Our New Outside-to-Inside Staging Area
Our laundry room has an added job description starting today! It is the new hot spot here. It is the outside-to-inside staging area otherwise known as the place to change our clothes to minimize the virus entering our abode.
We are talking about the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It has caused a worldwide pandemic and we are all trying to best deal with a very changing and fluid situation.
We now have good reason to believe the virus lingers in the air and lands on surfaces still able to infect us. Because of this, it makes sense to add a layer to our virus-prevention habits.
My husband is a local physician. I am working limited hours in a small pharmacy (it is closed to the public, but we are doing deliveries). We are all about safe and healthy habits at home for the benefit of ourselves and others. Especially so because I am on a biologic to manage my rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Here is what the National Institute of Health (NIH) has to say about the stability, or how long the virus is viable in the air and on surfaces:
- aerosols (in the air) 3 hours
- copper 4 hours
- cardboard 24 hours
- plastic and stainless steel 48 to 72 hours
I couldn’t find an amount of time for clothing. So I’m planning for days.
An article in the Economic Times I read prompted me to create an outside-to-inside transition area. As with hand washing, this is an actually quite easy to do.
Here is the simple way I put together the staging area:
- The backdoor is the hot spot. Our laundry room is where you enter our house from the garage. When we remodeled our kitchen, I had some of the cabinets rehung in our garage. One is right outside the backdoor with two knobs at the perfect height to hang our coats.
- I am temporarily repurposing Gipper’s (our dog) copper toy container to hold our clothing we will take off right inside the door. Shoes come off at this point.
- I have a basket of fresh towels right there to use to wrap ourselves in, then head to the shower.
- The washing machine and dryer are nearby.
It may not be perfect, but it is a reasonable way we can potentially avoid bringing the virus further into our home. My husband thought it would work for us, so we will see!
Now this habit is being added to the *FRESH*™ strategy we are very serious about these days. Fruits, Vegetables, Protein, Sleep, Hydration, and daily exercise are high priorities. The rest and relaxation are still a work in progress in the Coronavirus Era. My joints are sore, and I believe it is due to stress. We are living in tricky times. That will be my next focus.
So, back to the outside-to-inside staging topic. I would love to hear your ideas for habits to keep us safe, healthy and happy during this crazy time. Please leave a comment.
Let’s all use some Arthritis Wisdom!
XXOO Cathy
photo credit: Andy Fitzsimon at Unsplash
