work if you want to wear it AND when you do, you are wearing your own mask.
This is a point our mommy group were very vocal about. They were a little concerned that since the mask is a new item, that it could be disassociated to them as a belonging and left. Alternatively, they could pick up another mask by accident.
The solution was fairly simple in the end. Firstly, a lanyard so they couldn't drop it, and secondly, name tags (so if they did) it would be easy to find the owner!
The say moms know best, and they certainly did! This great lanyard-mask combination has now benefited MILLIONS of children (and parents) across America.
"Absolutely love your masks. My son has sensory issues and will only wear the ones from Crayola, says they are the best ones!" - Maureen
"These masks fit my 3 yo and 5 yo perfectly! my 5 y/o has sensory issues and does not mind these masks at all. We get tons of compliments on them. Cutest ever!" - Lauren
Photo Credit: Pinhole Press
What a wild ride! What started as quick-launch project, soon turned into a huge development endeavor to create a perfect mask. And, we think we did it!
Since launching, over 8 MILLION Americans now wear Crayola. This is such an incredible testament to the dedication of moms!
Our most positive reviews and compliments have also come directly from the ideas our mommy-group gave during feedback. Their efforts to create a mask perfect for their babies, has in-turn helped millions of others.
The experience has also greatly inspired the company. Each development project since has centered on finding (and fixing) pain-points to make the lives of our customers better.
Do you have anything you know needs fixing? Feel free to Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you! Who knows, maybe you'll inspire the next, Crayola Mask!
Total mask solution and laundry bag
"My little sensory seeker is completely comfortable"
"My favorite feature is the adjustable ear straps. That’s been our biggest struggle when Ryder needs to wear a mask and these fit AMAZING! My little sensory seeker actually is completely comfortable in these, so I feel safer now when I need to take him to a public place."
@pinksaltandsunshine
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Stains are a huge pain for any parent! You find the cutest little tops, and then your children [seemingly on purpose] cover them in the messiest things they can find!
So, as a mother, I decided to make a list! I concentrated on the 5 types of stains or the places where stains affected me the most.
My name is Beatrice and I live in Chelsea, London with my husband, Charles, and two kids Ethan and Oliver. I wake in the morning, dress the boys in their adorable little twill shirts, then hurry them out the door to their various activities.
I can honestly say I have finally accepted that boys will be boys, but as a mother, I just wish their charming little outfits would last longer than an afternoon in the park!
If they weren't dirtying their shirts by playing games, they would be spilling the jam from their scones or the juice from their cups. I just couldn't win!
To save the fortune I was spending each month [to replace their wardrobes], I turned to family and friends to create a list of super-hacks!
I have highlighted numbers 4 and 5 as these were the ones I found the most useful. Have a quick read-through and let me know in the comments if you have any more ideas, I would love to read them and test them all out!
Photo Credit: Insider
Having two young sons, I seem to find grass stains everywhere! I also quickly realised that a standard cycle just didn't have the muscle to take on these dastardly, chino-hating foes... However, my quest did turn up a rather unlikely hero, toothpaste!
This little hack is courtesy of my mother. Simply apply a pea-sized amount of plain white toothpaste to a patch and start scrubbing! Just to note, on more than one occasion, she did reiterate to use the paste variety and not a gel. Else, there is a chance of discolouration - I feel she may have made that mistake before!
And there you have it, stain-free! Also, on a quick side note, I found this method really effective for pens, markers, and ink spots too!
Photo Credit: Family Education
Nothing quite compares to the heart-stopping, immobilising panic that rushes through you the moment you hear your baby cry out in pain. No matter how much we try (and believe me, I've tried) to wrap them in cotton wool; bumps, scrapes, and learning they aren't invincible are all unfortunate by-products of growing up.
Of course, cleaning stains out of clothes isn't the first thing on your mind when you hear your baby cry! However, once you have finally calmed down, remembered a grazed knee isn't life-threatening, and realise that your once unconsolable munchkin is now happily watching cartoons, you can try a few of these little hacks below!
If you don't have any antiseptic solution, a clear fizzy pop like lemonade (7-up for my American friends) works well too! If the stain persists, try soaking overnight. In all instances, tend the injured child first!
Photo Credit: Mom
No matter the colouring books, my little Picasso's most inspiring canvas was always themselves... I LOVE to encourage creativity, but leaving them alone with felt pens was where the [metaphorical] line was firmly drawn!
Thankfully, my boys are a little older now and have grown out of this phase! But still, I hope passing on these little nuggets of wisdom help save other adorable little outfits :)
Now, I had answers from nearly everyone I spoke to, all of which were completely different and worked to varying degrees. I'd suggest buying water-soluble felt tip markers that are chemical-free (Crayola being my preferred choice). BUT, if you are faced with the daunting task of a pen covered polo, here are the best solutions I found:
These were the two most effective ways I found. However, I received a lot of feedback on this, I'm sure there are more out there!
Photo Credit: Good Housekeeping
OK, so this the BIG ONE (and I assume the reason why you started reading my list in the first place!). At home it's easy, I have wardrobes full of clothes and cleaning materials everywhere, but on-the-go stains are the hardest and [ultimately] the answer I REALLY wanted to know.
