Are you still sanitizing your groceries and packages

[coffeebean]

I sanitized my last grocery items. I'm done. I've been reading that hand washing is key and sanitizing everything that comes through the door of your home is not really necessary.

Are you still sanitizing your groceries and all packages?

No need to wipe down groceries or takeout, experts say, but do wash your hands - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/health/groceries-takeout-coronavirus-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html)

[manaboutown]

I never did bother to sanitize anything from the grocery store, packages from Amazon, my mail and the like. I did set what I could aside for a day or two when I could.

I continue to wash my hands often.

[davem4616]

Initially we were leaving groceries that didn't need to stay refrigerated out in the garage on a table for a few days...but we are no longer doing that due to covid-19 concerns

Only once did I actually wash down packaged products brought in from the market

[Topspinmo]

Yes. I am clean freak anyway.

[Velvet]

Yes, my home is as decontaminated as I can get it. My hubby has comorbidities that make him vulnerable. Easy to decontaminate items. I put dishwasher liquid into water in my large sink. Submerge items that can go in water like plastic and put soap suds on anything else while they are on the counter. Then after a few minutes I wash off and dry. Nothing even the soles of my shoes gets in the house without washing. I think of it like getting rid of finger prints. I hear there is very little chance of contamination from packaging but later I can pull out the bread, the milk, my new paint brushes from Amazon etc anytime without thinking I better wash my hands now.
I made a mistake at first put too watery soap suds on bread wrapper and hubby complained about soapy baguette, so now I use abundant soap suds less wet on the wrapper. The bread stays dry. Hubby happy.

[photo1902]

No. A complete waste of time.

[Stu from NYC]

:coolsmiley::clap2:

Too funny.

We just washed our hands when we got home from shopping.

[golfing eagles]

I sanitized my last grocery items. I'm done. I've been reading that hand washing is key and sanitizing everything that comes through the door of your home is not really necessary.

Are you still sanitizing your groceries and all packages?

No need to wipe down groceries or takeout, experts say, but do wash your hands - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/health/groceries-takeout-coronavirus-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html)

Never did, never will. If you want to know why, just google the studies on surface to human transmission of COVID-19

[Topspinmo]

No. A complete waste of time.

For you :icon_wink:

[collector0915]

Since we started social distancing back in March, My wife and I continue to wear masks and gloves while out shopping. We always sanitize our groceries with disinfectant wipes prior to putting them into our car and do the same when we receive mail or packages. We are comfortable with these procedures and will continue this practice for the foreseeable future.

[coffeebean]

Since we started social distancing back in March, My wife and I continue to wear masks and gloves while out shopping. We always sanitize our groceries with disinfectant wipes prior to putting them into our car and do the same when we receive mail or packages. We are comfortable with these procedures and will continue this practice for the foreseeable future.

Gee, that seems very cumbersome. When I was sanitizing groceries, I would set aside a section of my kitchen countertop for all the groceries to land once they were brought into the house. I would sanitize each item than place it on another section of my kitchen counter top. Once all items were sanitized, I then sanitized the kitchen counter top that was "contaminated". It really wasn't too bad but I'm done with all that now. I knew that time would come and it has.

[John41]

We are still sanitizing groceries and wiping off kitchen surfaces for the next few months. Plan to get pneumonia and flu shots too. Still wearing masks and wife also wears gloves. Frequent hand washing also.

[queasy27]

I've stopped doing it as well. Same with mail. I put all outside items on the glass-topped table in my breakfast nook, unpack or open, then disinfect the table and wash my hands.

I am Clorox-wiping my phone and laptop/tablet/mouse more frequently that I used to before COVID, plus doing the doorknobs and light switches as party of weekly cleaning.

BTW, if anyone still needs disinfectant or hand sanitizer, send me a message. I bought a gallon of sanitizer and two bottles of that concentrated Lysol that makes several gallons. It's a lot!

[USAmerican]

Yes,
Along with all the other precautions. After all there is no practice life., it's live.

:icon_wink:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I never started.

[SharonW]

Yes

[600th Photo Sq]

I sanitized my last grocery items. I'm done. I've been reading that hand washing is key and sanitizing everything that comes through the door of your home is not really necessary.

Are you still sanitizing your groceries and all packages?

No need to wipe down groceries or takeout, experts say, but do wash your hands - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/health/groceries-takeout-coronavirus-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html)

Well good for you . I never did , I wore a mask, tossed out most of the plastic bags. Kept what I needed, tried to practice social distance. Both my wife and I.

Truthfully this will go gone down in history as the biggest over rated panic of all time.

