Wiping packages

[Gracei]

Since Coronavirus does anyone wipe down their grocery and delivery packages, if so what with

Yes we do. I use Milton wipes or solution (diluted) and wipe anything that can be wiped except for multipack items, for which I just remove the outer packaging. I wear disposable gloves to do this.

Post is handled immediately with gloves, envelopes disposed of and then left aside for 3 days.

No. Completely bonkers.

No, nothing. I do focus on handwashing and hard surface cleaning generally, and I change my clothes when I come in from work.

Nope, just wash hands after.

No wiping here. We will quarantine stuff for a couple of days if we don't need it sooner.

Yes. Shielding group.

To all the people saying “madness, bonkers”, be kind to those who are doing to in the shielding group. Or the vulnerable group of the elderly etc. Washing your hands doesn’t stop the virus being on your food package which you then go back and touch. Yes if you’re going into a supermarket/working it the home you won’t be worried. But the competitive “I’m fine” and laughing at those doing what their doctors are telling them, to you know, not die, is just getting weird.

@CherryStoneTree part of the meaness comes from posters not realising that some people were told to take these measures and more long before Covid-19.

We're shielding here. We've been doing hand washing with soap and vegetables washing and peeling with water for some years since Dh condition. As advised by Dh consultant originally and reiterated. We absolutely don't use soap on food.

I have been but will probably stop. DH is a key worker and has to interact with people as part of his job. If we're going to get Covid, it'll probably be through him. None of us are in a vulnerable group and our area doesn't have that many cases at the moment.

I wash down everything, either in soapy water or with spray.

I thought it had been proven that the virus can live on cardboard and plastic surfaces for days, so unsure why some are saying it's a waste of their time. I imagine our supermarkets are absolutely crawling with germs at the moment.

It is greatly diminished though.

Madness and bonkers not to do something so very easy, I'd have thought.

We're quarantining packaged goods, washing the milk bottles (detergent and cold water). Normal water washing of fruit and veg as they're being cooked or peeled.

We put no perishables to one side for 2-3 days (2 for cardboard, 3 for tins) before using and throw fresh into the fridge after removing packaging. Frozen goes in a clean bank before going in freezer.

Wash hands frequently anyway when handling food as usual

And to the meanies, I do this in a pragmatic way because I’m vulnerable (weak lungs) and scientists believe the virus lives on surfaces. Up to 48 hours on cardboard and 72 on metal and plastic.

Minimal risk I know as I tell myself when I mess up but no harm in trying to be more cautious

You only need to wipe packages and deliveries down if you are or you live with someone in the vulnerable groups. Those people should have at some point been advised to do that and more.

I'm allegedly in the high risk group and should be shielding. The letter I have from the NHS says nothing about this and I certainly haven't been told by anyone else to do this.

One of the "experts" at the daily press conference was asked about this and he said it's not necessary to do this, but if it makes someone feel better, do it.

Yes. We wash fruit and veg and anything waterproof like tins in water with washing up liquid, then rinse.
Anything more porous gets wiped with antibac and we mop the floor after with a dettol solution. The floor is probably overkill, but it’s the cleanest it’s been for years!

For post, if it’s not important looking then it gets quarantined for a few days. If it looks more urgent then we discard the envelopes and quarantine the letter & wash hands after reading.

Yes, probably a bit much, but it doesn’t take very long, and if we’re bothering to lock down it’d be irritating at the v least to get the virus from a bit of shopping.

" No evidence" often just means that there has been no formal, published, controlled trial.
All the infection control studies that have been done have shown that the virus can live on hard surfaces for several days.
Any soap or detergent is extremely effective in destroying the virus.
So, for me, I would prefer to give anything that comes into my home a quick wipe, than put things straight into my cupboard or fridge.
But it is a personal choice.

@BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup @tobee yes, so many people have to live like this for extended periods and will have to do so after the rest of the world goes back to normal. Hopefully there will be less out breaks of flu and stomach bugs when the population keeps some of the hand washing skills it has learnt.

Yes, I wipe everything down with bleach water. It takes a bit longer but I know it's clean.

No I dont wash or wipe anything. If it was spread so easily that way then all the supermarket staff would have been struck down with it. I wash my hands, not the shopping

I thought it had been proven that the virus can live on cardboard and plastic surfaces for days, so unsure why some are saying it's a waste of their time

Correct, but that doesn't mean it is viable. The virus, any virus, starts to degrade the minute it leaves an infected persons body. Dry surfaces like paper and cardboard dry them out, hard surfaces are best for allowing them to "survive". However, even then if they are out in the environment, they don't last long.

However, even then if they are out in the environment, they don't last long.

They're likely to last longer on hard surfaces at low temperatures... does everyone who doesn't wash their milk bottles wash their hands after every time they have a cup of tea?

We've come across one or two intelligent people who didn't understand that whereas cold is excellent for limiting the reproduction of bacteria, keeping viruses cold generally prolongs their viability.

Interestingly I read a short article recently, can't remember where, that viable virus had surved in a freezer for about 5 days.

Hi op

Big range of opinion on the issue. Some bleach, some quarantine, some hang on the washing line (UV), some put in the oven, some do nothing and take their chances. There are valid arguments for all of these choices. Do what FEELS right for YOU.

@noavailablename yes putting stuff direct into fridge or freezer logically quite risky.