I am focusing this post on how to clean and disinfect your kitchen, and some ideas for unprepared people and what they can do. I will also provide some DIY solutions (pun intended) and techniques to keep you and your family safe through cleaning appropriately.
These thoughts are NOT for quarantined, actually sick people as that requires very serious disinfectant cleaning and separation protocols. Here, I am speaking to those of us stuck at home for several weeks, in reasonable health, and want to continue to keep safe.
Fear + Panic Buying
Covid-19 continues to spread, and I am fully aware that the combination of fear and anxiety can make many of us lose sight of reasonable responses, and focus on “me and mine”.
While I do not understand the panic TP and ammo buying, my view on our new reality is that there has been, and will continue to be, overbuying and hoarding of items we all need. As I wrote, in the Zombie Apocolypse post, we should stock up on necessary food, medicine, and cleaning supplies to last several weeks, just in case we get the disease and need to self-quarantine. Unfortunately, greed in some, and fear in others, has left us all, temporarily, facing empty shelves.
All indications are that our food systems, and USA-made goods are in the pipeline — no major food shortages are expected at this time. There may be rationing, but that will be to ensure everyone gets access to necessary food and supplies. In fact, the messages from everyone I reviewed indicated there is plenty in the system. (Not sure drivers are still working though, but the food is being produced.)
A Matter of Morals
My personal sense of moral obligation, in times like these, are summed up by a few points.
- If you are already stocked up, stop buying!
- Other people in your community need similar goods
- Stores should limit purchases of common-good items
- If your neighbor needs help, help them if you can
- Share your yard produce
- Skip the stocking of guns + ammo
Definitions
CDC: Current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.
- Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
- Cleaning can be wiping down debris or washing
- Cleaning with hot water and soap does kill the virus
- Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
- Disinfectants must contain alcohol at 60% to 95% concentrations, usually isopropyl alcohol, but may also be ethanol (ethyl alcohol) or n-propanol.
- Using disinfectants also kills the virus
Doing one or the other is important, but doing both is considered deep cleaning.
Cleaning + Disinfectants
The cleaning process for counters and kitchen work surfaces is similar to what we normally do as home cooks. Please note it is important that you follow this process in order. The reason is that, for example, if you use a bleach-based spray on a dirty counter some of the bacteria in the dirt may “eat” the bleach and thus it becomes ineffective.
- I use the soft side of a sponge (or cloth) to wipe the counters down. The goal is to get rid of debris and obvious messes.
- Depending upon your counter top, use the bristly side of a sponge (or 3M’s Scotch-Brite scouring pad) to gently scrub the counters or cutting boards with soapy water.
- Then go over the counters with a kitchen towel (or rag) to sop up the soapy water, and put the towel or rag into the dirty clothes pile.
- Clean the sponge (or scrub pads) by putting it in the microwave for a minute or two (be careful, it can get really hot, especially if wet)
- Clean towels or rags by washing in hot water with detergent and then using the dryer set to hot
- Finally wash your hands once again to make sure they are clean.
Soap + Water
Many experts are saying that detergent or soap and hot water is one of the most effective ways to get rid of COVID-19, and as such are pushing everyone to vigorously wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. The reason it is such a good virus killer is that the soap dissolves the fatty layer that coats the virus.
If brand name cleaning supplies are not available, buy what you can, but remember there are alternatives to brand-name products. Since soap and water will kill the virus, consider making your own soap spray.
- DIY Soap Spray: 2C distilled water + 2T Dawn (dishwashing detergent) + ~15 drops tea tree oil
- I like using tea tree oil for its smell and its disinfectent properties
- If you do not have the essential oil, use your tea tree shampoo (like I show above) or liquid tea tree soap
- I use Dawn, although any dishwashing soap will probably work, because it is good with oil dispersement so I know it is strong
- You can use distilled or boiled water, just want it clean and not directly from the tap
Hand Disinfectants
Hand gels and general disinfectants are great if no sink is around, but do not replace soap and water in terms of efficacy. If you cannot find any hand disinfectants (like Purell) at your local store, make your own.
- HealthLine Isopropyl Hand Gel Disinfectant: 3C isopropyl alcohol + 1C aloe vera gel + ~15 drops of tea tree oil
- Adding the aloe vera will help make it a gel, and help soften the impact on our drying hands
- This works best if it is tea tree oil only, if a soap or shampoo you will have to rinse your hands under running water
Wipe + Spray Disinfectants
Make your own sanitizing spray, that if sprayed onto a paper towel becomes a wipe.
- CDC Bleach Spray: 5T bleach + 1 gallon water put into a spray bottle
- WHO’s Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant: 1⅔C alcohol + 2t glycerol + 1T hydrogen peroxide + ¼C distilled water.