My wife and I will begin tomorrow to live our lives as before.

Basically go to Hell Covid -19 and the Protesters . As for the trouble makers " Go Ahead Make My Day ". If ya get the drift.

[Schaumburger]

I was sanitizing my groceries for about 2 months, but now I've stopped. I do wash my hands frequently and wear a mask while shopping (which is mandatory in Illinois where I live). I cannot talk my 90 year old father into wearing a mask while he is grocery shopping. :( He will wear a mask when he has a doctor's appointment, then it is mandatory.

I have quite a supply of hand sanitizer, but getting Clorox type wipes in the Chicago area is not easy. I know there are ways to make Clorox type wipes with bleach and paper towels. I have also a stockpile of masks, both cloth and disposable.

I still work full-time, but have been working from home since mid-March (which was mandated by the state of Illinois until May 29). My employer is now letting employees who wish to return to the office to work 2 days a week maximum, with employees divided into 3 teams for their assigned work in the office days. Employees must wear a mask in the office if we step away from our desk. When I return to work in the office 2 days next week, I am expecting quite a few changes in the office environment.

My sisters say I am obsessed with masks. I guess I am. I think the administrators of TOTV need to create a face wearing a mask emoji just for me. LOL.

[Leadbone1]

I sanitized my last grocery items. I'm done. I've been reading that hand washing is key and sanitizing everything that comes through the door of your home is not really necessary.

Are you still sanitizing your groceries and all packages?

No need to wipe down groceries or takeout, experts say, but do wash your hands - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/health/groceries-takeout-coronavirus-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html)

Never did. Never wore a mask. Never bought into the paranoia.

[Miguel 1952]

I never sanitized groceries, mail, etc. Paranoia! Oh, yes I lost a bundle in my 401k.

[Rickg]

Well good for you . I never did , I wore a mask, tossed out most of the plastic bags. Kept what I needed, tried to practice social distance. Both my wife and I.

Truthfully this will go gone down in history as the biggest over rated panic of all time.

My wife and I will begin tomorrow to live our lives as before.

Basically go to Hell Covid -19 and the Protesters . As for the trouble makers " Go Ahead Make My Day ". If ya get the drift.

I hope you’re right. But many of us have immune issues etc. We will continue to sanitize and hope that people like you will at least wear masks when in public for OUR safety.
We don’t go into stores unless absolutely necessary.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The latest that I've heard is that the chance of contracting the virus by touching a surface is very low.

[TandHSTAR@AOL.com]

I am done as well. Wash my hands before I put groceries away then after.

[Girlcopper]

I sanitized my last grocery items. I'm done. I've been reading that hand washing is key and sanitizing everything that comes through the door of your home is not really necessary.

Are you still sanitizing your groceries and all packages?

No need to wipe down groceries or takeout, experts say, but do wash your hands - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/health/groceries-takeout-coronavirus-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html)

Yeah, I still wash them down even just a damp wipe with paper towels. May not be sanitizing but its something

[Down Sized]

I never did bother to sanitize anything from the grocery store, packages from Amazon, my mail and the like. I did set what I could aside for a day or two when I could.

I continue to wash my hands often.

As of today there are 7,000,000 people globally that wish they had done more sanitation and used better preventative tactics! Then there are 402,000 people who won’t ever get another chance.
We are still doing everything we can to beat the ODDS.

[NY2TV]

I've got lots of time on my hands lately. So I figure why not waste on that!

[NotGolfer]

Never did, never will. If you want to know why, just google the studies on surface to human transmission of COVID-19

I'm with you on this one G.E....never did before and won't start now. We've been sure to wash our hands after being out, which is always what we've done and being careful. (....and I'm one of the folks at risk they speak about).

[pattytracey]

Never did only wash hands no masks either

[Dave Laluk]

I still wear a mask in public, wash my hands frequently and disinfect my groceries and packages. While the probability of contracting the virus from a package is low, it's not zero. These practices are a little inconvenient but they help reduce the risk for you and others.

Think about this. If you stay safe, you also help protect your family. My daughter had a baby a little over a month ago. Her doctor recommended that she and her husband remain completely quarantined / isolated for the first month. No visitors in the house, including family. In order for us to go into the house just to hold our new grandson, my wife and I had to quarantine ourselves for at least two weeks. Which we did. Well worth the effort to make sure our kids and new grandson would remain healthy. During this same period, my mother passed away. We couldn't even hold a funeral for her.

When you decide not to follow CDC and WHO recommendations, you affect more than yourself. The life you save may just be someone in your family.

