Health, Hygiene and Safety Tips for living under Coronavirus quarantine

[Deleted member 158085]

How Long Does COVID-19 Coronavirus Live On Clothes? How To Wash Them

Lol. From your link:

If you suspect contamination, take off your clothes as soon you can after the exposure. If the exposure occurred in a grocery store, do not do this immediately, as this may cause additional problems. Instead, wait until you are actually in a position to legally take off your clothes, such as when you reach your home.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Since our state has decided to "open" everything for business, I had our house cleaner back today! Yay! She is fine. She wore a mask while cleaning today...

I'm sure you did an exemplary job of keeping your house clean, but it must be very nice to have someone come in and do it for you DH and I call ourselves the "not-so-Merry Maids" as we make a sincere effort to keep our home clean during the pause in bi-monthly housekeeping. We're both handy with Swiffer floor cleaner (dry and wet), Swiffer dusting wand/cloths, Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, Clorox wipes for vanities and kitchen surfaces, and Windex for mirrors. We're managing, but it will sure be nice to have the Merry Maids back. Thankfully, spring has finally arrived in southeastern lower Michigan, and we can open windows to enjoy nice breezes and warm sunshine

 

[mickey2942]

@BetteDavisEyes thanks. It was great to have her back. And our choice to keep paying her was absolutely no problem for us, and she was very happy.

I am just so slow at everything now. I keep up with laundry and clutter. That is enough.

 

[charminglane]

I miss my cleaning lady.
Once a month.
I'm still paying her. I learned from my parents that that is how you treat people. We both have the same woman. They have her bimonthly.
Irma, I love you and miss you!

 

[ilovewings]

We filled our tank for the first time last week since lockdown. Self service, pay at pump and no human interaction. Hand sanitizer after using and then drive off. Restrooms? Maybe safer to just go behind a hedge.

I wish I could go behind a hedge: I have urinary, shall we say, difficulties, and I need to use the restroom a lot on the road. going behind a hedge won't get it- unfortunately. I am not that afraid of toilet seats per se ----I don't think anyone got the virus from a toilet seat but I still won't like using the rest rooms all that much. then there is the issue to getting food. Since we are in the vulnerable category I won't feel comfortable going into a restaurant; I think we will have to do take out and eat in the car. Then there is the issue of staying overnight in a hotel. I am sure the hotels will say they sanitize and all of that, but who knows. that makes me nervous.

 

[tresir2012]

I wish I could go behind a hedge: I have urinary, shall we say, difficulties, and I need to use the restroom a lot on the road. going behind a hedge won't get it- unfortunately. I am not that afraid of toilet seats per se ----I don't think anyone got the virus from a toilet seat but I still won't like using the rest rooms all that much. then there is the issue to getting food. Since we are in the vulnerable category I won't feel comfortable going into a restaurant; I think we will have to do take out and eat in the car. Then there is the issue of staying overnight in a hotel. I am sure the hotels will say they sanitize and all of that, but who knows. that makes me nervous.

Well it is certainly a long drive. With trains or planes the meals and toilet breaks are certainly easier. What are the states like regarding CV19 that you would have to drive thru ?

 

[ilovewings]

Well it is certainly a long drive. With trains or planes the meals and toilet breaks are certainly easier. What are the states like regarding CV19 that you would have to drive thru ?

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and finally Michigan.

 

[SA55]

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and finally Michigan.

how are you going to get from Georgia to Kentucky?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Anyone else getting "OCD" fatigue? I think that is what will refuel the next resurgence of the virus. Unless you are really focused on the 100% maintenance of not touching anything, not touching your face, wearing gloves, wiping everything, wearing a mask, avoiding all encounters with people...it is inevitable that people will start slipping up.

DH and I have had several conversations about this in recent weeks. I'm normally a homebody and could easily become even more reclusive if there is a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall. DH was tentatively planning to retire at the end of the year but has considered staying on and continuing to work from home. Now doesn't seem like the right time to retire, and as long as he can work from home, DH has offered to stick around in light of the current crisis.

Neither of us will have a problem wearing masks or gloves, and I just placed an order for both from our BCBS OTC catalog. It will be interesting to see if masks/gloves are available or out-of-stock. I worry about others not taking proper precautions, and I don't think the virus is going to magically disappear during the summer. People will become less cautious once everyone is allowed to resume somewhat normal activities, and that is likely to cause a resurgence.

