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Covid

Gloves when shopping

79 replies

Tootingwife · 11/05/2020 16:19

Have generally been wearing gloves for shopping to help avoid transferring contamination back to my car (obviously I’m washing my hands when unpacking and handling groceries at home but that doesn’t work out and about). However, it seems to me that fewer people are using either gloves or a mask where I live.

Curious to who how many others on here are still wearing gloves or, if you’ve now stopped doing so, why?

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Makeuptherules · 11/05/2020 18:11

The fact that airports are now making you wear them speaks volumes!!

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Tootingwife · 11/05/2020 18:24

@SpiderPlantSally “As soon as you've touched the trolley, you've potentially got germs all over your hands, and by default, your shopping.”

Agreed - so I don’t want to also transfer the germs to inside my car. Hence the gloves!

OP posts:
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minisoksmakehardwork · 11/05/2020 18:28

Gloves at airports are more likely to be part of the process of stopping people bringing infection in and passing it on than stopping that person picking a virus up. If they are already infectious but don't know it, by putting gloves on and not touching themselves they are much less likely to leave the virus for another person to pick up.

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Bluebellpainting · 11/05/2020 18:30

Agreed - so I don’t want to also transfer the germs to inside my car. Hence the gloves!

But unless you take your gloves off in a certain way you will contaminate your hands anyway. At work we are shown how to take our gloves off to minimise this and then wash our hands anyway. You are just better sanitising your hands before you get in your car with alcohol gel.

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NannyR · 11/05/2020 18:31

I don't use them as I don't have enough pairs to use them properly - for example, if I use them whilst shopping, I'm stopping my skin getting contaminated whilst selecting shopping and pushing the trolley and filling up the shopping bags, but I'm still transferring virus between the trolley, the shopping, the bags etc from the gloves. Then I take the gloves off at the checkout to handle my card and purse, but contaminate my hands again once I start pushing the trolley and loading the bags into the car.

Instead, I take a bottle of hot water, some soap and a towel with me and wash my hands thoroughly after I've loaded up the shopping in the boot, before I get into the car and start touching steering wheels etc. I've not been washing or disinfecting the actual shopping, but just making sure I'm washing my hands frequently when getting it in and out of cupboards.

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Northernsoullover · 11/05/2020 18:37

@Bluebellpainting I see many superior glove wearers assume that the rest of us don't know how to remove them safely. They have had training and are special don't you know?
I know how to remove them safely FFS but instead of going all superior maybe just guide them? Its not fucking rocket science is it?
If anyone wants to know how to remove them safely there is plenty of information online. It'll probably take you around 30 seconds to learn this impressive skill.

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Sunshinegirl82 · 11/05/2020 18:43

I just do the shopping as normal, load directly into the boot. In the boot I keep hand sanitiser and Milton wipes. Sanitise hands, Milton wipe key and bank card. When I get home I wash my hands, put the shopping away and then wash my hands again.

I don’t wash shopping or change my clothes or anything so that’s job done!

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teenagetantrums · 11/05/2020 18:50

I don't wear gloves. I don't wash my shopping. I don't wear a mask. If I'm going to get coronviris I'm probably going to get it from care home where l work. Or from my Dp who works in a supermarket. I can't worry to much. But l would add if you use your hands to that of gloves then virus is on your hands.

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Bluebellpainting · 11/05/2020 19:05

@Northernsoullover but many people don’t know this. I’m in no way superior just pointing out that unless you take them off in a certain way you will contaminate your hands anyway so you may as well just wash your hands or use anti-bac. Sorry if that comes across in the wrong tone- it wasn’t meant in a way to sound superior. If you have watched a video and make you feel safe brilliant but gloves are of limited use as others have pointed out.

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TabbyMumz · 11/05/2020 19:34

I wear gloves because I dont want the germs from the pin code pay machine on my hands. As soon as I get to the car and put shopping in the boot, the gloves come off. Therefore no germs from the shop on my steering wheel, gear stick or door handles. I disinfect the car keys too. It makes sense.

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TheSpottedZebra · 11/05/2020 19:40

I wear yellow rubber gloves as I have a dreadful habit of rubbing my eyes (hay fever!), and touching my face and hair. The gloves stop me doing that.
I take them off like a person with common sense after I've touched the handle of the car, then I hand sanitise before touching the wheel.

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darceybusselllovesbrussells · 11/05/2020 19:45

To those who are wearing gloves, please explain how it's better than thoroughly sanitising your hands with alcohol gel when you've finished whatever task you've worn the gloves for? The virus doesn't enter your body through your skin. Gloves or not, if the virus is in the surface you touch, it ends up on your hands. Taking them off just gives you one extra task to do before you can clean your hands.

I don't get it!

