Definitive information on disinfecting against virus?

[IrisAnon]

Sorry if this seems a bit dim, but looking for advice. Thinking about deliveries of food, clothes, books etc..... what is best to use to disinfect the packaging and items? Also things like doorknobs and handles.

I'm hearing from some that Dettol doesn't work, but it does say that it can kill viruses. I can't possibly put bleach on everything. Mist with vodka?! (I've got some dodgy spirits from the school bottle stall lurking somewhere and would love to get rid).
Can I put items in the sun? I know UV kills germs, but does it kill viruses?
What are you using?

For post I am using time - leaving it for a while before opening.

Fruit/veg deliveries washing with hand soap and water or peeling.

GP - very patiently ! - said to me, they think highly unlikely can survive delivery conditions . Said leave parcels and mail in front hall for 24 hours or so - then open, bin packaging and wash hands .

Fruit and veg, said wash as per usual .

Did not think could be easily transmitted via food and drink packaging but said if it makes me feel calmer to wash external packaging with water and soap . She said it would - she thinks - need someone to stick their hands in their mouth/nose or cough all over the item, and for droplets to then land on the item, which would then have to survive being flung around into delivery boxes, then refrigeration within a lorry ... etc etc etc .

I have sprayed each cupboard with aerosol disinfectant (until we ran out) and did a deep clean of the kitchen after a delivery ... bleached the table and door handles and stuff ... if that’s necessary I dunno . It hasn’t calmed me down much .

As further reassurance the staff nurses from ICU where I live, and where my very - very - experienced colleagues work now, are continuing to eat takeaways and deliveries from greggs etc . Photos of them all holding the boxes against their uniforms .... that the senior management have approved for FB publicity .

I’ve gone through a fortnight of worrying about this and refusing to eat and drink where possible - and lost eleven pound in the process - so I’ve done a lot of thinking and worrying and tears over it .

Other thing I was told - dettol not really necessary, ordinary bleach in water or even fairy liquid is just as good apparently .

I have the detox spray that says All known viruses but they didn't know about COVID19 when they made it.
I still use it though along with dilute bkeachnsoliyion in a spray bottle.
I wipe everything down with day too.spray or not cloth with washing up liquid. Remove cardboard and packaging as much as I can then wash hands bleach kitchen.

I've ordered a fruit and veg delivery from a farm shop as Ive given up on big Supermarkets after all the crowds and bare shelves. I'm freaking out a bit because its all unwrapped which is fab for the plastic boycott but not ideal right now with this virus.
I'm planning on leaving it in my garage or porch for 24 hours maybe which will help the virus deteriorate a bit then wash bit still a bit stressed out.
Any suggestions for cleaning fruit and veg?
I'm guessing cooking will kill the virus bit salads and fruits???

I have been doing my general cleaning using my usual Splosh cleaner. Running taps over with a bleach cloth every day and door handles/light switches every few days.

When one of us has been out somewhere busy (shops) we dettol wipe phones/car keys/purse etc and change clothes - in addition to hand washing.

I am not washing down groceries and I will wash my hands before/after prepping food and before eating.

I have suffered from OCD tendancies in the past so I am trying to be as rational as possible and not go into overdrive because it can spiral very quickly.

I spoke to someone researching the virus the other day. She said it doesn’t survive long on organic matter (few hours). I didn’t ask about killing it but if I were concerned about my food I’d leavd it for as long as possible before washing it with soap.

Im v high risk so have been terrified about this. Germs on plastic bags especially as delivery driver has brought them to the door. But also all the people touching it. I thought the internets said 3 days for carbdoard plastic and possibly 9 days on some things.

I thought we would only order tins and things that could be washed and wiped easily. I'm so scared of missing a germ :( I haven't ordered fresh stuff. I'm really anxious about it as I'm v high risk it can't be "good enough". I am not normally a clean freak...

Ah thats interesting. I ended up binning flowers someone left me as I had no idea how long the virus could live on them :(

We don't have anywhere we can leave food if we get a delivery - it will be on our doorstep, no garage etc. Or I'd buy tinned stuff and leave it a few weeks! I never wanted to be this person I feel crazy but its all real isnt it.

Using Dettol as best available.
Vodka only has 40% alcohol - you need at least 60%.

Dettol website:
"Does Dettol kill the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?"

"2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus. It is not yet available for commercial testing."

"Specific Dettol products have demonstrated effectiveness (>99.9% inactivation) against coronavirus strains from the same family as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in third party laboratory testing, when used in accordance with the directions for use.These products are: Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Spray, Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Wipes, Dettol All-In-One Disinfectant Spray, and Dettol Disinfectant Liquid."

"Given the structural similarities of the COVID-19 virus to the coronavirus strains tested previously (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Human Coronavirus), and based on the evidence available to us, we would expect our Dettol products (listed above) to be effective against the new strain. Definitive scientific confirmation of this, as with all other commercially available virucides, can only be provided once testing against COVID-19 Coronavirus has been conducted, following release of the strain by relevant health authorities."

"The CDC and World Health Organization specifically advises people to wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a key preventative measure against the spread Coronavirus COVID-19. A good quality disinfectant will help reduce risk to families. Our Dettol Hand Sanitizers use ethanol (alcohol) as the germ disinfection active ingredient in line with CDC and WHO recommendations."

Thanks everyone! Really useful info