Many people will likely want to go to movies, concerts, shopping malls, and other places where large numbers of people congregate. I have no desire to do any of these things and will avoid them at all costs. We'd like to go out to dinner occasionally but will make sure that restaurants are taking every precaution to keep guests safe. I don't want to fly, and I definitely don't want to get on a cruise ship. We had long planned a Mediterranean cruise for our 50th anniversary in June, 2021, but I've already told DH that I will be happy to spend several days on Mackinac Island instead. As much as we've enjoyed our cruise vacations, a ship is the last place I'd want to be if/when there's another COVID-19 outbreak

DH is anxious to get back to swimming, but I will probably not return to the gym any time soon. I suspended my membership two years ago when I was experiencing hyponatremia and haven't been back since. I hope to resume physical therapy for bursitis in my right hip that was discontinued due to the virus outbreak. When I can walk and ride my bike without discomfort, I'll consider returning to the gym. I'm not much of a swimmer, but I think I'd prefer getting into the pool and not touching gym equipment in the future.

Staying home, staying healthy, and staying safe will be easier for some than others, but it's going to be the new normal. For me, at least.

 

[anneg]

I wish I could go behind a hedge: I have urinary, shall we say, difficulties, and I need to use the restroom a lot on the road. going behind a hedge won't get it- unfortunately. I am not that afraid of toilet seats per se ----I don't think anyone got the virus from a toilet seat but I still won't like using the rest rooms all that much. then there is the issue to getting food. Since we are in the vulnerable category I won't feel comfortable going into a restaurant; I think we will have to do take out and eat in the car. Then there is the issue of staying overnight in a hotel. I am sure the hotels will say they sanitize and all of that, but who knows. that makes me nervous.

I feel the same way and have a significant urinary problem too --interstitial cystitis (IC), AKA painful bladder syndrome. My bladder lining has been damaged by the disease, my bladder capacity is small, and I need to be able to access a toilet frequently to avoid extreme pain from bladder filling. I have irritable bowel syndrome as well. So obviously travel is a big challenge for me.

At home, I can manage these conditions pretty well by following an IC diet and by taking medicines as needed. To make travel feasible, I have to be extra careful about what I eat and drink, restrict liquid intake, and take medicines as needed. By doing those things, in the past I've been able to take road trips (still with frequent stops) and trips by air (last trip was December 2019). But in the era of COVID-19, I don't think I'll be able to take another trip until the virus is eradicated or an effective, safe vaccine is available.

 

[katydid23]

I wish I could go behind a hedge: I have urinary, shall we say, difficulties, and I need to use the restroom a lot on the road. going behind a hedge won't get it- unfortunately. I am not that afraid of toilet seats per se ----I don't think anyone got the virus from a toilet seat but I still won't like using the rest rooms all that much. then there is the issue to getting food. Since we are in the vulnerable category I won't feel comfortable going into a restaurant; I think we will have to do take out and eat in the car. Then there is the issue of staying overnight in a hotel. I am sure the hotels will say they sanitize and all of that, but who knows. that makes me nervous.

I have never liked staying in road trip motels that much. The sheets and comforters make me nervous.

So I bring ours along. I throw a sheet over the top of the comforter on the motel bed. Then a top sheet and our own blanket on top of us. So we never sleep on or lay on their sheets or comforter at all....

 

[10ofRods]

I feel the same way and have a significant urinary problem too --interstitial cystitis (IC), AKA painful bladder syndrome. My bladder lining has been damaged by the disease, my bladder capacity is small, and I need to be able to access a toilet frequently to avoid extreme pain from bladder filling. I have irritable bowel syndrome as well. So obviously travel is a big challenge for me.

At home, I can manage these conditions pretty well by following an IC diet and by taking medicines as needed. To make travel feasible, I have to be extra careful about what I eat and drink, restrict liquid intake, and take medicines as needed. By doing those things, in the past I've been able to take road trips (still with frequent stops) and trips by air (last trip was December 2019). But in the era of COVID-19, I don't think I'll be able to take another trip until the virus is eradicated or an effective, safe vaccine is available.

There's an IC suffered in our family too and it's no joke. I feel for you. And there's very little spray lysol left - don't know how you'd feel about carrying a pump disinfectant and having a good supply of masks. We keep talking about the same issue. We're both willing to find places to "go behind a bush," but that's not always possible. We are starting to be resigned to staying home for at least another six months. I'm hoping California's less populated counties may provide some day trip destinations.

 

[Cool Cats]

I have never liked staying in road trip motels that much. The sheets and comforters make me nervous.

So I bring ours along. I throw a sheet over the top of the comforter on the motel bed. Then a top sheet and our own blanket on top of us. So we never sleep on or lay on their sheets or comforter at all....

Agree...I always use all my own bedding including pillows in a hotel. Otherwise I would rather sleep in the car.....

