Cleaning

I am one of those that wipes down the groceries with a weak bleach solution.
While my son, who lives with me, goes to get the groceries, I wash down the worktops, the inside of my fridge and the door handles with a weak bleach solution using a microfibre cloth.
When he returns, the chilled food, such as yoghurst that are usually in a multpack gets taken out of the packaging and put straight in the fridge (if no packaging, aquick wipe around the pots then into the fridge.) Any fruit or veg in bags gets tipped into the chiller drawers, bags disposed of. Potatoes go into a cloth bag, out of the plastic. Loose veg will have a wash in soap and water before going in the fridge, The frozen packets and boxes get wiped before in the freezer. I wipe round the milk container etc. Tins get wiped, my bakery bread and rolls are decanted into linen bags that I have, then when all of the shopping has been put away, the external door knobs, locks and letterbox get wiped, take off rubber gloves and wash hands.
My son is going to donate blood tomorrow - he has been told that the wearing of face masks is voluntary but he plans to buy one to wear.

I dont disinfect or isolate shopping, nor do I deep clean. I wash my hands in a fairly intensive way every time I return home after shopping or walking and touching field gates. I dont use communal hand sanitisers unless you can do so without touching the bottle, but carry my own. Thats it really. Dont wear a mask except on public transport as per 'the rules'. I feel OK with the precautions we are taking, however we are in a low incidence area.

I am not doing deep cleaning, just washing my hands every time I have been shopping or to the bin. I go round door handles with anti bacteria wipes every couple of days now, plus tv control, phone. I put the shopping away when I buy it sometimes it gets used straight away. If I go to the supermarket I gel my hands and put a mask on when I get out of the car and clean the trolley with stuff supplied by shop. I also put the towl in the wash most days from the kitchen. I think it is just a case of being sensible and trying to keep 2 metres away from people in supermarkets etc.

I’ve stopped wiping handles down and cleaning everything to death now..... plenty of hand washing is all I do. No deliveries and no car so I’m going out every 3 days shopping. Mask in shops and on buses is all! We’ve got to get a grip on reality soon else we’ll all end up neurotic idiots. Good common sense is what’s needed.

I think the chances of catching the virus from packaging, post, etc, is very low unless anybody is in the extreme vulnerable group, e.g. those having cancer treatment, severe heart conditions, etc. The main danger, in my view, is being in direct contact with somebody who has the virus, or is carrying the virus.
I wipe door handles, etc, a couple of times a week.

My groceries are just put away and I wash my hands regularly. In fact every time I touch recently bought groceries. I have wipes in car and wipe hands and wheel when I have collected my click and collect. I note the two 'heard of' cases but nobody has ever posted links about these so I take no notice. I have always thought that regular hand washing is the best advice.

That made me laugh. Goes straight in your mouth lol

Well I don’t do any of these things. The only thing I do more of is washing my hands, I’ve always cleaned worktops floors washed twice week, and I’m not going to do any more than I’ve done all my life, I have a neighbour that washes her carrier bags and hangs them on the washing line couple times a week long line of them, but that’s her way I’m not knocking how others do things, but it’s not for me,I’m self isolating and have been for last 13 weeks, so I’m doing what I can, haven’t been out in any vehicles, nor shops , I’m not doing anymore

I used to wipe down groceries but stopped a few weeks ago. I open letters and parcels straightaway and read the paper when it arrives. I'm not a great cleaner, I've always employed one up till now, but I give the kitchen surfaces a skoosh of anti bac and wipe a bit most days and have a go at cleaning the bathroom once a week. I quite like dusting so I do that fortnightly and hoover once a week.
Is that the sound of clean Grans fainting I hear? It's amazing we're still alive (so far...)

An over reaction as far as I can see !

I think you are being very careful I'm not as good as you. As for the deep cleaning I agree with you it depends how much dirt gets on your wick. I sweep and mop because I have two dogs and light painted floors and clear the kitchen up after breakfast buy fresh flowers etc. Nothing has changed there. There are I notice from books and tvs films etc many people who have a desire to clean when things feel out of control. It makes them feel more in control. I think a lot of deep cleaning is about that. You are hyper-aware of the habits of this stray bit of RNA I should take some lessons from you. There is a difference between washing it off your hands and using a bactericide on everything which is missed by most and certainly by advertisers. I am still using the lovely soaps that have been presented to me in the past and do have to top up on handcream.

I wash my hands a lot and also things which are delivered. However, I don't do this for food shopping, nor do I quarantine it. I wear a mask in shops and keep awayfrom others when out. I also wash cloths and towels frequently and have put washing on the line so the sunlight can disinfect it.

Other than that I would not have time to live my life if I did more. I am pretty OCD about cleanliness and tidiness anyway but I feel that some people are getting obseessive.

NanaHev
Relax,you sound ok to me

All the cases of covid19 we have heard of have been in vulnerable people who have not left their own homes

I didn't know that * Harrigran*. So cleaning must be helpful.
I think we can be sensible without panicking.

