Receiving Home Deliveries

[Brightly]

Hi all,

 

As we move into this time of necessary isolation, we’re very lucky to have so many delivery options for our meals and groceries.

 

There’s been ample discussion globally on how best to stay healthy with these possibly contaminated items coming into our homes, and this is my informed, “condensed version” of those discussions. 
 

I feel it’s worth sharing.

 

So, OK...

 

If we receive a grocery delivery, it’s important to know that the delivery folks are no longer allowed inside our condo or apartment buildings, or into our homes.  We’ll have to meet them outside our home front doors or meet them at our condo/apt lobbies.  It’s impossible to keep a two meter (6 ft.) distance while paying for our goods, so this is what I do:  Keep the 6 ft. while as much as possible while I wear my N-99 mask and atrocious kitchen gloves.  I pay by credit card (cash is less preferable, just remember to wash up properly after handling it), and then step back 6 feet.  I remind myself DISINFECT that credit card ASAP after its use.  I do NOT bring my groceries indoors immediately.  Instead, I use a disinfectant wipe to wipe down all cans, plastic packages, and packaging containing produce,  Cardboard doesn’t hold viruses too long, but I give the paper boxes a cursory wipe-down as well.  I leave any large delivery boxes outside to be collected. Then comes the question of what to do with all the plastic bags!  They can be simply thrown out of course, but what I do is turn them inside-out and put them on my balcony (any open area will do) and then let them sit for 3-4 days before handling.  In fact, I let my wiped-down packaged groceries sit for a few days as well, allowing any potential surface viruses to naturally die off.   Produce should just be washed as usual, then peeled, outer leaves removed, etc.  No special disinfectants are recommended.

 

For meal delivery, I pay by credit card, and tape a cash tip to the door.  Delivery personnel will leave meals at your door and call you, as per your preference.  Initially, I was wiping down all my incoming food containers.  Now, if I plan to consume something immediately, wearing my clean, atrocious kitchen gloves, I open the container and dump in onto/ into my plate or bowl.  I immediately discard the packaging and wash my hands.  For good measure, I wash my hands after eating as well.  If some containers of food are kept for later consumption, I wipe them down before refrigeration, then again hand-wash after I’ve handled and discarded the containers.

 

This may all seem like a lot of unnecessary work, but it will aid immensely in keeping each of and our families safe and well.

 

Please, let’s remember these delivery drivers (especially the overworked grocery delivery folks!) are of course earning the necessary baht, but they’re also helping all of us out.  Now is the time to tip as generously as we can.

 

Now... this post is ripe for troll-bait, and I’m sure all the crusty, nay-saying TV armchair experts will come to roost here.

 

I say: Find a different forum or thread to spew your ill-informed, bitter opinions.

 

This is a time to shut up and listen for a change.  These are safety measures we all should uphold right now.

 

In short: receiving grocery and meal deliveries are one of our safest options.  Employing a few extra steps of safety measures make this an even safer option in these coming days, weeks or months.

 

One last mention:  Unexpired bleach (yes, bleach does expire) mixed in a 1:10 ratio with drinkable water makes an excellent disinfectant.  As alcohol-based sanitizers become scarcer, this is good to remember.  I have noticed that most Thais only think of bleach as a laundry agent, so let’s try to spread the word to our Thai compatriots about the benefits of bleach as a disinfectant.

 

Wishing safety and wellness for all.

Edited March 25, 2020 by Brightly

[qdinthailand]

Careful on that water/bleach mix. You’ll get people killed.

 

[Brightly]

qdinthailand,

 

That’s a great chart for water purification purposes, and I hope none of us ever have to use it.

 

The 1:10 bleach/water solution is for cleaning, NOT drinking.  

 

Perhaps I should have stated “drinking-quality water” instead of “drinkable water,” for better clarification; however, I have a feeling you knew the difference all along, and are just jerking my chain and making mischief.

 

I’ll write it off to cabin fever on your part!

 

 

 

Edited March 26, 2020 by Brightly

[eyecatcher]

Just make sure your order doesnt result in you being locked in

 

[orang37]

I really appreciate the concern and good advice that went into your fulsome post !

 

I do have a sense of missing some mention of the delivery services you have used, and are using now. I don't think it would break any of the  forum rules if you named them. I'd find that information valuable.

 

I looked for bleach ฟอกขาว last week and I all I could find was very expensive Clorox: anyone have a pointer to a cheaper brew ?

 

thanks, ~o:37;

Edited March 27, 2020 by orang37
memory recovered after alien abduction

[orang37]

18 hours ago, Brightly said:

... I have a feeling you knew the difference all along, and are just jerking my chain and making mischief.]

May I share with you that I have learned through experience on this forum to never trust my psychic powers, and never underestimate the depth any given thread can sink to ... or, paradoxically, the altitude hot-air and levity can cause the thread to rise to  :)

 

Your mileage may vary.

 

cheers, ~o:37;

[Olmate]

Perhaps the OP can add a second chapter on procedures to follow prior to having sexual relations,I’m feeling a bit reticent to engage lately!

[steven100]

some folks really need to get a life ....   lol

[AgMech Cowboy]

2 hours ago, orang37 said:

I looked for bleach ฟอกขาว last week and I all I could find was very expensive Clorox: anyone have a pointer to a cheaper brew ?

