If you're getting ready for the possible return, have you given any thought to decontamination when you get home?

[Dilbertian]

In the 80s I used to wear a boiler suit as clothes (we were so cool ) Strikes me that they would be ideal to wear to work: strip off as soon as I get home, straight in the laundry while I go up for a shower.

I haven't felt the need to be so cautious after my occasional day with a tiny handful of semi-sensible KS2 keyworker children. But what's coming is different.

Are you making any preparations to do things differently to look after yourself and your family?

Sort of.

Will circulate 5 jersey dresses and two pairs of sandals, and wash them every day. Not going to wash myself any more than normal I don't think.

Although at the moment I'm not due back in school. So, we'll see.

DH strips at the door when he gets in (positive moment in lockdown times ) then leaps in the shower. Clothes then get washed. No idea if this limits contamination but it makes me feel better.

If I have to go in (don't know yet because in vulnerable category) I will strip inside front door, put clothes in washing machine and have a shower. Will also make DS do same if he goes back to school.

I wash all my clothes, bag (this is the most annoying as have to use cloth shopping bags and repack each day), everything that went to school (flask, water bottle etc) and wipe down steering wheel etc in car. It is an additional stress but then when you have had four year olds climb all over you all day it is worthwhile.

Not looking forward to when this reverts back to being in every week rather than a rota, I get extremely anxious about it all.

And I thought I was odd for stripping at the door! Partner, kids and I all do that if we have been anywhere with other people, so school and supermarket for me, supermarket for partner and kids when they had to go to the doctor. I'll continue that when we are back at work. I'll probably change shoes to drive and keep them in the car too; I haven't noticed a spitting problem with our vulnerable students but our usual cohort in Year 10 are disgusting and spit everywhere norally. I don't expect much difference now sadly.

I was wondering about this as well. I'm a dinner lady, sorry Lunch Supervisor, at a primary school will probably have 2 work outfits and wash each day ( if I can fit into any of them). Just wondering how I'm going to cut the kids food up and social distance? - any suggestions

I'll be in either FS or KS1. Social distancing? Ha. Ha. Ha. We will be doing social bubbles. Bring back the pinny, I say. I'm also used to wearing the same pair of trousers 2 or 3 times over a week or so, and cardigans multiple times. So this is going to need rethinking.

I'm in a special school KS1 and FS 2 days a week now. As advised by school I go straight into house, dont touch kids. Strip, shower, clothes into washing machine and clean clothes. It becomes the new normal very quickly. No social distancing in my school.

I'm in special school. When I was in on rota we had to change outfits before we left school, and were told to wash at 60, and shower and hair wash as soon as we got home. Now more students are in after half term, we are also asked to arrive in a 'home' outfit and change once at school. Including shoes which we can leave at school. No jewellery including watches, hair tied back. Also required to work with bare forearms.

I wonder how long the virus survives on fabric. I haven't been able to find any info about this. There is some evidence that the smoother the surface it lands on, the better it survives undisturbed. For days on glass and steel, for a few hours on cardboard. Fabric was not tested.

When I get home from school I strip off at the door and put everything into the washing machine straightaway, then I go straight upstairs to shower. DH opens all the doors for me and I wash my hands when I reach the bathroom first, so I can touch the shower and fan switch and shower screen. I even put a towel on the car seat so when I come home from work I'm not sitting directly on the seat, then the towel goes in the wash too every day. I am constantly hand washing and using anti bac during the day, including wiping down the inside of the car and the keys and handles when I get out at home.

Sounds OTT I suppose, but it makes us both feel a little better about my going in. DH suffers from terrible anxiety so it helps him relax a little.

In through the garage, strip off next to the washing machine (door left open ready) clothes all straight in the machine without touching the outside of it. Straight into downstairs shower (doors left open ready) wash, wiping taps at the same time. Then dressed, back to washing machine to switch on.

I've just checked all my school clothes and they are all to be wash at 30 or 40 degrees.
What are you wearing that can be washed at 60 without trashing it please @raspberryrippleicecream?

I've thought about changing clothes immediately after coming home and putting them into the wash, then having a full body and hair wash in the shower. I really like wearing nice things but now I'll have to think about what can be washed regularly and won't get piled or bobbly as easily.

We certainly don't need to wash our clothes at 60C. Detergent destroys the virus's outer layer very quickly, which kills it, and the residues are washed down the drain. High temperatures are not necessary for this process. In any case, most domestic machines do not keep the wash at that temperature for long enough to kill microorganisms.

The dc are asked to bathe and have clean clothes every day when they go into Their school. Dh is a keyworker as well so our routine is he showers at work, clean clothes and out his clothes straight in the wash on hot and with a drop of disinfectant (he’s prison service so does have contact with sick people).

When I pick the kids up, I put us all straight upstairs. We strip in the bathroom and clothes in empty wash basket. All of us bathe and have clean clothes. I wipe round everywhere before i leave the bathroom. Dried and changed. Then gloved, take wash basket down to washing machine. Everything goes in and on 40 wash again with a drop of disinfectant. Wipe over the machine buttons etc and the wash basket.

Kids leave their lunch bags and shoes in the porch when we come in and I deal with them later. My bag stays in the car. Anything we touch when we come in gets wiped over with cleaning spray. So car keys, phone and my ID card.

It might seem excessive but it helps me feel a little more in control and the dc worry less about catching the virus.

User1055 joggers and t-shirts. We don't have a requirement for formal clothing even normally. Though l'm not normally in joggers. I'm going back in cotton 3/4 trousers that I think will be ok.

Our updated risk assessment for return has been amended to say wash as hot as possible according to manufacturers instructions.

It did feel overkill Dilbertian.

It is still an absolute rule we have to change before leaving. School provides red dissolving bags for this.

Cleaning my phone and ID badge - a good point, thank you.

Personally I won't bother. I'll wash my hands obviously and tie my hair back.

This has given me pause for thought:

1. Teachers often have to comply with dress codes that may not be frequent-wash friendly.

1. Children are in uniform and as sure as eggs is eggs the trousers/skirts/jumpers/blazers aren't getting a wash every day.

I thought I was unusual stripping off and straight into the shower once home. All my things go straight into the washing machine- I've got two outfits now strictly for work that will be alternated. It's a pain washing my hair daily but it makes me feel better. If we do get any classes back, children are being asked to come into school not in uniform but in clean clothes every day.

@echt - at the moment both staff and pupils at mine and my DC's schools are wearing their casual clothes. It's much easier to keep on top of the need for clean clothes daily this way. The men at the secondaries certainly aren't wearing their usual suit and ties although the women may wear their more normal work attire if it's less formal.

Our students aren't going to wear uniform either, they are being asked to come in clean, casual clothes each day.

Thanks for the feedback.

My school has instructed full dress code for staff on return (not a ridiculous one, but still).