5 Ways to Stay Germ-Free When You Leave the House

Headed out? Follow these tips to ensure you stay safe.

You’ve been staying home as much as possible during the coronavirus pandemic—but what happens when you simply have to go somewhere? Don’t panic. By following this expert advice, you’ll be better able to keep yourself—and the people around you—safe from illness.

Wash Up

You know you should be washing your hands frequently, but are you doing it correctly? Here’s what the CDC recommends: Wet your hands with clean water, turn off the tap, and apply a quarter-sized amount of soap. Then, rub your hands together to create a good lather, making sure to get between your fingers and under your nails. Scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse your hands, and use a paper towel to turn off the tap. Finally, dry your hands with a clean cloth. Make sure to repeat the handwashing process often, especially before eating or touching your face.

Put on a Mask

Face coverings play a huge part in preventing the spread of Covid-19, experts say. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing a mask when you’re in public or around people who don’t live in your household. Just make sure you’re putting it on properly: After washing your hands, pull the loops around each ear, making sure to adjust the mask on your face so it’s covering your nose, mouth, and chin without any gaps. Avoid touching the mask once you’ve gone outside; you only need to touch the ear loops to remove it. And pro tip: Don’t forget to wash your hands once more after taking the mask off.

Go Hands-free

You never know when you might need to quickly grab a mask, gloves, or hand sanitizer. By keeping them in a waist pack, they’ll be easy to access at a moment’s notice. Bonus: You won’t have to worry about putting your bag down on a potentially germy surface. The Mini Waist Pack has room for all your essentials—and it brings back so many fun childhood memories. If you’re ready to create an iconic signature look, you can decorate your bag to make it truly stand out.

Stay (At Least) Six Feet Apart

At this point, we’re all familiar with the rules of social distancing. Although they make life more difficult, it’s important everyone continues to stay six feet away from others when we’re in public. That means using drive-throughs, curbside pick-up, and video chatting as much as possible, so you can limit face-to-face contact. Although these restrictions aren’t ideal, they’re an important part of slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Stay Hydrated Safely

Another reason to down more H20: It can help boost your immune system. So if you’re out and about, try to carry a water bottle with you. (Just make sure you fill it up before you leave the house, so you don’t have to touch a germy public water fountain.) Having the bottle in hand (or in your backpack’s side pocket) will remind you to keep hydrated, and it’s a more sustainable practice than buying lots of bottled beverages.

What else are you doing to prevent the spread of germs? Share your tips with us on social media with #LifeUnzipped.

By: Larry Stansbury