Now That You Got Your Boxes Delivered From Amazon – Should You Touch Them?

PJ Media ^ | 03/25/2020 | Victoria Taft

[SeekAndFind]

You got that box from Amazon, so satisfied that you didn't have to schlep to the store and mingle with the germy people there who might have COVID-19. Now what the heck do you do with the box? Should you touch it? Do you need to gown-up to handle it? How long does coronavirus live on cardboard, anyway?

Yesterday when the Amazon delivery person set the box on my porch I thought wait, I keep hearing that the COVID-19 virus can last on surfaces for hours. So I donned my purple nitrile gloves, which I keep around the house and use for everything, brought my spray bottle with a high concentration of bleach to water, and commenced processing my boxes.

I decontaminated the boxes with my bleach concoction, sprayed the contents, cleaned my gloves with the hand sanitizer I keep outside to put on before I walk into my house (I know, I know), and put the unwrapped objects inside, setting them inside on a hard surface by the door. Next, I crushed the boxes and, after putting the cardboard into my recycle container, used my spray concoction to decontaminated my shoes that I used to crush the boxes.

It turns out I wasn't the only one wondering about this. It felt good to know I'm not being ridiculous. It's only ridiculous if you're not doing it.

The warehouse at the firm where my husband works does pretty much the same thing with each shipment that comes in. There is no human contact whatsoever between delivery person and shipping and receiving. Each box is left by the door by the delivery person and is decontaminated by the masked warehouse guys who gown-up to receive the boxes.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Run the book through the dishwasher, that's what I say."

And don't forget to spray the dishwasher door handle! And after you wash your hands, spray the faucet handle that you touched before you washed your hands!

[Cboldt]

-- I believe in using sanitary precautions, but you could write a comedy skit about someone taking it so far that are unable to do anything except wash their hands and sanitize objects all day. --

Monk

[LostInBayport]

That didn’t even occur to me! Where’s my Xanax. I’m takin’ two.

[Sirius Lee]

Ha ha ha...and the contents of the box probably came from Wuhan.

[Ron H.]

Well what about that bag of hamburgers you received at the neighborhood Drive thru restaurant like McD's last evening or even at lunch today? That person that handed you your bag of food or drink was also the one who has bee taking all the public's paper money and making change at the drive thru window is now handling your bag of food before handing it to you, germs and diseases and all.

Paper money, that ugly very nasty germ ridden and infested thing we all use as currency in exchange for things we purchase. Where has that paper currency been before ending up at the drive thru and in the very hands of the person now waiting on you? Just don't dwell on that aspect too hard and continue on as usual.

After all this way of dining out is far safer than dining in isn't it? At least that's what the experts are telling us today isn't it?!

[montag813]

I needed a mini display port to HDMI 4k converter. Amazon has them in stock. But it will take a MONTH to get it to me via “Prime” shipping. All because of regards who can’t get enough toilet paper.

[goodnesswins]

Yep...we’ve been wondering the same...what a joke...

[DLfromthedesert]

Ding Ding Ding!!!

[Jewbacca]

Or just let it sit there for 3 days by the door.

[FightforFreedomCA]

Exactly - my kids have been bugging me for take out, so I had to share similar details with them. “But aren’t they wearing masks and gloves?” Err...have they ever? How would them get them if the hospitals don’t have them? They’re happily eating at home now :)

[xp38]

Ah so the ideal is the box goes into quarantine.

[Magic Fingers]

Assuming it doesn’t get nabbed by a porch pirate.

[Oatka]

Michael Ironside does a magnificent job of a guy who murders someone and then gets worried about leaving fingerprints:

The last four minutes of The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl". (2:05 and on is priceless).

[MplsSteve]

Spray it with Lysol. Leave it outside for 48 hours. Then set it on fire.

You can never be too safe.

[dfwgator]

Nuke it from Orbit, it’s the only way to be sure.

[Jewbacca]

Ours go into a parcel locker that delivery people and homeowners have keys to.

(It’s to prevent damage from bombs, but helps with thieves. And viruses.)

[meatloaf]

I have some UV monster light I bought cheap at a university surplus sale. I’m not sure if UV B or UV A makes a difference.

[SpaceBar]

The air — should you breathe it?

[Buckeye McFrog]

hmmm....should you touch or not touch the box?

Where is Billy Bush when you need him?

[A Navy Vet]

"I would wipe down all six sides of the box with disinfectant wipes or some sort of isopropyl alcohol solution. Then you can open the box. Wipe down inner contents as well if possible."

That is exactly what we do. Spray mist (rubbing alcohol) on all sides and wipe thoroughly. Pull out contents and repeat. Spray our hands again before touching the doorknob to bring sterile packages inside. Same procedure for grocery items. Any item that we bring into the house gets the same treatment. We also use Purell for wiping down steering wheel, door handle, and shifter before getting out of the car.