I am not an expert, but I would think heating it until steaming hot would kill the virus.

I ordered 6 wool dryer balls, 6 weeks ago, from China. They arrived yesterday. My husband did NOT open the package, he set them outside in the sun. UV light kills viruses. Then washed his hands & wiped the package down.

It may be difficult for some to adjust to the new normal. My hairdresser and I hugged goodbye, as we always do, the other day and then realized I'd made a faux pas. Did the same thing with a plumber who came by today; not a hug but touched his arm while we were having some good natured bantering back and forth....Ooops!

From what I've read, heating food to 140º F./60º C. or hotter should kill any virus. Washing clothes in water at those temperatures should kill the virus.

copied from this article (I added the bold): npr - health shots - social distancing

The CDC says people should use drive-through, pick-up or delivery options instead [ of eating in restaurants ]

When you get home with your food, you could take it out of the containers, throw those out, and then wash your hands thoroughly before eating, says Drew Harris, a population health researcher at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. "We don't want to get too crazy about this, but taking reasonable precautions should be sufficient," he says.

I wouldn't have thought about throwing out the containers.

Ha! My father asked me yesterday if I thought he could MW his mail to kill any germs on it. I suggested ironing it instead.

Good idea with the iron!

OK, seriously now...what about the mail? Our carrier is wearing gloves when he puts it into our curbside mailbox. DH has had his gloves on when he retrieves it, just because it's been cold here. Then we let it sit for a few hours before opening it and wipe down the counter when we're done with the mail. (I'm staying in because of my multiple myeloma w/chemo.)

Please don't tell me I have to iron our newspaper.

I put our mail on hold since last Thursday. Since everything we do is e this and e that, there's nothing but junk waiting at the post office.

DH gets the mail and puts it in a box for a few days, then washes his hands. Kind of a mail quarantine. I do the same with groceries.

I have a friend who collects mail in a box and waits 2 weeks before opening it.

My cousin's wife is on the good side of cancer but still compromised. He quit his UPS job because he was working with both the public and their packages. I don't know what they do about their mail.

Apparently covid-19 can stay viable on surfaces for at least 27 days, so I wouldn't rely on putting mail in a box for a couple of weeks if you're bothered about possible transmission.

Colleen what's your source for that lifespan of the virus? Everything I see from trusted sources says similar to this: A study
out this week finds that the virus can survive on hard surfaces such as
plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up
to 24 hours.

source

DH decided to microwave the mail as a sort of test. I wasn't paying attention until I smelled it. He just about set it on fire. Mostly junk but I am going to have to look up the Id number for our garbage collection account so I can put a note in an envelope to mail my payment. That scorched. I had suggested ironing. He is going with tossing the junk mail on the porch and spraying the pieces left with alcohol. I am immune compromised. I appreciate the attention to detail. Right about now I am thinking I need to change over the few payments I don't do direct to direct pay.

Ironing junk mail??? We've all been locked up too long, and it's only just begun.

I have thought about the mail, though. Even about delivered groceries. Everything has to be handled. It's troubling.

Do not microwave anything dry and I wouldn't want to melt those plastic envelope windows. And whatever you do, don't put in anything that might be metallic as you can kill your microwave. Ask me how I know.

Olychick, here’s one source:

How long can coronavirus last on surfaces?

Here’s a link that has the times you quote, but also points out that this study has not been peer-reviewed. It also point out that related coronaviruses (Covid-19 isn’t THE coronavirus, it’s A coronavirus) have been shown to last up to 9 days on surfaces:

Another study

Thanks Colleen...here is an updated report:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/health/coronavirus-surfaces-aerosols.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Probably just wear disposable gloves while dealing with mail and then be sure an disinfect your hands and surfaces afterwards. Just like as if you had just gone to the store and bought groceries. Perhaps choose a spot in your house that is just for the purpose of opening mail.

I microwave books that I buy second hand to kill bedbugs and haven't set any on fire - yet. I do watch them carefully.

Or you could just handle your mail normally and then wash your hands.

^^ Ooohh!! A voice of reason!!

I can understand being cautious but seriously, microwaving your mail?? The CDC is not even sure the disease can be transmitted by touching a contaminated object. It is only a possibility, not a foregone conclusion, and you still need to do the fingers to face/mouth/eyes transfer.

Just let it sit if you must - I only collect my mail once a month or so from my P.O. box - and then wash hands after handling.

I'm opening mail and packages then using the hand sanitizer that's on my desk or going into the laundry room and washing after.