[coffeebean]

I still wear a mask in public, wash my hands frequently and disinfect my groceries and packages. While the probability of contracting the virus from a package is low, it's not zero. These practices are a little inconvenient but they help reduce the risk for you and others.

Think about this. If you stay safe, you also help protect your family. My daughter had a baby a little over a month ago. Her doctor recommended that she and her husband remain completely quarantined / isolated for the first month. No visitors in the house, including family. In order for us to go into the house just to hold our new grandson, my wife and I had to quarantine ourselves for at least two weeks. Which we did. Well worth the effort to make sure our kids and new grandson would remain healthy. During this same period, my mother passed away. We couldn't even hold a funeral for her.

When you decide not to follow CDC and WHO recommendations, you affect more than yourself. The life you save may just be someone in your family.

Condolences to you and your family in the loss of your mother.

I don't think the CDC or the WHO ever did include sanitizing groceries in their guidelines. I Googled that and could not find CDC guidelines to sanitize groceries.

When this pandemic started is when I began sanitizing all groceries and packages that came into our home. I did that on the direction of a doctor I saw in a YouTube video. He said it would be a good idea so I did it.

[Rzepecki]

Ditto.

[hamsterfay]

We do & will continue for the time being. We bring bags into the garage & wipe each item down with our diluted bleach spray solution & a rag, then hand to the other to put away. Doesn't take long & makes us feel better about any item that may have been touched by multiple people (or even coughed or sneezed on by someone without a mask). We no longer "quarantine" our mail but do wipe down delivered boxes. I've always been a germaphobe so this pandemic sure didn't help!

[Michael Charles]

I spent 30+ years in the restaurant business. I learned early on the benefits of cleaning/sterilizing containers and surfaces. We used a bleach solution to clean most things and I continue today practicing those sanitizing habits.

ALL canned goods as well as ALL pre-packaged items are put into corrugated cardboard boxes (cases) then sent to warehouses waiting to be sent to various locations. ALL of those warehouses have some level of rodent problems, no matter how small the rodent problem is, those rodents will ultimately urinate or defecate on those cases of product, any product.

That is why we always sterilize our canned goods including beer and soda cans. The boxes that cereal and crackers etc. come in not so much because of the product us in a plastic bag so we just discard those outer cardboard boxes then put the bags in the cupboard.

We will eliminate most of any concerns coming into the house.

Its not about Covid19, it's about food safety for us.

[VillageLiberal]

I sanitized my last grocery items. I'm done. I've been reading that hand washing is key and sanitizing everything that comes through the door of your home is not really necessary.

Are you still sanitizing your groceries and all packages?

No need to wipe down groceries or takeout, experts say, but do wash your hands - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/health/groceries-takeout-coronavirus-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html)

Yes, still sanitizing with a spray bottle of bleach solution, let it sit for about a minute, then wipe down and put it away. Wash fruits and vegetables. Then wash counter tops and hands. Florida has had 4 days of over a 1000 new cases per day, surges in Marion and Lake, about 100 hospitalizations per day in Florida, so I'm sticking with it for a while.

[rmd2]

I never sanitized my groceries. I did wash my hands a lot. Used hand sanitizer and wore a mask. That's it.

[LG999]

I have always washed my fruit & veggies bcs they are handled by various people, travel to get to a store, handled again, sit out on display tables for a while until they go into your cart, then they are on the cashier counter.
I always wash them as soon as I get them home. Virus or not

[Neils]

Yes I still take precautions. The virus has not gone away and is still able to harm you.

I also put on my seatbelt even if no accident has happened for over 6 months.

Stay safe for yourself and others.

[theruizs]

We still do for now. I had gotten a hydrolizer before the covid-19 lockdown and use it hydrolize water with pure salt (and a little white vinegar to help lower the ph). It works similar to a salt water pool except the resultant ph is much lower, around 5, and the free chlorine level is 200ppm. So it has the same sanitizing power as bleach would, but much less harsh. We use it to spray and sanitize groceries, mail, countertops, etc. We were using it for cleaning kitchen surfaces even before covid-19 and we will keep using for that.

[Joe C.]

Washing my hands is all that I have done since this situation began. No wearing of masks, and because everything shut down, there wasn't much socializing. I am in the "high risk" group, but when I analyzed everything that was "recommended" by the media, I realized that it was way more than what was needed. The only advice that made sense was washing your hands and keeping them away from your face.

[Professor]

Personally I don't think the "experts" really know everything there is to know about this virus. They keep changing their opinion on what transmission is all about. With a spouse who is at risk I say it does no harm, and in the off chance it does some good, I'll take the extra time to wipe things down. Her life is worth more than a few minutes of my time... Everyone has the option and can do it or not do it...