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TabbyMumz · 11/05/2020 19:57

Darcy....I dont know if you've noticed by sanitizer gel is really hard to get hold of these days. I happen to have a small bottle, so after taking gloves off, I use it aswell.
I dont know why you think people think the virus enters via the hands? I dont know a single person who thinks that. Its merely to ensure the germs from the supermarket dont end up in my car. Can you explain how the virus ends up on your hands if you've worn gloves please as to me that doesnt make sense. Gloves are a barrier.

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Thesispieces · 11/05/2020 20:00

I wear gloves and treat them as my hands. Wash and /or sanitise gloves hands whilst I shop until I get home then discard. It saves the skin on my hands.

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ruddydogg · 11/05/2020 20:09

I don’t trust myself not to touch my face so the gloves act as a reminder not to.

I wear a mask because of hay fever & frequent sneezing - thinking about me being asymptomatic 🤷‍♀️

My routine is gloves & mask on in car after parking at grocery store. Only take bank card In back pocket & car key with me.

Upon returning home, key & bank card get left in a container at the door and then mask & gloves come off.

I feel safer knowing I can wash my hands at home as many times as I like. Haven’t been able to hand sanitiser & not sure having to open my bag with “contaminated” hands to get out sanitiser, use, replace in bag then close bag would keep my hands sanitised.

I just imagine having wet paint on my hands and touching my bag, sanitiser bottle, phone, keys etc - I’m trying to do what’s I think is best for me and not really concerned what others do, except for the sneezers. They really bug me!

My routine will become unsustainable shortly as currently I only use my car once a week to grocery shopping so will have to think of another way.

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Northernsoullover · 11/05/2020 20:21

@darceybusselllovesbrussells if I wear gloves and a mask I am made aware of my hands going up to my face. I'm always touching it Sad. Its a physical reminder not to absent mindedly touch my face. It works.
I take them off after putting stuff in the boot. So my hands are clean when I drive home. I have an anti viral spray in the car for my keys and hand gel. Its probably overkill but it makes me feel in control.
I'm quite the slattern at home Hmm

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BruceAndNosh · 11/05/2020 20:26

Unless you've been taught proper infection control using PPE, most general public haven't a clue how to use gloves.
Apart from the fact that you'd need a couple of dozen pairs between Home >Tesco> Home

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TabbyMumz · 11/05/2020 21:26

"Unless you've been taught proper infection control using PPE, most general public haven't a clue how to use gloves.
Apart from the fact that you'd need a couple of dozen pairs between Home >Tesco> home"
Of course us minions cant figure out how to put on or take off gloves...that's a laugh. We dont need dozens of pairs at all. Put on a pair as walking into Tesco, take them off when you come out?!

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darceybusselllovesbrussells · 11/05/2020 21:27

@TabbyMumz then just sanitise your hands before you get into the car if you have sanitiser, then you have clean hands, no nasties have got into your car, but you haven't had the faff of taking off (correctly) and disposing of the gloves.

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TabbyMumz · 11/05/2020 21:29

Theres no faff, trust me, they come off correctly in one flick of the wrist. Never any harm in being sure. I dont think hand sanitizer is 100 per cent proof is it.

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darceybusselllovesbrussells · 11/05/2020 21:36

@TabbyMumz hand sanitiser is a hell of a lot more effective at decontaminating your hands than wearing gloves is.

This is an interesting article. The takeaway messages;

  • gloves are only useful to remind you to not touch your face.
  • they may give a false sense of security
  • if you've been wearing gloves, you need to treat your hands as dirty or "hot" until you've removed the gloves and washed your hands


www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a32058081/does-wearing-gloves-prevent-coronavirus/
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TabbyMumz · 11/05/2020 21:37

darceybusselllovesbrussells

@TabbyMumzhand sanitiser is a hell of a lot more effective at decontaminating your hands than wearing gloves is.

But I'm doing both.

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MollyAtTheFolly · 11/05/2020 21:39

There was a lady at the supermarket today wearing a mask... under her nose! I couldn't stop looking at her and wondering what she was thinking. I was too much of a coward (and socially distanced Grin ) to point it out though.

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derenstar · 11/05/2020 21:48

I used to wear gloves shopping but recently stopped for many of the reasons already stated. Every time I looked at my phone or went into my bag to get my purse or glasses, I realised I was transferring whatever was on my hands which I guess is a bit pointless. I hand some Sanihands anti bacterial hand wipes from Costco that I carry around with me which are great for wiping things down on the go I also use hand sanitizer if offered and wash my hands thoroughly as soon as I get home.

We do wipe the shopping down with anti bacterial wipe when we bring it in. Not sure if it makes any real difference but it’s a just in case thing.

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BruceAndNosh · 11/05/2020 22:00

@derenstar. Exactly!
How do you pay wearing gloves? Transfer shopping to car? What do you do with the trolley?

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