Covid-19 Sanitary use and Practices

 Hello friends, I wanted to reach out to you during this difficult time and share some information that may be helpful to you and your families.

Hygiene is very important these days, but it has always been of the utmost importance to us at Eliza J Elegant Portable Toilets Cape Cod. While running a portable restroom based business, sanitary practices have always been key. We pride ourselves on the cleanliness, hygiene, and upkeep of the facilities that we offer to our customers. In this blog entry I will be sharing with you some best sanitary practices to keep in mind, that you can use to keep your home as germ free as possible! Hygienic practices are of extreme importance right now especially, and they can go a long way to keeping you healthy and germ free. 

Concerns about Covid-19, also known as the Coronavirus may be weighing heavily on your mind. The sudden appearance of this novel virus and its rapid spread has been all anyone can talk about lately, and how could it not be? As this pandemic continues to grow we are seeing more and more  information every day on the news and on social media; about case numbers growing, death tolls rising, and restrictions being put in place to help keep all of us a bit safer. Our everyday lives have been disrupted as schools and businesses close and we are being told to stay indoors and leave our homes only when absolutely necessary. It’s no wonder that everyone is feeling a bit on edge.

The good news is, there are plenty of things that we can all do to protect ourselves! By practicing good hygiene we can all help to stem the spread of this virus, and avoid infecting others  or contracting it ourselves.  Please continue reading to learn what you can do to protect yourself.
 

Reduce the spread of coronavirus

Good basic hygiene may seem pretty obvious, but right now especially it is extremely important. Below is a list of best sanitary practices to kill germs and stop their spread.

Wash your hands!
Washing hands with plain soap and water kills viruses, but only if it’s done thoroughly  and often. Hands should be scrubbed for at least 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Remember to get wrists and fingernails! One big mistake people make is shaking their hands to air dry them. Dry with a paper instead to remove any lingering germs, and when you’re done, use the towel to turn the faucet handle so you don’t re-contaminate your hands. 

As a general practice, think about washing your hands before you leave the house and after touching objects in public places (things like door knobs, elevator buttons, public transportation, etc.) You should also be sure to wash your hands  before, during and after you prepare food. Wash hands before and after you eat, clean your house and change a diaper. And as always, wash hands after you, use the bathroom, blow your nose, cough or sneeze, care for a pet or touch the garbage.

Clean Common Surfaces- Especially in the Kitchen and Bathroom

At home practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. Focus especially in your kitchen and bathroom as these rooms harbor the most germs. Commonly used areas to clean often, include for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and countertops). Use household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following label instructions.

Other areas experts say should get a good cleaning include:
Remote controls, game controllers, keyboards, computer mice, cell phones and landlines, and hand railings, along with any other objects you touch on a regular basis. If you’re still going into work elevator buttons and shared cutlery/utensils are a concern. 

To make your own all-purpose cleaning spray, mix the following ingredients into a spray bottle:

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)

  “Spray liberally on surfaces and wipe clean with a soft cleaning cloth. Generally speaking, all you need is a little all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cleaning cloth or bar mop towel to clean most of these most-touched areas. All-purpose cleaner can be sprayed directly on your cleaning cloth and then the area can be wiped clean. Spray, wipe, repeat,”  At work, use hot water and soap for anything that can be washed. “For the rest, use a disinfectant wipe,” A weekly clean is what experts recommend, unless someone in the house is sick. Then you should clean your surfaces daily.

Use Hand sanitizer and Stop Touching your face

We know you want to touch your face. Try to refrain! Studies suggest that humans touch their faces  as a form of self-soothing. For those moments when you must touch your face, keep tissues in your pocket to rub itchy eyes and noses (and then throw them away). Wearing glasses, makeup and gloves can also help.
 
Keep your Distance

The main way communities are trying to slow the virus is to practice social distancing. Try to         
keep feet of personal space in public areas to avoid flying droplets from a sneeze or cough (droplets that carry the virus can travel about that distance). Avoid cramped workspaces  and standing shoulder to shoulder with people in bars or subways. The C.D.C. recommends No gatherings larger than 10 people in places hit the hardest with the virus.

Cover your cough or sneeze
Learn to practice “respiratory etiquette,” respiratory etiquette means being aware of where  you cough or sneeze. No matter where you are (even at home) don’t sneeze into your bare hand. Always grab a tissue when you sneeze or cough (no cloth handkerchiefs!), and then throw it away and wash or sanitize your hands immediately. If you don't have a tissue sneeze into your elbow.


We hope that these tips on good hygienic practices I’ve shared with you here will serve you well and be helpful to you during this trying time. In a business that is so focused on public gatherings and seeing each other face to face, we will miss you while we are all practicing social distancing. Just because we cannot see each other in person though doesn't mean that we cannot stay connected. So please continue to check in with us by visiting our blog!

Sincerely,

Eliza J

Happy New Year!

2020 has arrived and we are ready to get a fresh start. We have eaten all the cookies, ham, turkey and candies we can possibly need and may even be feeling sleep deprived from watching the ball drop. A fresh start is something many of us feel compelled to early in January, and we have a certain sense of urgency to make the changes happen.
 
Gym memberships are being bought, the pizza joints are feeling the loss in sales while everyone goes on a diet...and we are ready to take on anything! After all, with the new year comes a new you, right?

Not so fast... most people begin the year with high hopes of changing or improving in major areas of their lives. New year's resolutions often include strict diets, exercise regimens, and better sleep hygiene...but what inevitably happens? You guessed it, we slip back into our same old habits. This is typical when big changes are made all at once, we have the urge and motivation to start but lack the advanced planning, routines and habits to follow through. When we start getting busy with our day-to-day lives we get back to our day-to-day habits.

