We are living through some uncertain times with the COVID-19 infection spreading like wildfire. It is OK to feel a little frightened right now, but do not panic. There are things you can control that will help with that overwhelming feeling you may be experiencing. There is so much beyond our control. But, the good news is, there are many things you can do in your daily life that may protect you. Keeping busy helps to mitigate those feelings of uncertainty.
We have all heard the CDC’s recommendations for how to avoid infection: staying home, practicing social distancing, washing hands often (especially before leaving home, when returning home, prior to touching or preparing any food items, etc), avoiding touching your face, avoiding contact with those who are sick, staying home if you are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces daily (this can practically be a full-time job in itself!). Don’t forget the hand lotion! With all the hand washing we are doing, lotion is going to become your best friend. Especially if you are using hand sanitizer frequently. Keep a tube next to your sink for ease. Just don’t forget to sanitize that tube often as well. See the CDC.gov website for more details on all of their recommendations.
There is a ton of information out there floating around. Most of it is only slightly credible or not credible at all. So be careful, choose information from trusted sources like the CDC or WHO. Also, check information from other reliable sources such as the LA Times, the Washington Post, the New York Times and VOX. Today I checked out VOX which had extensive information about cleaning to keep our living spaces safe. Then I went to the CDC website for safety recommendations for our daily lives. These are printable in a poster format that are easy to read and understand. I will be starting a notebook with this valuable info and will be adding to it as the weeks progress.
A couple of quick points from Vox–with all the shortages, many are trying to substitute one product for another. For example, washing your hands with dishwashing liquid if you run out of hand soap. Yes, this is ok. However, trying to substitute with something like bleach? NO and no, and no. Some cleaners are not interchangeable, not meant to be used for unintended purposes, so for safety sake, check out the websites for these products. Please be aware that products that have bleach, alcohol or ammonia are some of the most dangerous products we use for cleaning in our homes. Improper use can result in death. Also, the use of bleach in a cleaning product will probably fade the surface you are using it on.
What do I use on a daily basis? Generally, I use vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, dishwashing liquid, and steam. Now I will be substituting rubbing alcohol as my disinfecting spray if I can ever find some again. It is simple, quick, and will make me feel safer as I go through the house. And for those of you who have old cloth diapers on hand, like me, these are my favorite cleaning cloths. They are bleachable in the washer, and are soft, so I prefer them to microfiber cloths.
For most things, I find it easier to spray my cleaning cloth, it does a better job of going around small things, especially those that are too small for my arthritic hands to navigate. Also, I have discovered that starting with one wall and working around the room works best for me. But I suggest that when you work your way around the room, stop and look around. Otherwise, I find that I have neglected too many surfaces that I did not think about. You do you, choose a system that works for you.
You will want to start in your kitchens and bathrooms, disinfecting your faucets, sinks, and toilets. Sinks should be done on a daily basis, even without coronavirus. And for those of you who use those nice smelling sprays on your toilets, you have already discovered that in addition to that lovely smell, your toilet stays cleaner for a little longer.
Most of us have electronics that we use multiple times a day. These, too, need to be disinfected. Lightly spray your cleaning cloth and gently wipe the surface of your e-reader, phone, tablet, and notebooks. Don’t get your cloth overly wet, it’s not good for your electronics.
Many of us, especially our elders, take some form of medication or vitamins on a daily basis. Please wipe down the surfaces of pill bottles and dispensers. There may be equipment like CPAPs, walkers, canes and crutches, wheelchairs, and oxygen concentrators and tanks that should probably be wiped down with disinfectant as well. Please note that CPAPs require their own cleaning routine. If these items have routine use, they will probably need to be disinfected on a daily basis. Much of this is used by those over the age of 60, our population that is most vulnerable to COVID-19.
As you work from room to room, concentrate on light switches, remote controls, phones and their chargers. In the office, pay attention to your computer screen and keyboard, and items like scissors, staplers, pens, and pencils. Don’t forget the door handles in each room and then there is that pesky doorbell outside. You should probably pay some attention to your vehicle as well–door handles, buttons for the radio, heating and cooling systems, those quirky little storage spaces between the seats, and glove boxes if you use them often. And don’t forget your keys, steering wheel and gear shifters, as well as the rearview mirror, and the seatbelts.