Friend dropped by yesterday afternoon, had a drink outside in front of the garage. He/wife have 5 day care centers, he said he's having trouble finding state required cleaning supplies but doing OK with lunch and breakfast, snack items for the kids.

greywings -- YES! Handle any 'valuable' mail w/actual *hands* in back hall, then wash said *hands*. We are not very 'computerized', so we do have some valuable mail. I my BCBS membership for Standard Plan F Saturday, twenty days after enrolling by phone.

Once public health nurses would spread newspapers on a kitchen table for a home birth. Maybe that's not helpful against viruses... Maybe we should not continue to read our real newspaper at the breakfast table?

DH will wear 'outside' shoes to the grocery. He will get paper bags at checkout, and place them on one kitchen counter at home. I wipe down cardboad/plastic out of the bags, then wipe down the countertop once paper bags are gone to the garage. I'm just using a mild bleach solution and cloth rags. Sufficient?

My oncologist has eliminated a separate trip for blood draw ahead of office visit and chemo shot. One longer stay is considered better than two shorter ones. I might go to my car after lab and MD visit. There's usually a long wait for my Velcade shot to be prepared, based on lab report.

Sorry to write so much. Maybe useful to others?

This is more for DH's sake than mine because it makes him feel as if he is being proactive. Remember that like Chisue I am major immune compromised and I have asthma. He is afraid he will some how bring it into the house so he deals with the mail and wipes doorknobs and quarantines groceries and so on. He feels like my life could be in his hands when he forgets and takes a package from the carrier, sets it on the counter and just goes on with getting breakfast. EEK?

patriciae, I think that's great. Let him do what makes him comfortable. As long as people are doing the minimum as asked, whatever more steps they choose to take should be fine as long as they don't injure, poison, or scald themselves in the process. Better too much caution than too little too late.

Lots of us are doing things we've never done. I've never washed an unpeeled banana in my life but did. My SIL confessed to spraying disinfectant on all her doors, remotes, appliance handles and toilet handles twice a day and its just the two of them ;0) She was laughing about 'becoming weird' but if it makes her feel like she's contributing to lowering the curve, it's fine.

I don't think you have to microwave the mail. Do wash your hand after retrieving it because the mailbox if metal will harbor the germs. If you wait 3 hours after getting the mail in you should be fine. If you do need to microwave it to feel safe, put a glass of water in the microwave along with the mail and all should be fine.

We are thinking of this as a shake out time when you establish your methods and learn what doesn't work. We are north of a major outbreak area. It has been real to us for awhile.

I have been washing fruit for years now including things you peel. If you peel your banana you have your bacteria all over your hands when you touch the edible part. Bacteria is now only part of the problem. I used vinegar for things like lettuce or strawberries but long since used soapy water for the firm skinned. Vinegar doesn't kill virus so I just don't eat things I cant wash and rinse.

patriciae -- Oh, yes, my DH takes his 'caregiver' role seriously, too. Does anything NOT have a 'downside"? LOL I have had non-allergic asthma for forty years. It appeared a few months after my mother's long dying from leukemia. It's been well-tamed with daily Advair, but of course steriods over such a long time ruined my bones even before the MM appeared end of 2018.

georgysmom -- How long would you M/W paper w/some water? Our M/W is old -- 800 power. I'm thinking of two magazines that are mailed without wrappers.

Personally, I wouldn't microwave the magazines at all. If you have a covered porch I would leave them outside for a couple of hours or even overnight and let them just air out. I'm expecting two deliveries from Amazon and will just let them sit outside for the day. The big problem is retrieving the mail from the mailbox because the virus can live up to three days on metal. It usually lasts around 3 hours on paper, cardboard and clothing. Wash your hands after retrieving the mail. I do not know how long to microwave anything like that. I'm just saying you should have liquid in your microwave when you turn it on and if you are just going to put paper in it I'm not sure that's the best idea. At the very least, put a glass of water in with the paper.

When you microwave vegetables or frozen dinners, they contain natural moisture, sometimes you add extra, which is why I suggested putting a glass of water in with paper If you are going to microwave it.

Ah yes Chisue, Irritable Membrane Disorder. You mention your mother with Leukemia, I have a sister with MM. My Oncologist says that is not connected.

You are so right Gerogysmom about the water. DH didn't think of it and then you have those little window thingies, they crinkle up and melt. Not a good idea especially not for three minutes! Well he tries and he has a new plan so we move on.