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Coronavirus

Is anyone else cleaning their shopping?

(68 Posts)
786wales Wed 08-Apr-20 21:45:34

I use Milton to slack my fruit and veg ?

Grandmafrench Wed 08-Apr-20 21:44:18

I 'clean' my shopping and it's really tedious and I hate it. However, it's making me feel better about bringing it into storage in the house. I take a bucket of hot soapy (washing up liquid) water with some bleach in it and special cloth, outside into the garden. Everything is taken out of the plastic carrier bags, which I wipe over. Each tin, packet etc., is wiped down and left to dry off before being put away. All vegetables are taken indoors and rinsed in warm water in a clean sink with some w/up liquid in it. Then I dry all the vegetables with a clean tea towel. Madness? Maybe. But I know that it's soap that gets rid of the Virus, so my usual wipes and antiseptic spray won't kill it....they are excellent but only for bacteria. Amidst all the complaining that I do (and it's tiring and slightly ridiculous) I do feel that I have done my best to keep my home reasonably safe - anyone could have picked items before me, maybe not wearing gloves - and it's now my answer to feeling a bit more reassured and in control. My OH, who does the shopping, does not touch anything once he has put the shopping down until I have finished with it, then I wipe down the table surface outside and clean the door handle to the house! After that we both need a lie down in a darkened room - or at least a cup of coffee !! grin

Willow500 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:43:41

Sunlight also apparently kills it - if you're able to leave things outside during the day it helps. Depends where you live obviously - I'm not sure my neighbours would appreciate seeing all my shopping laid out on the front lawn all day grin

Chewbacca Wed 08-Apr-20 21:42:46

I've used an empty spray bottle, topped it up with bleach and water and use that to clean tins packets and bottles before putting them away in the cupboards and fridge. Any fresh fruit and veg is washed thoroughly. Maybe it's OTT but I do this with rubber gloves on too.

Willow500 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:40:26

Annie the virus doesn't live on paper or cardboard more than 24 hours so you should be fine to leave them a couple of days without opening them.

Jane10 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:39:30

I wear disposable gloves for shopping and wipe down all the items with antibacterial wipes. I'm sure I don't get into every little crevice though.
All fruit is washed and/or peeled before eating.

FlexibleFriend Wed 08-Apr-20 21:36:38

Yep spraying all packaging in disinfectant and washing all fruit and veg.

Anniebach Wed 08-Apr-20 21:36:07

The most difficult things for me are Rice Cakes in paper wrapping ,and dog biscuits in cardboard boxes, if I leave these two weeks should they be ok ? I can’t wash them

I never thought I would be glad that I am on liquid replacement meals, I wash the plastic bottles in fairy washing
up liquid. Can’t use bleach because I can’t wear gloves .

EllanVannin Wed 08-Apr-20 21:34:56

Dettol wipes, so easy and makes you feel better for doing it.
I always peel /wash veg anyway as I've never left the skins on anything. Won't buy pre-packed salads, never have takeaways.
I was always fussy preparing etc. before all this because of my horror of being poisoned with pesticides or/and dirty people.
I've got worse since I've got older and won't eat out.

Willow500 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:31:23

I bought some grapes from the local greengrocer the other day and was shocked to read the label when I got home - they'd come from Mumbai! I soaked them in salt water for 10 minutes - I thought about Milton but decided that might be pushing it a bit smile

M0nica Wed 08-Apr-20 21:27:55

No, I shop in latex gloves and wear a mask and long coat. I wash my hands after putting it away , none of it is likely to be used for 24 hours anyway.

Willow500 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:27:40

Oh I'm pleased it's not just me being paranoid grin

Curlywhirly Wed 08-Apr-20 21:27:24

Willow500 can't believe that your DIL and GD are receiving abuse, unbelievable, what's wrong with people?

I wasn't cleaning my shopping, until I read it on here last week. At first I thought it a tad over the top, but then after shopping yesterday, I had a wobble, and decided to clean it all.

Bathsheba Wed 08-Apr-20 21:26:55

No it's not being OTT, and yes we do this routinely now. I even wash fruit and veg in warm soapy water, then rinse and dry. Stuff we don't need immediately - tins and plastic packets etc, get put in the spare bedroom, and if we need any of these items inside a week, we disinfect them before bringing them downstairs.

Allegretto Wed 08-Apr-20 21:25:45

I also clean all my shopping with wipes/disinfectant spray and leave what I can in the garage for a few days. I’m a bit paranoid about it all and I tend to clean items again before I use them. I keep thinking about how easy life will be when groceries are put straight in the cupboard again.

GagaJo Wed 08-Apr-20 21:24:07

I'm doing it. We're shopping online and I wash down the frozen/chill with soapy water OR remove the cardboard outer packaging before putting it away. I have a shelf set aside in the fridge for the food that's just been delivered. We leave it for 3 days before using.

Like you, the rest of the groceries, the dry / canned goods I leave for 3 days in an unused porch.

Gemini17892 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:24:03

Yes I am. I’m wiping over the plastic with disinfectant as the virus is supposed to live for 72 hours on plastic and less on card.
Then I leave it out for 24h unless it’s milk or frozen stuff.

Willow500 Wed 08-Apr-20 21:19:44

We've just been to Tescos - no online shopping available and needed quite a lot of items so travelled to the bigger store in next town. Husband stayed in car and I went in alone and wouldn't let him touch anything when I came out. I've cleaned all the items that needed to be put away immediately (or that we needed now) with wipes and the rest is in the garage where I'll leave it a couple of days. I don't know if this is completely OTT or necessary. I did see a doctor being asked the question the other night and he suggested cleaning packets etc. Is anyone else doing this?

Have to say it was all very organised and as it was after 7pm fairly quiet. Feel for the staff - my DIL & GD both work in the same stores in their home town further south and receive some terrible abuse from customers angry