In the bedroom, you should wash your bedding on a sanitizing cycle if your washer has one. If not, use the hottest cycle your machine has. Do this once a week.
Do you know the dirtiest, germiest thing we come in contact with? Money! So always, always, wash your hands after handling money. By the way, there are UV cleaners out there for phones. These cleaners will eliminate 99.9% of bacteria. Most of them can also be used for credit and debit cards, keys, etc.
One thing that has not received much attention is this. And yes, we will admit that this may be a major pain especially for those of us with small children and wayward husbands. When you reach home after being in that world beyond your home for any length of time and in contact with other people, immediately after you enter the door, take off your clothes and throw them in the washer. If you have sneezed into your sleeves or stuffed a used tissue into your pocket, or unknowingly interacted with someone who has some kind of infection like a cold, it is important to remove that contaminant from your body and to wash yourself and your family. If this is simply not practical for your situation, make sure that you and the family all thoroughly wash your hands at least. Bathe and wash those clothes at the earliest opportunity convenient to you. And yes, the COVID-19 virus won’t live as long on fabric as it does on hard surfaces, where it can live for several hours, but better safe than sorry. Of course, this particular action is informed by my age. The most vulnerable in the world, age 60 and up.
Something else that can be a big help is boosting your immunity as quickly as possible. Guess what? You came to the right place! We’ll have some ideas on how you can manage this in the weeks ahead.
First, did you know that the biggest part of your immune system is housed in your gut? Your gut microbiome is very important to keep healthy and to boost immunity. And the best way to do this is by eating a plant-based diet. Animal products, highly processed foods and those that are high in fat and sugar will increase the unhealthy bacteria in your gut. Further, that unhealthy bacteria is associated with chronic diseases and during this time, who needs those, right?
Also, did you know that roughly 80% of antibiotics are used in animal agriculture? This is an insanely high amount of unnecessary drugs in each of the three meals plus snacks for those of us eating those foods. This contributes to antibiotic-resistant superbugs growing and flourishing in our guts. We have all heard of people or know people who have a difficult time recovering from an illness that used to respond to antibiotics and having to try several types before they finally find one that offers relief.
We will have more about how food can make you healthier and stronger. Look for our next post.
And if you have the time, go through your belongings. You are looking for those items that you can donate, recycle, throw out or repurpose. In this period of high stress, simplifying will decrease the amount of effort it takes to maintain your home in a manner that will decrease your worry.
Getting a full night’s sleep, exercise and staying active, a good diet, mindfulness and meditation are all things that can help keep your emotions on an even keel during this period. And better, they are all part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle even beyond this current time. Your worry won’t disappear but it will seem much more manageable. Something that has helped me enormously is the Calm app on my phone. I use it to help me get to sleep easier and to calm down. Also, my watch has a Breathe app, simple but effective, especially if you repeat it several times in a row when you are feeling really stressed. The Calm app does have a cost but do check it out if it is in range of your pocketbook.
Remember, you are not alone. Reach out to friends and family (preferably by electronics), stay aware and find a way to enjoy your downtime. Try out a hobby you’ve been wanting to explore. Read those books you haven’t had time for. Plan your dream kitchen or bathroom or bedroom on Pinterest. Make those home-cooked meals you miss and seldom have time to prepare. Walk around your neighborhood when the weather permits and the sidewalks look empty.
You can also look for online volunteer work that you can do at home. Some sites where you can check this out are www.operationwarm.org and www.volunteermatch.org. There are many more online. Whatever activities you decide to pursue, enjoy them for the blessing of a new activity, or simply for the respite from worrying about COVID-19. Since the time my daughters were little things, I have always said in times of trouble that they were stronger than they knew. I believe this is true of all of us.
And just in case that is not enough, Pinterest has a board dedicated to ideas to help us get through this difficult period. It is called Stay Safe, Stay Inspired. I think that is where I will be spending my spare time! But in the meantime, if you have any specific questions, please ask. If we don’t have the answers, we’ll try to find them. We are living in a time when reliable information will have a value beyond gold. That is what we will work hard to provide. So let us know, what is it that concerns you most?
