Health, Hygiene and Safety Tips for living under Coronavirus quarantine

[Betty P]

I usually call Purple Heart for home pickup. They call when they're going to be in the area, but I haven't heard from them in months. I always keep large trash bags and/or boxes with items to donate. I hope they'll resume pickups in the fall.

The veterans charity pickup recently began again in our area. I always put out a couple of bags for them. Goodwill also reopened, and I'm dropping off some old furniture at their drive up door next week.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I'm on the board of our 300+ homes HOA. We decided to forego our neighborhood garage sale this year. We're also trying to make people practice social distancing at our park, playground, swim area. It's not easy and people become a little over-confident, but we have to do it.

Our local public school system has decided to allow students to return to school if they wish and I fear its going to trigger a major outbreak in our city.

Our schools have been back 2 weeks. They've set up a bit of a fluid schedule. Next week one of the elementary schools is e learning due to staff quarantine.

Basically, there are assigned seats everywhere. Classes, bus, cafeteria. If a student tests positive those assignments are pulled and a radius of students are put on home quarantine and e learning for 2 weeks. It's complicated and new. We will see how it goes.

 

[roche.analisa]

You might see if either the Paralyzed Vets of America or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will pick up from you.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Does anyone have a source for bleach wipes?

I know how to make my own. But I'm looking for fancy store bought ones.

 

[Betty P]

Does anyone have a source for bleach wipes?

I know how to make my own. But I'm looking for fancy store bought ones.

Clorox said they won't have any until 2021. The material they use for the wipes is also used for PPE

Clorox says disinfectant wipes shortage may last until 2021

The local big box chain near us, Giant Eagle, said they got in some of their own name brand clorox-type wipes the other day, but they were gone by afternoon. The employee who told me said the best thing is to visit stores first thing in the morning. They don't always know what will be coming in, either, but as soon as they arrive they put them on the shelves.

How are the home made ones working? I was thinking of trying the paper towel plus bleach water recipe.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Clorox said they won't have any until 2021. The material they use for the wipes is also used for PPE

Clorox says disinfectant wipes shortage may last until 2021

The local big box chain near us, Giant Eagle, said they got in some of their own name brand clorox-type wipes the other day, but they were gone by afternoon. The employee who told me said the best thing is to visit stores first thing in the morning. They don't always know what will be coming in, either, but as soon as they arrive they put them on the shelves.

How are the home made ones working? I was thinking of trying the paper towel plus bleach water recipe.

I honestly just use a weak bleach solution and a white washrag.

I make the bulk of my cleaning stuff, though.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I used to make homemade baby wipes. At the time, there was a Rubbermaid (#11 I think) container that fit a 1/2 roll of paper towels. You had to cut the roll in half back then. They have perforated rolls now (Brawny brand).

You mixed a little liquid baby soap with water, poured it over the roll and let it sit. Once the cardboard center was soaked, you lifted it out. To use them, you pulled from the center where the cardboard tube was.

You can do the same thing with bleach and water. If you use a sturdy brand of paper towels, you should be fine.

 

[Betty P]

I used to make homemade baby wipes. At the time, there was a Rubbermaid (#11 I think) container that fit a 1/2 roll of paper towels. You had to cut the roll in half back then. They have perforated rolls now (Brawny brand).

You mixed a little liquid baby soap with water, poured it over the roll and let it sit. Once the cardboard center was soaked, you lifted it out. To use them, you pulled from the center where the cardboard tube was.

You can do the same thing with bleach and water. If you use a sturdy brand of paper towels, you should be fine.

Thanks, that's the recipe I saw. I wondered if the paper towels fell apart after sitting in the solution for a while. Well, I'm going to try it anyway.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I've been buying unscented baby wipes in big containers and pouring alcohol in the container. I keep a stash in my purse in a zip lock, too.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I've been buying unscented baby wipes in big containers and pouring alcohol in the container. I keep a stash in my purse in a zip lock, too.

I bought a 3 pack of unscented baby wipes for less than $5 about 2 months ago. I have one in my console, one in my beach bag and an extra one at home. I pop one out, put a little hand sanitizer on it and go in the store.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Thanks, that's the recipe I saw. I wondered if the paper towels fell apart after sitting in the solution for a while. Well, I'm going to try it anyway.

No mine didn’t. You don’t really need much water if I remember right. I’d make a couple containers a week and they didn’t dry out either. Now with alcohol or bleach they might dry out a bit quicker I guess.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Does anyone have a source for bleach wipes?

I know how to make my own. But I'm looking for fancy store bought ones.