- Some are considering using the clear spirit Everclear, in place of rubbing alcohol since alcohol is currently so hard to find. I do not know if this works, but make sure it has enough alcohol content in the 60-90% range.
If cleaning with a disinfectant do not wipe it up, spray and let it air dry as that is the most effective way to kill the virus.
Cleaning Hands + Kitchens
CDC advises everyone wash their hands as frequently as possible for at least 20 seconds with hot, soapy water. For a super, duper cleaning of counters, do the soap and water, and then follow with a disinfectant wipe or spray.
Do your normal kitchen cleaning such as wiping counters, cutting boards, floors, counters, dishes, and food. But expand your cleaning to also wipe the door handles, fridge and cabinet handles, light switches, and fixtures. Especially keep your fridge, stovetop and sink clean.
Consider cleaning dishes, utensils, and pots/pans in the dishwasher rather than hand washing. The studies show that detergent and heat kills the virus, so use hot water and make sure the dryer feature on your dishwasher is active.
Wash your rags and kitchen towels each day in hot water and detergent, and use both the clothes washer and dryer. Also wash around where you keep your dirty clothes. In my case I have a linen bag-lined hamper and we wash the bag once a week. Remember to not shake dirty laundry so the virus is not tossed about into the air.
Shelter in Place
Now things have changed again, and during this pandemic we should anticipate daily changes while folks figure this out.
I am in one of the counties in California, just like in parts of Italy, that has a “shelter in place” command (soon to be followed by others). We are to stay home except for gathering necessary supplies, doctor visits, and the like. Luckily I have prepped, just as I suggested you do a couple of posts ago, but there still are options for those who did not plan.
Food Shopping + Delivery
The USDA has stated othere is no indication the virus spreads through food or food packaging. However, CDC says the virus stays on surfaces from hours to days. Because of this contradictory messaging I would err on safety.
Grocery Shopping
Even in “shelter in place” areas there are exceptions for going to the grocery store. If you decide to go out to shop for groceries, I would go with a list of MUST HAVES, but be open to whatever they have on the shelves.
If you have wipes, or the store provides them, wipe down the cart handles. Then when done shopping, clean your hands with Disinfectant Gel before you sit behind the wheel to drive home.
If you use your reusable bags, consider washing them or spraying them with a disinfectant after your trip. Otherwise, ask for paper and recycle immediately. (While shopping last week, there was an announcement that all paper bags in the store were gone. So expect issues if you rely on the paper bags.)
Restaurant Pre-Delivery Instructions:
If you need to order food delivery, consider asking that the delivery person call you when they arrive at your house and leave the food on the porch (if you have one). That way you are ready to get your food once they are safely 6’ away.
Also ask that they not include any napkins or utensils, it is safer to use your own.
Restaurant Delivery Food:
Remove the food from the delivery bag, and dump into your home dishes; tossing or recycling all of the delivery materials. Then wash your hands, and all the counter space the delivery materials touched.
Right now I would not order cold foods (sushi, salads), only hot foods that I can toss into the microwave to heat it up, and hopefully destroy any viruses introduced while cooking or packing.
Boxed Food Delivery:
There are many options for boxed food delivery. You can order regular groceries on line, or you can arrange with farmers to receive weekly boxes of produce. Find out what is available in your area and consider having them do the porch delivery so you can maintain distance.
Many of the food delivery places have posted their COVID-19 plan on line to show they are taking all possible precautions with food and their delivery.
- I ordered boxed groceries from Amazon once as a test. I ordered regular groceries, including milk. Since I did not do the picking, the milk and other items had the next day as the expiration date. So think carefully what you need and order.
- The only boxed produce I have ordered was a monthly Harry&David delivery. Great service, expensive, and good food.
Local vendors and farms can provide the same service. And since they are growing the food, you are more likely to get it rather than just a notice of “not currently available.“ Just remember to follow your normal kitchen process of cleaning the food.
Food Pickup:
Some people are ordering restaurant food online and picking up their food via drive throughs. Follow the same cleaning process as described above.
If you are going to do this, and you are sick, be sure to wear a mask and gloves so you do not pass it to the drive-through window person.
Direct Online Ordering:
Order canned, bottled, and boxed food directly online from the manufacturer. Smaller companies tend to do this, more than larger companies. So try contacting them directly online.
I will keep blogging and passing on, what I hope are, helpful information and ideas regarding my interest in all aspects of food. Please keep safe.
— Patty
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TIP: Stay safe and stay home as much as you can right now as the pandemic ramps up in the USA. We have a very uncoordinated national response, but luckily local response have been better organized. Keep up social distancing, keep washing hands, stay home if you can, and utilize social media to stay connected to your community. Remember you are not alone in this, although separated we are in this together. Stay in contact.
Great guidance.