[BeauJangles]

We are still sanitizing groceries and wiping off kitchen surfaces for the next few months. Plan to get pneumonia and flu shots too. Still wearing masks and wife also wears gloves. Frequent hand washing also.
Ditto here except no gloves.

[Rosebud1949]

If you think the groceries are "clean" why wash your hands !!!!... Ask ourselves "just how many hands" have the groceries been thru......Covid is an "unseen" virus.. and as the CDC still have no clue about its REAL spread, ( changing their advice weekly) you have 2 choices.... be safe and sanitize or spread it to others by not caring.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Personally I don't think the "experts" really know everything there is to know about this virus. They keep changing their opinion on what transmission is all about. With a spouse who is at risk I say it does no harm, and in the off chance it does some good, I'll take the extra time to wipe things down. Her life is worth more than a few minutes of my time... Everyone has the option and can do it or not do it...

I don't think that it's so much that they are changing their opinions. I believe that they are learning new things about this virus every day. They are dealing with something they've never dealt with before and are giving us the best information that they have at the time.

[coffeebean]

I spent 30+ years in the restaurant business. I learned early on the benefits of cleaning/sterilizing containers and surfaces. We used a bleach solution to clean most things and I continue today practicing those sanitizing habits.

ALL canned goods as well as ALL pre-packaged items are put into corrugated cardboard boxes (cases) then sent to warehouses waiting to be sent to various locations. ALL of those warehouses have some level of rodent problems, no matter how small the rodent problem is, those rodents will ultimately urinate or defecate on those cases of product, any product.

That is why we always sterilize our canned goods including beer and soda cans. The boxes that cereal and crackers etc. come in not so much because of the product us in a plastic bag so we just discard those outer cardboard boxes then put the bags in the cupboard.

We will eliminate most of any concerns coming into the house.

Its not about Covid19, it's about food safety for us.

I must be immune to rodent urine and poop. I've never sanitized anything that I brought into the house before this pandemic. I can count on three fingers how many common colds I've had as an adult and can remember only one cold with a 102 fever for a couple of days so I guess that was a mild flu.

Glad I've stopped sanitizing for this new corona virus. I'm going back to my old ways.

[coffeebean]

I have always washed my fruit & veggies bcs they are handled by various people, travel to get to a store, handled again, sit out on display tables for a while until they go into your cart, then they are on the cashier counter.
I always wash them as soon as I get them home. Virus or not

I have always rinsed apples with water prior to the pandemic. While I was sanitizing all my groceries, I would wash the apples with Dawn dish washing liquid and rinse really well with water. I've read that it is not good practice to use soap on produce but why not? I had always heard that Nuns used to wash your mouth out with soap when you said a curse word. Everyone still alive? I think so.

Now, I'm back to just rinsing apples with water.

[coffeebean]

We still do for now. I had gotten a hydrolizer before the covid-19 lockdown and use it hydrolize water with pure salt (and a little white vinegar to help lower the ph). It works similar to a salt water pool except the resultant ph is much lower, around 5, and the free chlorine level is 200ppm. So it has the same sanitizing power as bleach would, but much less harsh. We use it to spray and sanitize groceries, mail, countertops, etc. We were using it for cleaning kitchen surfaces even before covid-19 and we will keep using for that.

The only thing that worries me about this practice (for me) is that my very strong immune system will not remain strong. The immune system needs to be challenged to stay strong and boy have I challenged my immune system over the years! Don't want to put it to sleep now when I need it to stay strong more than ever.

[PugMom]

Yes, my home is as decontaminated as I can get it. My hubby has comorbidities that make him vulnerable. Easy to decontaminate items. I put dishwasher liquid into water in my large sink. Submerge items that can go in water like plastic and put soap suds on anything else while they are on the counter. Then after a few minutes I wash off and dry. Nothing even the soles of my shoes gets in the house without washing. I think of it like getting rid of finger prints. I hear there is very little chance of contamination from packaging but later I can pull out the bread, the milk, my new paint brushes from Amazon etc anytime without thinking I better wash my hands now.
I made a mistake at first put too watery soap suds on bread wrapper and hubby complained about soapy baguette, so now I use abundant soap suds less wet on the wrapper. The bread stays dry. Hubby happy.
you reminded me of a story re: disinfecting shoes. when i worked as a veterinary tech, we used to keep a small pan of h20 & regular bleach in front of the isolation ward door. (maybe an inch of liquid max.) we stepped into the pan, waited a few seconds, then proceeded on our way. we would bleach anything possible-it was the 1 disinfected we could count on to kill just about anything.