 

[10ofRods]

I have never liked staying in road trip motels that much. The sheets and comforters make me nervous.

So I bring ours along. I throw a sheet over the top of the comforter on the motel bed. Then a top sheet and our own blanket on top of us. So we never sleep on or lay on their sheets or comforter at all....

We've thought about a similar system, but worry about when and how to launder. My DH always takes the bedspread off and puts it in the closet, the sheets don't bother me as much - it's the blanket (so we bring a comfortable). At some point, I guess someone will do some studies on persistence of viruses on various kinds of cloth, but I'd guess those bedspreads would need to be on high heat in a drier for an hour or so. I'm not optimistic that motels will be doing that regularly. We do know that cloth masks need to be sterilized regularly.

DH started bringing his own pillow and I kind of thought that was overkill, but now I think that's prudent.

 

[anneg]

There's an IC suffered in our family too and it's no joke. I feel for you. And there's very little spray lysol left - don't know how you'd feel about carrying a pump disinfectant and having a good supply of masks. We keep talking about the same issue. We're both willing to find places to "go behind a bush," but that's not always possible. We are starting to be resigned to staying home for at least another six months. I'm hoping California's less populated counties may provide some day trip destinations.

I have a small spray bottle of homemade disinfectant (made with rubbing alcohol) for when we go out to pick up food or medicine and have some homemade wipes in a plastic bag (pieces of paper towels sprayed with the disinfectant). And I have two masks, a cloth one made by a kind friend and an antique N95 mask that expired at least 10 years ago, LOL. We found a package of three of those in my hubby's woodworking shop, but he says he never used that type for woodworking; so they must date back to work he did 20+ years ago.

I have had to use the bush method a number of times in the past and would prefer not to have to do that!

 

[CoverMeCagney]

We've thought about a similar system, but worry about when and how to launder. My DH always takes the bedspread off and puts it in the closet, the sheets don't bother me as much - it's the blanket (so we bring a comfortable). At some point, I guess someone will do some studies on persistence of viruses on various kinds of cloth, but I'd guess those bedspreads would need to be on high heat in a drier for an hour or so. I'm not optimistic that motels will be doing that regularly. We do know that cloth masks need to be sterilized regularly.

DH started bringing his own pillow and I kind of thought that was overkill, but now I think that's prudent.

Thinking about it, hotel pillows are probably the WORST thing to be rubbing your face on. All that saliva, sweat and snot seeping into the depths of the pillow stuffing, then getting hoovered back up as you breathe... euuuwww

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I miss my cleaning lady.
Once a month.
I'm still paying her. I learned from my parents that that is how you treat people. We both have the same woman. They have her bimonthly.
Irma, I love you and miss you!

That is very sweet of you (and mickey2942) When I spoke to one of the Merry Maids owners, she said that the ladies should be able to collect unemployment. I hope so. Some work full time and need the income. Some of the younger girls are college students who work part time while they attend school.

 

[slowpoke]

I have a small spray bottle of homemade disinfectant (made with rubbing alcohol) for when we go out to pick up food or medicine and have some homemade wipes in a plastic bag (pieces of paper towels sprayed with the disinfectant). And I have two masks, a cloth one made by a kind friend and an antique N95 mask that expired at least 10 years ago, LOL. We found a package of three of those in my hubby's woodworking shop, but he says he never used that type for woodworking; so they must date back to work he did 20+ years ago.

I have had to use the bush method a number of times in the past and would prefer not to have to do that!

Have any of you ever tried using a portable urinal thingie? Many moons ago when I was younger I got the Little John one with a female adapter and it saved me a few times. Good for camping or long road trips. I think there’s more types out there now for sale, maybe better ones. Might be work looking into? Guys pee into bottles or in the woods, why not women?

 

[PingTheRouter]

Have any of you ever tried using a portable urinal thingie? Many moons ago when I was younger I got the Little John one with a female adapter and it saved me a few times. Good for camping or long road trips. I think there’s more types out there now for sale, maybe better ones. Might be work looking into? Guys pee into bottles or in the woods, why not women?

or buy a she wee and pee like a guy!

 

[Tadpole12]

Have any of you ever tried using a portable urinal thingie? Many moons ago when I was younger I got the Little John one with a female adapter and it saved me a few times. Good for camping or long road trips. I think there’s more types out there now for sale, maybe better ones. Might be work looking into? Guys pee into bottles or in the woods, why not women?

Yes, it has always amazed me, how male drivers could piss in a big gulp type cup and then pitch the cup out the drivers window with no back splash against the car. (While doing 140 on the MacDC highway.)