My OH and I are self-isolating and my daughter is bringing us what we need. We are very lucky! When she comes over we can talk in the garden at a safe distance. What we are wondering is about the stuff she brings- is it all potentially contaminated and, if so, how long for? Also, we are lucky enough to have a swim spa and she would love to be able to use it. Would the chlorine in it effectively kill the virus?
It is so hard to get the facts rather than the myths isn't it?
Hi, there ....scientists have...
discovered the virus is detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
A myth buster I read said no, chlorine does kill off the virus, nor does heat.
I knew I had been reading how viruses and bacteria can lay dormant. I mentioned how scientist have been finding them in the ice in glaciers and the ice shelves. I don't know if any of this applies to covid as I haven't got the will to scroll through all the gumpf that comes up on covid that just covers the sane issues. But until told otherwise I won't trust my freezer as a way of killing the virus...🤪😉
There is an article in the New England Journal of Medicine with this information.
People are being advised to wear gloves , clean packages , tins etc and remove any outer packs they can from foods for the fridge or more personable packs and put them in Tupperware instead.
Fruit and veg should be washed or things like bananas , oranges etc wiped clean.
You can use washing up gloves , putting them on before bringing the bags off your doorstep.
Have a scarf on round you race if you need extra protection.
Use wipes , or have a bowl of water with a good few squirts if handwashing or antiviral wash in and use a well wrung out cloth that you can put in the wash after use. Have a teatowel if it needs drying but this teatowel will be washed after this job.
Before removing your gloves , put all packaging and the bags into the bin , even plastic bags for life . The bags can be used to double bag your rubbish.
If you used fabric bags put them in an airy porch away from foot traffic for the day.
After removing the rubbish give the surface or table your put the shopping on a good clean down .
Get the cloths you used and give them a good scrub in the bowl of water then put in the washing machine for your next wash or hang them out to dry.
Wash out your bowl with a good scrub and lots of water .
When all that's done , keep your gloves on but do the " Happy Birthday Song" wash while wearing them to be very sure they are clean . Give them a dry and put them away to one side .
Then do the Wash song on your hands , put the kettle on and have a well deserved cuppa!
These routines are more important for the Over 70's , and those that also have reduced immunity from any underlying health issue , including in recovery from a recent infection or injury that was not confirmed as Covid 19.
Under No Circumstances can you Daughter ,if she is not self isolating with you use your swim spa as you cannot be sure if she is carrying a virus of any sort even if she has no current symptoms. Swimming pools of every sort are shut for use for good reason.
To put it in clear terms , would you swim in the water that you had just used to clean your shopping in even if it had antiviral wash in it?
Your Daughter , in a way , will be like an item of shopping that has been in contact with the outside world but she can't be wiped inside and out with a cloth.
Hope that helps xxx
Very helpful thank you.x
Chlorine will not kill this virus. If it was that simple we would all be ordered to the local pool and the pandemic would be over. YBB
Pool chlorine may not, but bleach does.
I was reading something that said not at home freezer temps.
Can't find that, but if cold and snow cant kill it....
I wouldn't be sure what recommendations to do with that .
The virus naturally dies off if it has not got a host to attack rather than the virus being killed by freezing or extreme heat.
With these bread items , I generally leave them in the package they arrive in ( giving it a wipe ) on the side , then put the bread itself into different breadbags a little later, especially if they are still warm when they arrive .
I also allow things like cooked meats from the rotisserie to completely cool before cutting in portions and refrigerating.
If you were unsure , which we all are in this case, you could choose to put it in a new bag after wiping the original bag , leave it in the new bag for a number of hours , then separate into separate bags for freezing. I don't know if this is necessary , if it's right, or if it works, but it may give you more confidence. Or you could choose to buy pre packaged or part baked bread goods for awhile.
Part Baked can be frozen in their sealed packs and just taken out and baked fresh as you need one from the packet , makes the house smell relaxing too.
Just added stuff that may or may not turn out to be applicable to my original reply.
They don't need freezers in Siberia and upper climes.
Are you wiping with soap ??
You will be better with a cloth in soapy water. I remember reading the soap breaks down the fatty surface of the virus, but it takes a bit to "die", hence the 20sec min wash. I am on pred, a dmard, have diabetes and high blood pressure....I wear gloves and tip all the internal items onto a clean washed worksurface and bag the rubbish. I dump the gloves and wash my hands for 30secs, I have a spray bottle with washing up liquid and water and spray everything, wipe with soapy cloth and then dry it off or leave on a newly washed tea towel. I let it dry then put away. It didn't take long
It's sounds a lot to do, but I live alone, self isolated, no family within 150miles, so 95% of things will be coming from online shopping. I have a Tesco delivery on 9th april. I am hoping to have a box of organic veg delivered on weds. My view is if I am going to do all this messing I do it properly....but thank goodness it's not a daily task!!!
Took me about 35 minutes to put away three bags of home delivered shopping going through all these procedures yesterday. And I still have two parcels, one paper wrapped, one plastic, sitting on the sunniest windowsill for unwrapping tomorrow working on the principle that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Was pleased, though, to see that yesterday my postman was wearing protective gloves.
Now I'm not sure that I washed my washing up gloves after wards so have to do that now.
It does get easier. My latest oCD covid hint.....put a piece of paper or foil or whatever. The way the post isn't falling on soft furnishing. If you are hardwood floor that's great. A soap wash.
Wow...if he has self isolated for 14days that's amazing. I hope they enjoy the contact!!
It may be harder at the moment but you can get part baked , wholemeal , multi seed , sour dough and gluten free from most major supermarkets , and Iceland do bags of variety rolls in white , seeded and brown.
If you are stuck at home and fancy trying a bit of baking therapy you could try making your own and freezing par baked or baked too.
Kneading bread dough at a table is a really good exercise for RA , OA and the joints and back , plus you make your own treat as you exercise !😋😁😘
That's lovely. 💜
If you do find your hands and wrists get stuff and don't fancy baking in the future a big ball of salt or play dough with some baby oil and a little lavender oil played with and kneaded at the table can bring good relief and is relaxing too. Take care x
Um - not in northern China in winter!!
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