Here's what I do:
1) I bring a shopping cart so I can get as much as possible, versus hand carrying the bags home.
2) I only go to the store about every other week.
3) I go about 30 minutes before closing, when the store is nearly empty.
4) I'm in and out in probably 20 minutes, 30 tops.
5) I wash down everything which comes in bottles, cans, and plastic bags.
6) For stuff which comes in cardboard boxes, there's usually a plastic bag with the stuff inside the cardboard box. So I throw the box out, and wash down the plastic bag.
7) The few things which can't easily be washed down, like stuff in cardboard boxes with no inner bag, I wipe down with paper towels and alcohol.
8) I wash my clothes and take a shower when I'm done.
All of the above isn't as time-consuming as it sounds. In general, it takes me two hours from the time I leave for the store until I'm done with my shower.
I've long been in the habit of washing cans and bottles even pre-pandemic. Grocery stores aren't the cleanest places going. So really, this isn't that much extra effort above and beyond what I've done for years. Probably a good idea getting rid of the cardboard boxes for most things right away as roaches are known to hide in them. As you probably know, NYC is the cockroach (and rat) capital of the world.
Initially, I followed the same technique, and kept at it for a number of months, there were some variances though.
Considering that we were told that the virus became unstable while resting on most surfaces, within 24 hours, I often left non-perishables in the trunk of my car overnight before bringing them in. I still often do that. Not so much, now that we have freezing temps outside.
We used a sterile technique, where we cleaned the table. Then put everything either on the floor or the left hand side of the table, after cleaning it got moved to the right side of the table.
In my area, stores still offer "Senior hours". Generally the store is less occupied during them (first thing in the morning). Also any airborne virii may be more than 24 hours old, and inactive, more so than those later in the evening.
I typically wear a surgical mask. It is hard to believe that it is effective. I can walk down the soap isle and smell, all the soaps, or near the flower section, and smell the roses. Yet if I wear my half face respirator... I smell NOTHING!
If things get worse around here, or I become more concerned, I'll wear the respirator. If I have to put a filter over the exhaust valve, that's not a biggie.
Back to raggie.
I was in the home depot last week and they had a couple of half face respirators in stock, and a few replacement filter cartridges in stock.
I believe they are significantly better than what you are wearing.