Try going to a store not named "Villa Market". That should increase your chance 100%. ????

(Yes, I'm in a sarcastic mood this morning) ????

[Max69xl]

1 hour ago, JimLuce said:

Sorry didn’t get a chance to read all that but yes we’re doing great with Foodpanda deliveries pretty much whatever kind of food we want. In fact I’m probably gonna order eggs again this morning. 

Maybe you should learn how make your breakfast/lunch/dinner yourself? A pizza once in a while is ok, but order food every day while living here isn't that smart. 

[elgenon]

I saw a good YouTube video by a doc on sanitizing groceries and take away.

[LawrenceN]

3 hours ago, orang37 said:

I looked for bleach ฟอกขาว last week and I all I could find was very expensive Clorox: anyone have a pointer to a cheaper brew ?

 

thanks, ~o:37;

Haiter. No, I'm not name-calling here. That's the Thai brand of bleach, available everywhere. No need for imported Clorox. 

[murraynz]

22 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Maybe you should learn how make your breakfast/lunch/dinner yourself? A pizza once in a while is ok, but order food every day while living here isn't that smart. 

i agree, but for people living in hotel rooms or cheap guest houses, they dont have any cooking facilites, some dont even have a kettle...

[Brightly]

Hi max69xl,

 

it’s important to remember that not everyone engages in the “activities of daily living” (ADLs) in the same way.

 

I am disabled and use a wheelchair.  Food prep is hard for me, and I have relied on meal deliveries for years here.

 

I want to give a big shout out to MEALS ON WHEELS 4U.  Yeah, I dig Foodpanda, and you can’t beat their prices....but MEALS ON WHEELS 4U has been there through thick and thin for me.  Mike, the owner, has consistently been there to work out my minor concerns and issues I’ve had over the years.  He’s a gem, and his employees are just the best.

 

Also, as an aside with regard to bleach... I hate to say it because it sounds so US-centric, but Clorox really is the best bleach!  (And they are an amazing company as well.  Hats off to Clorox!).
 

Most every other bleach brand is watered down to some extent, whether it be in the West, or here.  HOW watered-down...who knows?  I don’t know, and I don’t know how to find out.

 

I’m still using alcohol-based disinfectants, but I did buy a bunch of Thai bleach six weeks ago, “just in case.”  And I love bleach— my whites are always the whitest!  Gotta love bleach that bleach.

 

When it comes down to it, I’ll try to figure if there’s a better bleach/water ratio with local bleach, but I’m not gonna sweat it too much:  I can always add a bit more bleach to the ratio, and as long as my skin doesn’t peel off in the process, it should be OK.

 

I wish health and sanity to us all!

 

 

 

[Max69xl]

17 minutes ago, Brightly said:

Hi max69xl,

 

it’s important to remember that not everyone engages in the “activities of daily living” (ADLs) in the same way.

 

I am disabled and use a wheelchair.  Food prep is hard for me, and I have relied on meal deliveries for years here.

 

I want to give a big shout out to MEALS ON WHEELS 4U.  Yeah, I dig Foodpanda, and you can’t beat their prices....but MEALS ON WHEELS 4U has been there through thick and thin for me.  Mike, the owner, has consistently been there to work out my minor concerns and issues I’ve had over the years.  He’s a gem, and his employees are just the best.

 

Also, as an aside with regard to bleach... I hate to say it because it sounds so US-centric, but Clorox really is the best bleach!  (And they are an amazing company as well.  Hats off to Clorox!).
 

Most every other bleach brand is watered down to some extent, whether it be in the West, or here.  HOW watered-down...who knows?  I don’t know, and I don’t know how to find out.

 

I’m still using alcohol-based disinfectants, but I did buy a bunch of Thai bleach six weeks ago, “just in case.”  And I love bleach— my whites are always the whitest!  Gotta love bleach that bleach.

 

When it comes down to it, I’ll try to figure if there’s a better bleach/water ratio with local bleach, but I’m not gonna sweat it too much:  I can always add a bit more bleach to the ratio, and as long as my skin doesn’t peel off in the process, it should be OK.

 

I wish health and sanity to us all!

 

 

 

I do understand it must suck being stuck to a wheelchair and Foodpanda is ok, especially now when the delivery is free. But, you're not paying anything to Foodpanda, the restaurants do. I have checked some prices in the Jomtien area and they are exactly same even if I buy straight from the restaurant. I'm actually thinking about ordering a pizza tonite or tomorrow even if I have a fully stocked fridge/freezer. 

[Brightly]

Max69xl,

 

Boy, do I hear you.  I’ve been told that the restaurants pay 30% to the delivery services.  Now the high-end places may be able to afford that margin, but how do the “mom and pop’s” places make it?

 

I have no idea, excepting the idea we’ve all been paying too much for too long!

 

That being said, if it’s within our tastes/budget to use these services, I think we should.

 

Of course the restaurants and delivery companies are out for the baht, but they’re also helping us out.

 

And once again....big kudos to MEALS ON WHEELS 4U...the longest running delivery service in our town.  I can’t say enough good things.  Simply the best.

[Brightly]

I saw this short-and-sweet PSA on food handling online:

 

Worried about infection from take-out or groceries? Watch these 3 tips
 

I hope this URL copied and pasted properly (!)

 

It’s on the CNN website today.