All post lies on our porch floor for 24 hours before being handled, likewise newspapers and magazines.
Grocery shopping is disinfected before being placed in fridge or cupboards. All of my family follow the same routine.
All the cases of covid19 we have heard of have been in vulnerable people who have not left their own homes so, as others have said, can only have come from deliveries to the door.

I am another one who doesn't do any of these. Shopping is put straight away, no wiping of anything. Post and parcels are opened and looked at the same day.
Washing is done the same as always. Worktops and handles are wiped down daily. I am doing no different to what I have always done.

Luckygirl I have to stay on meal replacements until my GP
and the dietician move me on to the next step, it’s on hold
for now.

Thankyou Furret have a lovely weekend?

Sensible post Bluebelle.

BlueBelle, the voice of reason. Do we wish to live our lives or just exist? I know what my choice is.

Spot on BlueBelle as I just said on another thread, we can't hide away forever. We need to learn to live and deal with this.

I think you have to do right for yourself and for those around you, for me it would be far more harmful to look at everyone and everything (post, food. parcels, people) as a threat so I don’t, I deal with everything as normal apart from the hand washing and social distancing and thinking more carefully I have been out and about since day one but not with people alone, now I m out with friends but not touching them as I would normally do no hugging or putting an arm out, but with them all the same I still haven’t been in my daughters house or she in mine as they are all at work
I decided right at the beginning that I was not going to break any rules (most have been suggestions only anyway ) and I haven’t... I would certainly follow the being sensible route but I
refuse point blank to get caught up in this panic
If my number has CV on it well so be it just the same as if it has cancer on it none of us can judge we can be careful I don’t take big risks I wouldn’t climb a high ladder any more because it would be a risk at my age but I would climb a two to three step one with a hold handle because I feel safe doing so I wouldn’t swim out of my depths in the sea but I would swim where my feet touch the ground It’s all about using common sense and not getting too frightened to breathe Well it is for me anyway
Life is all a risk

Perhaps they should display a 'Do Not Touch' sign! Th few times I ventured into a supermarket I noticed hardly anybody followed the arrows on the floor, (including me) we are so used to wander around, going back if we forgot or can't find an item.

Often with long posts I start off reading them, then give up as they descend into ramblings.

Yours I read all the way through DorseCC. Good points clearly stated.

I havent been in a public space since March and no one has been in my house so cleaning routine as usual, I certainly wouldnt be constantly as I saw on an advert recently for disinfectant!
Post/ groceries? I'm cautious. When all this kicked off I remember being taken aback by the extreme way areas in china were cleaned. I know in UK those with Coronavirus are told specifically how to deal with personal items and likewise in nursing homes linen,incontinence products etc have to be isolated and disposed of in a certain way.
I have home deliveries,fresh stuff is decanted/washed. Non perishable stores for relevant time. Post opened as like many above.
I think in general we should all have some thought to where our food has been. It's not unusual for large storage depots to have rats and for them to urinate over tins. I vividly remember going around a large supermarket and seeing an assistant with a heavy cold blowing her nose and continuing to fill the meat counter!
That I expect is the unknown quantity, we dont know who is handling our food before us. They may be very conscientious and be wearing gloves and a mask or they may not. Same with delivery drivers/postmen I would say more dont wear masks than do and social distancing is variable.
One interesting thought is that if there were no risk why have shopping rules changed so told not to handle goods etc. I imagine something that causes a great deal of inconvenience to retailers wouldnt be done lightly.
With regards to the effects on our mental health it is indeed worrying. My mother bless her contracted TB in her early 20s off her sister who died from it. She was lucky in that she received the new drug that cured it. Sadly however her experiences of the fear and social stigma lived with her for life in the form of OCD and fears of contamination. Growing up I was constantly being told to wash my hands etc. It was hard for her,and hard for us to live with. Fortunately for me I think I achieved a healthy balance and pre covid was of opinion a little dirt never hurt anyone. Recent months have been quite a revelation to me,and an insight into her world.
All we can do is try and find a balance. This is made very hard by lack of reliable information. The government imply everything back to normal and many people are doing just that. Even the governments guidelines however have still not changed but they always add that very quietly. It's not just the UK but many countries experiencing the same mixed messages. I think how you view this is down to the individual. I think individuals are left to make their own decisions regardless of common good. The only way this virus can be controlled would be to crack down on it early with testing and tracking and stringent lockdown and genuine gradual easing or continued lock down. We seemed to have missed the boat there.! I can almost see cabinet shrugging shoulders and saying most people wont be badly affected so lets just get back to normal.
If you are in those groups that are vulnerable or high risk keep following the guidelines specific to you. Those of you who havent been able to get online deliveries and want them now might be time to try again. Slots are starting to appear. If you cant find one contact the supermarket directly. The initial panic is over so you should be able to get something,lots of people are.
For those of you who are shielding, particularly those living alone reach out either here or your local council will be able to offer guidance.
Carry on being careful. My 25 year old daughter doesnt isolate post and groceries,but then the risk to her is minimal. I will continue to do so but with frequent assessment of my own feelings and wellbeing.