Just curious, are you wiping down your groceries? (685 views)
applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on May 13, 2020 19:14:19 GMT -5
I was speaking to someone today and they were downright shocked I wasn't wiping down my groceries given the situation.
I sometimes do it (but I think really more so the first time I went out), but only on certain items (typically cans). And my last few shopping trips I don't think I wiped anything down -- just lots of hand washing. I buy lots of produce so many of those items I can't (bag of Halos) or won't wipe down. I read that if you want to be extra cautious go right ahead. If its a non-perishable, I sometimes leave it in the bag for awhile but some of that is that I just need to rearrange my cabinet. So clearly not consistent and no real rationale (other than I'm not wiping down an eggplant etc).
I do lots of hand washing etc before/after handling. And I think more risk in door knobs, elevator buttons, just being out etc etc. This whole thing is mind boggling.
Wearing a mask is a requirement here.
I did see a video that someone left their groceries in the garage after wiping down --- for a few hours. And this including dairy. I'm thinking she's more likely to get food poisoning. And some were using soap etc to clean veggies.
I will say my amount of times going food shopping is way down -- in the past, I would often go to pick up something when getting off the train etc.
Wonder what you do?
Take care!
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Post by wallycat on May 13, 2020 21:43:39 GMT -5
I don't wipe groceries down. I put away when I get home and wash my hands. I probably should wash my door handles/knobs, but I wear nitrile gloves in the store. When my groceries are in the car, I take off my gloves and remove my mask. When I pull in, I unload, then wash my hands again. Most stuff will sit in the fridge for a few hours (at least) and in the cabinets for 24 hours (typically) and the virus just doesn't last that long on things. I'm also hopeful that any UV exposure in my car that hits the top of the bags will kill anything there.
I don't wash my mask. I have a coffee filter mask I re-use. I leave it in the car and if it is there for 24-48 hours, I consider it OK to reuse.
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Post by PattiA on May 13, 2020 22:43:59 GMT -5
For shelf stable stuff, I set these things aside on an extra set of shelves in the basement for at least 24 hours. Refrigerator stuff goes directly into the basement fridge. I ask for paper bags when I shop and those get set aside in the garage for a few days before they get moved to our reserved stock of paper bags or to the recycle bin. If I end up with plastic grocery bags, those are also set aside for later recycling. My hands are raw from the amount of washing they are getting.
My first post Stay At Home shopping trips we did wipe down everything that we could. But we are no longer doing that.
Our masks get washed in the sink, wrung out and hung to dry every time we use them. I keep disinfectant wipes (though I am very low on them right now) and hand sanitizer in my car.
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gilgamesh37
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Post by gilgamesh37 on May 14, 2020 11:02:55 GMT -5
Honestly, I think there's been very little evidence that contact transfer is much of a risk here--yes, the virus *can* live for varying number of hours on various different surfaces _in a laboratory setting_ but it doesn't seem to be happening much in the real world. So I'm pretty unconcerned about contact transfer, and not wiping down groceries or packages or anything else. I do Clorox wipe a couple doorknobs at my work every morning (the ones I use most often, which are public doors---and mostly because it's a hospital, where I feel we're at greater risk anyway). I strongly feel the real risk is person-to-person transference (and the graphs, numbers, and anecdotes seem to be supporting that theory) is the real risk, so I am being diligent about wearing a mask when I'm in public and keeping 6' away from other people as much as possible, and washing my hands as soon as I get home. Our state has just reopened restaurants with I think it's 50% occupancy limits, but we'll be sticking to carry out for quite some time, I think. Also not going to get my hair cut or colored anytime soon, although salons are reopened as of tomorrow.
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Post by soupandstew on May 14, 2020 11:22:40 GMT -5
Initially I did wipe down cans, bottles etc. but I no longer do that. I use hand sanitizer as soon as I get in the car and wash my hands at home before and after unpacking and storing groceries, and wipe down the counter where I sat the bags with Lysol which I've always done because I have to set the bags on the ground while opening the door to the house. I've always rinsed all fruits and produce with plain water before using because many nasty things can lurk on them, including a lot of dirt especially on the farmers market stuff that is straight from the field.
I am absolutely dedicated to wearing a mask anytime I am outside my home. We wash our masks frequently. I usually do not wear gloves except when I shop at an Asian market because they are required along with masks. Restaurants here are open at 25% capacity, but many are violating that; some restaurants chose to remain open throughout the shutdown as a protest and they had good-sized crowds. I won't be getting a haircut in the foreseeable future, or dining in. We do take-out from those places offering a minimal contact way to pick up the food.
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Post by wallycat on May 14, 2020 12:33:42 GMT -5
Gilgamesh is correct, at this point, contact transfer is rare. Sure, if you knowingly touch an infected spot and rub your eyes, nose or mouth, that's not the same as handling things, then washing your hands in case there *may* be anything to transfer.
THe new studies say that aerosolized (when speaking, etc.) particles can live up to 8 minutes in the air. Masks help but cannot 100% eliminate the risk.
Interesting interview from the doctor that was the premier expert (and actually went there to help) for the ebola crisis...he was on a packed plane (all medical staff traveling to an area to help) and 3 days later, came down with it. He did all the "right" things, clearly a bright virologist, yet still....that I did not like hearing but facts and science are more important than not knowing, IMHO.
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Post by karenw on May 14, 2020 19:01:51 GMT -5
I think my approach is similar to Wallycat. I do not wipe down groceries either. I do wear gloves in the store, but these are not necessary according to the "experts." But if they remind you not to touch your face, then they serve a purpose. Aside from the employees in the grocery stores that are there all day, grocery stores are not a high risk source of infection. Restaurants, however, are a higher risk. I am so surprised, Gilgamesh, that any state would consider opening them at this point. Just angers me. Maybe for distanced outdoor seating but indoors with poor air circulation with people eating/talking is flirting with disaster. Back on topic, I also just focus on washing hands etc... when I get home and social distancing, mask wearing etc... out in public. I also try to minimize my trips out. Lately it has been 1 every week or every other which is up from 1x every 3 weeks in the beginning.
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Post by wallycat on May 15, 2020 12:18:33 GMT -5
I agree, if you wear gloves but touch your face, there is no point. I wear the gloves so that I can wash my gloved hands over and over if I need to and not dry them out and irritate them. If there is nowhere to wash, then I can remove them before heading home.
The virologist was interviewed again and said he suspects that due to the close quarters in a plane and the way air circulates, he probably had the transfer through his eyes. Lovely.
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Post by soupandstew on May 16, 2020 15:26:08 GMT -5
I agree, if you wear gloves but touch your face, there is no point. I wear the gloves so that I can wash my gloved hands over and over if I need to and not dry them out and irritate them. If there is nowhere to wash, then I can remove them before heading home. The virologist was interviewed again and said he suspects that due to the close quarters in a plane and the way air circulates, he probably had the transfer through his eyes. Lovely. I saw that interview and his statement was very troubling. For the first time in my long life, I am 100% grateful I have to wear glasses. No, they don't provide the protection of goggles, but they do offer some barrier. |
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charley
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Post by charley on May 23, 2020 16:06:33 GMT -5
Never wiped down anything. I do wear a mask and keep hand sanitizer in the car. I wash my hands as soon as I get home. Gloves would drive me crazy. First thing I do after using hand sanitizer is remove my mask so I can blow my nose. That's the most irritating thing about wearing a mask; my nose inevitably runs.  |
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Jul 9, 2020 11:49:54 GMT -5
no I have never wiped them down.
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