When DH and I were at Salvaggio's (local international market where we get most food items) on Friday, I looked around for one of the store managers that I know. Didn't see anyone but plan to ask if they could offer disinfectant wipes for customer purchase. They featured locally-produced hand sanitizer that seems to have sold out very quickly. We have several canisters of Clorox wipes but are using them up quickly. I've stopped using them to wipe bathroom vanities and only use them in the kitchen. I checked my laundry room closet to see what cleaning products we have, and we are alright for a while as long as we have paper towels. I also bought a dozen diapers some years ago and use them for many cleaning projects.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I've been checking the websites for several school districts and private/parochial schools in Oakland County, Michigan. Our local school district will offer online learning only for the first semester (through end of January). Second semester to be determined based on state and local spread of the virus. There are at least two other school districts that will offer online only for the first semester. Two districts are offering online or in person learning, or a combination of the two. Not sure how this will work, but registration for the various options will take place in the next two weeks. Online instruction will be the same as what is being offered in the classroom, so children will progress at the same rate from home or in the classroom.

So far, only one private school has announced full in-person reopening after Labor Day. Massive campus with multiple buildings and small teacher/pupil ratio, so this school will probably not encounter any problems with students in all grade levels (pre-K through 12th grade) learning in person. Other local private and/or parochial schools haven't yet announced their reopening plans, but I will continue to check websites to see what they will be doing. Whatever course schools take, I hope and pray that teachers, staff, and students will be safe and that Michigan doesn't experience a surge in cases once the academic year commences.

 

[weepingangel]

We’re at least 5 years overdue Something else usually takes priority
Someone mentionEd cost- ours is 375$ for 15 yards.
Have some junky old furniture to go among other things.

to keep on topic- should I keep all the “back up” school supplies (folders notebooks paper) at this point Youngest is a senior.
I have maybe a big shoebox full. But could use the space.

On topic since my pick up is on corona hold - how’s the experience with facebook marketplace? I haven’t sold since Craigslist. Pre “yard sale app” days. Smaller stuff. Legos, Playmobile, video game crap etc.
(Again my youngest is almost grown so we’re way overdue for a clean out lol)

I'm kinda jealous. We need a dumpster in the worst way.

 

[CSIDreamer]

We’re at least 5 years overdue Something else usually takes priority
Someone mentionEd cost- ours is 375$ for 15 yards.
Have some junky old furniture to go among other things.

to keep on topic- should I keep all the “back up” school supplies (folders notebooks paper) at this point Youngest is a senior.
I have maybe a big shoebox full. But could use the space.

On topic since my pick up is on corona hold - how’s the experience with facebook marketplace? I haven’t sold since Craigslist. Pre “yard sale app” days. Smaller stuff. Legos, Playmobile, video game crap etc.
(Again my youngest is almost grown so we’re way overdue for a clean out lol)

My husband has bought several things off marketplace. Porch pickup with $ put between the door. If you're on FB see if your town or county has a yardsale or "buy sell trade" page, too.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Garage sale update: Very light traffic so far this morning. No cars parked anywhere near our house. Looking up and down our street that is the main entrance into the sub, no one on our side of the street seems to be open for business. On the other side of the street, one house to our north and one to the south. Maybe there are actually folks who think that a garage sale during a pandemic is not a good idea for homeowners or shoppers.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

There were a couple of busy hours - from 10:00 until 1:00 - but now there is very little traffic through the neighborhood. In addition to the subdivision garage sale, there is also an estate sale on one of the cul de sacs. When DH and I left for the grocery store just before noon, there were a lot of vehicles parked around the corner leading that house. One house on our side of the street near the entrance to the sub having a sale. It looks like we might be getting a pop-up shower, so maybe folks will wait until the storms pass.

 

[acutename]

I'm on the board of our 300+ homes HOA. We decided to forego our neighborhood garage sale this year. We're also trying to make people practice social distancing at our park, playground, swim area. It's not easy and people become a little over-confident, but we have to do it.

Our local public school system has decided to allow students to return to school if they wish and I fear its going to trigger a major outbreak in our city.

or you could be in my area where all playgrounds are cordoned off with caution tape; pools are technically allowed to be open with restrictions but many were just closed ... probably safer but I really feel bad for the parents who need to explain to their 4 yr olds every day why the slide is now totally off limits, and we pay for these amenities - no lessening of fees, however, they cannot be used.

 

[Betty P]

or you could be in my area where all playgrounds are cordoned off with caution tape; pools are technically allowed to be open with restrictions but many were just closed ... probably safer but I really feel bad for the parents who need to explain to their 4 yr olds every day why the slide is now totally off limits, and we pay for these amenities - no lessening of fees, however, they cannot be used.

Yes, I'm uncomfortable with the current situation. Fortunately the swim lake will close soon, as it's the end of the season. JMO the playground should close, too as schools are preparing to reopen here and I'm expecting an outbreak of new cases as a result.

 

[mickey2942]

My neighbors are having a yard sale today, too! Insanity!