Is everyone washing their groceries?

[IToldYouIWasFreaky]

Not sure if I'm being paranoid or sensible but for the past week of so, I've been washing (with a dilute bleach solution) everything that comes into or leaves the house.
Any groceries are also washed in bleach, with loose fruit and veg being washed in washing up liquid and thoroughly rinsed.
I'm also regularly bleaching door handles and surfaces.
Obviously, we're all still washing our hands thoroughly and constantly.

Just wondered what other people were doing?

Yes, I make up disinfectant and wipe everything as it comes in.

No. But thorough frequent hand washing. Cleaning of kitchen surfaces. I will wipe canned food if there are any cans to buy when I go shopping now.

For those asking about fruit and veg, it’s a good idea at all times, not just now to thoroughly wash them.
My way is to fill sink with water (enough to cover whatever you’re washing) and add a cup or so of white vinegar. Soak for ten minutes then rinse in a colander. You can also scrub the ones with a harder skin (apples, carrots etc) with a veg brush.
The acid in the vinegar dissolves grime and pesticides and is your best option for killing bacteria without bleaching!

Actually what I really do is wash all cans and packages in Lysol and leave everything out on the lawn for 18 days. I take apart the lettuce and wash each leaf in Lysol and leave each leaf out on the lawn for 18 days. Ditto each carrot, tomato, onion, potato. I'm running out of lawn space and the seagulls have stolen my carrots.

Genuine question - but how did they know the cruise ship still had it? Because can't hospitals and nursing homes etc be tested the same way?

Was it probed/swabbed?

Yes but the bread us a soggy mess now. I'm wiping over packages with a Dettol wipe but that's about it. Not washing individual fruit and veg sounds terrible but buying the ones in plastic at the minute which I would avoid normally and just a quick wipe over. I also disinfect hands after handling mail and dump the packaging asap.

I washed one lot of fruit in soapy water, but it left an aftertaste. Decided that continuing along that route lay madness.

Realistically if you are not in a high risk group your body encountering a tiny bit of virus on packaging might help trigger an immune response without actually contracting the virus, or so my logic tells me. I wash my hands for the statuary 20 secs after being out, and a couple of extra times a day. That’s as far as I am going.

I did think of washing the cat every time he comes in, but decided that might have a major impact on the local emergency services..........!!!

I wash things like milk bottles, jars and hard surfaces in soapy water. Cardboard packed items are left on the 'decontamination shelf' for several days before joining the regular shelves. Most fridge items go in 'as is' and we class the fridge contents as 'contaminated', meaning hands must be washed after handling. After a delivery, any door handles touched will be disinfected. With the post, I dispose of all envelopes and packaging immediately, just tipping the contents out without touching. Then I wash my hands thoroughly.

It's literally not even occurred to me to do this. I think this sounds like quite extreme behaviour. Me and dh are going to work and our children to childcare and we are definitely not bleaching ourselves and the many bags/boxes that go in and out of our house each day. We do wash fruit before it goes in the bowl but we've always done that.

Monster. In normal life theres no way id go to these extremes either.

I am very high risk so cant risk getting it At All. I have something horrid as it is and cant risk anything else.

I assure you if I were a normal fit young person I wouldnt be doing this.

@joystir59

I’ve read a few MN threads on this now and they just propelled me into an unhealthy place. I’m only doing what I would normally do with fresh, loose veg. I’m washing my hands more when handling packets or post etc but that has to be enough.

It’s difficult enough to work, home school my children and keep on top of the house & garden without wiping down every single item from the supermarket with wipes or washing packets of pasta with soapy water. I just can’t.

I was told by an infection control nurse once, that wipes just smear things around further, not kill within a second.

Whats the alternative though?
Sheep dip?

I don't wash anything. Maybe I should, maybe I'm but being cautious enough?

Anything non perishable, tins etc is being left to one side in the shopping bag for at least three days.

I'm washing and wiping fruit and veg before I use it.

I cant bring myself to starting disinfecting fresh food, I'm more worried about that tainting the food and making us ill rather than the virus.

No, I am not washing my groceries.

@LooksLikeImStuckHere
Life really is too short, and I'm shielding my partner who has a life limiting disease. I cannot yield to this package washing paranoia.

Not to mention the environmental impact of all these wipes

The information I read of viral load was interesting. I am no scientist but I can see how exposing yourself to some viral droplets on shopping could actually be a good thing. But as I say, I have absolutely no science knowledge to back that up, it’s just based on an article I read.

No, this would never occur to me. I am washing my hands and avoiding touching my face. I clean the kitchen regularly but I did that anyway.

Honestly some of the behaviour on this thread sounds like total madness to me but then I'm not in a high risk group so I appreciate I am writing from a privileged position.

No.

1. Because I don’t believe wiping stuff over with either a damp soapy cloth or a wipe would be effective
2. Because I don’t want to risk contaminating my food
3. Because I have chosen to believe that the risk from my grocery shop is minimal and would rather continue washing my hands before and after preparing food and eating as I have always done. Also washing fresh fruit and veg as usual. I may be wrong on this but I know that if I allow myself to start worrying about the virus on packaging I could easily become obsessive and never feel that it is clean enough.

@joystir59 that really made me laugh!

Doing this would tip me over the edge into madness.

No. I have never wiped down my groceries and have no intention of starting.

I am following the government guidance, working from home, only going out to get food and for one walk a day. I've always washed my hands a fair bit anyway.

I won't be going to any of the ridiculous extremes described on this thread.

I do this. It’s time consuming. I do it because a family member is very vulnerable.

Yes we do. Wipe every last item that comes into the house. DP is in the high risk category so would rather not take any chances.

No.