[patfla06]

I still wear a mask in public, wash my hands frequently and disinfect my groceries and packages. While the probability of contracting the virus from a package is low, it's not zero. These practices are a little inconvenient but they help reduce the risk for you and others.

Think about this. If you stay safe, you also help protect your family. My daughter had a baby a little over a month ago. Her doctor recommended that she and her husband remain completely quarantined / isolated for the first month. No visitors in the house, including family. In order for us to go into the house just to hold our new grandson, my wife and I had to quarantine ourselves for at least two weeks. Which we did. Well worth the effort to make sure our kids and new grandson would remain healthy. During this same period, my mother passed away. We couldn't even hold a funeral for her.

When you decide not to follow CDC and WHO recommendations, you affect more than yourself. The life you save may just be someone in your family.

I’m so sorry about the loss of your Mom.

Our son and his wife have a 2 week old. We are both at home and both got whooping cough vaccines.
We will finally go down and see her when she’s a month old.

Stay safe.

[La lamy]

Never did. Still washing hands SO OFTEN though, and wearing mask while shopping.

[kendi]

No, I never started sanitizing anything that came into the house.

[coffeebean]

you reminded me of a story re: disinfecting shoes. when i worked as a veterinary tech, we used to keep a small pan of h20 & regular bleach in front of the isolation ward door. (maybe an inch of liquid max.) we stepped into the pan, waited a few seconds, then proceeded on our way. we would bleach anything possible-it was the 1 disinfected we could count on to kill just about anything.

Knowing me, I would probably have slipped and fallen with wet soles.

[Velvet]

I have a basin near the door with a small amount of bleach and water just enough to soak the soles not the leather of the shoe. When I come home off comes the shoes or sandals and they go in the basin. Later, when I remember, I take them out and place on shoe rack. Takes a few seconds, keeping hubby as safe as possible, he likes to walk around bare feet inside.

[yankygrl]

NEVER sanitized them from the beginning, just washed my hands when I got home, also used my own bags.

[JSR22]

I ome.have never sanitized anything coming into our home.

[yankygrl]

Did you do this BEFORE COVID, if not then why now? I walk around barefoot in my house all the time, shoes come off soon as I get in from garage.

[yankygrl]

Velvet, did you clean like a maniac before this virus because your hubby has comorbidities? He was just as susceptible then as you believe he is now.

[Velvet]

Did you do this BEFORE COVID, if not then why now? I walk around barefoot in my house all the time, shoes come off soon as I get in from garage.

Yes, I take my shoes off just didn’t put them into water before. It was how people kept their homes clean in Hawaii. Why bleach? The ground is where the droplets fall and collect. Outside the sun really helps, in stores, not so much.

I would do just about anything for my hubby, he deserves it.

[Hopeful2]

As of today there are 7,000,000 people globally that wish they had done more sanitation and used better preventative tactics! Then there are 402,000 people who won’t ever get another chance.
We are still doing everything we can to beat the ODDS.

Well said! We're with you! :bigbow:

[talleyjm]

I noticed wearing gloves went by the wayside first and now I’m seeing less and less masks on folk, young and old. I never got into the wiping down stuff that came into our home. I wear a mask when shopping or when I’m in close proximity to others. My husband has underlying health issues so I’ll continue to wear a mask for awhile, maybe until the end of the year. I won’t be first in line for the vaccine either though because, like not buying a car the first year it comes out, I want to see what the side effects are. I’ve lost all faith and trust in the medical experts.

[talleyjm]

Everyone will do what they think is best for them. Remember, this too will pass❗️

[Aloha1]

I walk around barefoot in my house all the time, shoes come off soon as I get in from garage.

Same here. In Hawai'i it's mandatory :) Slippahs off when entering someone's hale.

[ts12755]

No one I know ever sanitize things coming into their house. Just sanitize your hands before touching your nose or mouth or eyes

[Spikearoni]

I have always rinsed apples with water prior to the pandemic. While I was sanitizing all my groceries, I would wash the apples with Dawn dish washing liquid and rinse really well with water. I've read that it is not good practice to use soap on produce but why not? I had always heard that Nuns used to wash your mouth out with soap when you said a curse word. Everyone still alive? I think so.

Now, I'm back to just rinsing apples with water.

Safe way to wash fruit is with vinegar; then rinse with water.

[coffeebean]

Safe way to wash fruit is with vinegar; then rinse with water.

What type of vinegar? Would white distilled vinegar be OK?

[Foxtrot]

Vinegar is not useful, soap is much better.

Vinegar is diluted and in water much more so.

Please don't depend on vinegar to kill a virus.