A few days, maybe a week, ago I someone tagged me in a FB post about their reusable bags. Thirty One bags are not machine washable so this person stuck them in their bathtub to clean them. And the water was almost black. Ugh.

I surface clean my bags, not every time I use them, but enough that I decided to start cleaning them. John saw the post and declared that I was not using the tub to clean them since he recently cleaned the tub. No worries – I have a nice utility sink, clothesline, and pellet stove downstairs to do the job.

The water in the sink was not gray, just slightly discolored. Now all my Essential Storage Totes are clean and drying.

I decided to clean them since they are now all on quarantine. Which I think makes total sense. A few months ago one of the cashiers at my Market Basket (because we all have our ‘own’ store, don’t we?) was telling me about some of the filthy nasty bags some people use for their groceries. Stories like that make me want to just scrub all my bags. Which I actually did when I got home that day.

Our reusable bags are on quarantine because what if we sneezed or coughed on them? What if they’re just dirty and gross? Are you expecting someone to handle something dirty or infectious? What if I’m an asymptomatic carrier handling my bags that someone else might handle? It’s estimated that COVID-19 can live on porous surfaces up to 24 hours. If you know me you know I’m pretty sustainable, use re-usable bags, and recycle almost everything.

But when we’re in a pandemic. I’m not using my reusable bags. I’ll ask for a cardboard box. I’ll use plastic bags – I’ll find a way to recycle or reuse them. My health, my family’s health, your health, heck – a total stranger’s health – is more important than my reusable bags. A point I saw a cashier try to explain to some guy in Market Basket last week.

In other exciting news…. most of us stayed home today. John took Jacob to work since he’s an essential employee bagging groceries at Market Basket. John picked up rolls for dinner. I made new signs for my classroom, posted some of my BLS classes, made a pickup and delivery of masks and then sewed some more for the Seacoast Mask Makers (new design – 3 fold w/ a wire!). Sophia made a list of craft projects she wants to do. I’m thankful that John offered to go to the store and my one trip out of the house involved no contact with another living soul.

These are crazy times. I’m thinking a few months from now we’re going to have a hell of a party and invite everyone we know. But we’ll be spread out in the yard because we’ll be more used to physical distancing than sitting next to someone.