The problem was simple; I can't walk around with suitcases of spare clothes, stained t-shirts during dinner look positively awful, and wet patches where I've managed to half-clean them just don't look presentable. I was really hoping there was a quick fix-all solution...
If you are out in public, but NOT in a restaurant:
Photo Credit: Parents
If you are out in public and in a restaurant:
Photo Credit: Pinhole Press
Granted, none of the above really solves the issue of trying to keep two boys clean! Primarily; if it spills, don't scrub, just keep dabbing or blotting a well-soaked area, and where possible, apply room-temperature sparkling or soda water. The use of acidic citrus fruits (like lemon) is also a great stand-in cleaner when there are none at hand!
The alternative route is to change the actual clothes themselves. Essentially, wearing them for both style and function. A quick Google returns a big list of stain-proof clothing for adults and kids. From what I can find, it seems to be mainly used as a spray-on option for outdoor or extreme sporting equipment (similar to Gore-Tex) like walking boots, raincoats, or even spacesuits!
However, clothing brands do look like they are starting to take an interest. In the US, a company called, The Good Day Lab is making stain-proof clothing just for kids. Their stain-repellent is actually part of their shirt, if anything spills, it just bounces off. Once you've worn it, it just goes straight in the wash like a normal tee! It's great to see technology finally catching up with function. Instead of fixing it after, just prevent it!
If you have any other ideas of how to remove any pesky stains OR if you've tried any stain-proof clothing, I'd love to hear from you and get some feedback!
Stay safe, thank you for reading, and I look forward to reading all your cleaning tips in the comments!
Stain Free T-Shirt from The Good Day Lab
"This shirt is magic."
You now don't have to dread the next time your kid spills something on their clothes. The Good Day Lab™ Liquid-Repellent Kids T-Shirt will repel spills and stains and prevent them from soaking in. Soft, 100% cotton fabric is breathable to keep kids cool and comfortable no matter what’s going on!
CPSIA Certified Safe & Non-toxic.
Comfort is an important factor for getting kids to keep their masks on during school. We recommend finding a kids mask with adjustable ear straps and a nose wire. Kids can adjust their mask to their face shape, as well as tighten and loosen the ear straps to their comfort level.
When their mask is comfortably secure enough around their face, this also helps reduce the distraction and fidgeting that comes with a mask that doesn’t fit properly. In terms of size, the mask should cover their nose, chin and have suitable coverage across the face.
Breathability and soft fabric are also two important factors to make kids masks more comfortable. Look for a mask with soft fabric on the inside to reduce irritation and discomfort against the skin.
Did you know?
Our masks were named the Best Masks for Kids by BabyCenter and WIRED Magazine.
How often should I wash my kids masks?
We recommend washing your kids masks after every use. Especially if kids have worn them all day at school, it’s good hygienic practice to wash after each wear.
To save time (for busy parents!), we recommend getting at least 5-7 masks for your kids, so they can have a clean mask for each weekday. Looks for masks that are machine washable, so you can easily toss them in the wash all at once at the end of the week.
Simply collect the worn masks from your kids each day after school and store them separately, so you don’t mix up clean and worn masks.
Pro tip: Wash your machine washable masks in a mesh laundry bag to help them keep their shape and prevent damage in the wash. See our mask packs that come included with a free laundry bag.
How should my kids store their masks when they take them off?
Kids will likely take their masks off throughout the day for water and lunch breaks. The important step here is to prevent kids from placing their masks on unclean surfaces.
One popular solution is to attach mask lanyards to your kids masks. These lanyards will keep the mask around their neck like a necklace when it’s not in use. They’re convenient, hands-free, and easy for kids to use.
Another option is to get a mask organizer bag. This is a bag that kids can place their mask in to store their masks in a clean place.
How do I comfort my kids about wearing masks?
If kids seem intimidated by wearing a mask, we recommend finding a design or pattern they love. This will help encourage kids to want to wear the mask if they enjoy the print or color.
Another tactic is to help kids understand the importance of mask wear, especially during this time. Plus, you can even tell them by wearing a mask, they are like a superhero.
You can also do DIY activities that show kids, even if they wear a mask they are still themselves.
Check out these printable resources and DIY activities.
]]>The word around town is our 5-day mask pack system is a great choice for kids and adults! Check out these great features about our Crayola mask packs:
From the article:
Crayola teamed up with School Mask Pack to create colorful back-to-school reusable masks for every day of the school week. The masks are made with 100% cotton on the outer layer, an inner layer of cotton-polyester blend, and have adjustable ear straps and a nose clip. Each pack comes with a free mesh laundry bag, making it easy to collect the masks and machine-wash them over the weekend. One percent of the net sales will go to nonprofits geared toward aiding teachers.
Crayola Now Makes Kids Face Masks, for a Safe (& Colorful!) Back-to-School
From the article:
The CDC Says Children Over 2 Should Wear Face Masks — So We Found the Cutest Ones for Them
From the article:
If your kids are heading back to school this fall and need face masks, this five-pack from Crayola comes in different colors for each day of the school week. It also conveniently comes with a mesh laundry bag to keep it safe in the washing machine. The mask has two layers of cotton-blend fabric, adjustable ear loops, and a nose bridge wire for a secure fit.