So what can you do about it? Are new years resolutions a complete waste? We don't think so, but we do think it is important to think realistically, and create reasonable goals, and plan small steps you can take to live your best new year! So do let the sense of urgency the New Year brings motivate you to take action, but remember small changes are more likely to stick with you. We also believe in planning for success in advance. Can you think of things that will keep you from achieving all that you hope for this year? For example, do you have a wedding, graduation or other major life event to plan for coming up? What kind of stresses can you plan for in advance so that you are ready before you get overwhelmed? 

Planning ahead and having structure in place will help you to have a more even flow in your life for the months ahead, giving yourself the space and time to work on other positive changes that can affect you all year, like say, cooking more home-made meals rather than getting take out when you are busy, or sticking to your exercise plan even in the weeks or days before your big event. Get the large hurdles out of the way before they cause us to trip and fall when all of the “stumbling blocks” of life start showing up all at once. Spring will be here before you know it and while you may not be able to predict everything you can predict some things...

This brings us to our point. You can be your best self this year, just remember to anticipate and do what you can before the pressure is on and decisions have to be made in a hasty, last second way. Haste makes waste. Get your event planning done early. Big events can cause stress and having things in place like a portable restroom solution, catering, venue and décor well in advance will save your sanity when you have to start picking up the pace. There will always be choices to make in the final days and hours but what you do not want to do is save the big stuff for last. Just remember Murphy's Law, “If something can go wrong, it will.” Don't let that thing that goes wrong be “no nice restrooms for your guests” because 10 other parties were also planned for your special weekend and there are no more available facilities. Plan AHEAD and get your booking done early. Then breathe a sigh of relief, check it off your list and go eat an apple and see what else you can accomplish.

Where did the summer go?

It’s time to put the pumpkins on the step, if you haven’t done so already. It has been such a warm season so far this year it hardly feels like Fall and yet it is almost Halloween! As the days get shorter, cooler and the leaves get more colorful we are reminded that the end of the year is coming soon. Apples, are ripe winter squash is flourishing and we are slowing down our schedules, but not for long. We enjoy the easy pace of the fall after a busy summer full of parties, guests and entertainment. Kids are back to school and we breathe a sigh of relief.
 
Before we are ready, signs of the holidays are appearing everywhere. We have Christmas decorations along side Halloween Candies and we start anticipating the next bustling season approaching. We can see it in the distance, having our family and friends over for Turkey dinners, shopping lists and preparing baked goods...but what can we do before the holidays are in full swing?

Plan for next year. As quickly as the holidays come and overwhelm us with a sense of fullness, both in delicious mashed potatoes and gravy, and emotionally with the reunion of our loved ones, it will soon (in only a couple short months) be behind us and the reality of the new year will kick in.

From the slower fall into the family and holiday centric early winter it can be hard to feel like the things we want to do next year are “urgent”, but we know 2020 is really just around the corner and we also now we are about to be very busy and we will most likely put off planning for the important events that occur in the early months of the new year. We also forget that we are not the only ones…

We know from experience, being in the Elegant Portable Restrooms business since the 80’s that it is the best time of year NOW in the FALL to book and plan for your events next year. There will be many pieces and details to put together as your special day approaches, and some things can’t be done in advance. However booking your restroom solution can be, and should be and it will be one big “worry” that you can turn into an accomplishment BEFORE we turn into the new year. In the new year, the other people who had intended to plan, ahead but didn’t, will be rushing at once to get their catering and other pieces for their parties or events booked and you will find there is less availability and choice as services people need are being reserved.

We know how much the details matter, and we encourage you to think ahead at this point in the season and do what you can to be prepared. You will definitely thank yourself later when you find yourself in mid February realizing you already have a few large responsibilities crossed of your list for the Party you are hosting at the end of May! And good thing too, because by then who knows how many new ideas you will have come up with for that special day! Now that you have some of the biggest hurdles behind you, you are free to get creative down to the last detail!

Summer is already peeking around the corner!

Here we are reaching the beginning of summer... Can you believe it? With Easter, Mother's day, Graduations, and Prom and Father's day behind us it can be hard to catch our breath, but it is important to do so (and to take a few... ) because summer is here and with summer comes it's own set of rewards and challenges. Cape Cod's population swells to three times it's normal size, Fourth of July and Summer adventures... Making the most of the season for yourself will benefit you personally all of those you influence!

Summer is traditionally a time of celebrations, especially weddings and for celebrating the passing of the old and the mark of the longest day of the year.... After this we savor each day of summer as the days get shorter and shorter and the nights get longer. With all the celebrating going on we can feel like our heads are spinning! 

It's important to make sure you get a chance to experience this season with all of our senses and not just power through our busy summer schedules. How can you “experience” summer?
Consider hosting a bonfire or planning a picnic. Being outside this time of year helps you and guests connect with each other and with nature's beauty. Naturally this will help you and those around you focus on each other and your experiences... not our busy world where nothing is ever done, and people are too busy to take a break from the abundance of work or incoming information stream we all experience these days.

Having fresh foods and flowers and the experience of buying them from local farmers helps keep you connected to where our bountiful resources really come from. Of course if you are hosting a large outdoor event be prepared for muddy feet...and maybe opt for a classy portable restroom solution... Hint Hint...likeElizaJ! (Especially with the hot sun beating down, your guests deserve the cleanest potties available!) Before you know it it the days of summer will be over, and fall will begin and we will be back to our routines. We hope you can take the time and really experience this summer season and all the smells, tastes and adventure that comes with it!