How to Wash Clothes, Receive Deliveries, and Walk Your Dog Now?

During quarantine, it's important to be especially careful: only thorough handwashing won't be enough. We explain how to behave properly after returning from the street, welcoming couriers, and walking your dog. Recommendations for coming home and safety rules video we found in the A medclinic group.

I had to go out. What should I do when returning home?

• Don't touch anything.
• Remove your shoes immediately.
• Then take off your clothes. Put them in a bag to wash later.
• Leave all items you brought with you at the entrance: bags, keys, wallets.
• Take a shower or rinse under water those parts of your body that weren't covered.
• Put on clean home clothes.
• Disinfect your phone and glasses.
• Put on rubber gloves.
• Wipe bags, purchased products, and packages with a disinfectant.
• Load clothes into the washing machine and wash at over 60 degrees Celsius.
• Remove gloves carefully, dispose of them, and wash your hands thoroughly.

Important: How to Remove Gloves Correctly

The most important thing is not to touch the outside of them.

1. Grab one glove near the wrist and carefully pull it off so it turns inside out.
2. Then insert fingers of the free hand between the second glove and the wrist.
3. Roll the glove off the hand and place it into the first glove you took off.
4. Dispose of gloves and wash your hands.

Important: How to Remove a Medical Mask

Gently pull the mask by its ear loops without touching the fabric (microbes usually gather there). If you removed the mask, dispose of it immediately — it's no longer suitable for reuse.

What else should you know?

The coronavirus can survive on surfaces for up to 17 days (as long as it lasted on the Diamond Princess cruise ship), so just washing hands won't be enough.

The virus lives longest on stainless steel and plastic, so it's important to thoroughly disinfect all packaging of store-bought products. However, it can also survive on other surfaces for a few hours, so everything should be wiped down. If you don't have disinfectant, you can make it at home.

What if I want to order groceries for delivery?

Of course, this option is much safer — you won't need to go outside. But don't forget that couriers visit many addresses in a day, so it's better not to interact with them directly. The ideal option is contactless delivery (courier leaves the package at your door and steps back three meters). Tips can also be sent online.

If you have a large supply of disposable gloves, you can wear them when handling the grocery package, unpack it, and disinfect all items (including door handles — they should be wiped after every touch). Afterward, remove and discard the gloves immediately. How to do this was described above.

I just walked my dog. How to disinfect its paws?

Veterinarians say there's no need to wipe the paws of pets with antiseptic. In fact, it may be dangerous for your pet. Therefore, basic precautions are sufficient.

Try not to touch your dog on walks and keep it away from other animals and people if possible. It's better to keep your dog on a leash so you can control it more easily. Don't let your pet pick up anything or lie on the ground.

If possible, wipe your dog's paws before entering the apartment. Also, don't forget to wash them thoroughly with soap. If your pet rolled around somewhere, you can bathe it with shampoo (but not too often).

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