What do you do when seasonal "bugs" upset holiday plans?

@blm1007blm1007 Aargh, Barbara, those eye shields would definitely be a step too far for me!

I just be sure to use hand sanitizer or hand washing frequently.

@sueinmn I understand your "a step too far for me." I find that I forget once in a while to grab the bottle of hand sanitizer and use it, that I keep in the car door pocket, after having been out shopping etc. and was trying to build in another reminder. Haven't searched for an eye shield yet. Washing is best and hard to do fully once one gets back in the car unless we go 'way out' and carry a gallon of water and hand soap! Ha...and no thanks to that one for me.!
Barbara

@formergardener It is ordinary plastic 1/4 inch plumbing line. Ours is vertical, and doesn't hold water, so I don't worry about frequent replacement, but if I had horizontal tubing I would replace it when I replaced the filters. It is VERY cheap, comes in 25', 50' and 100' rolls.

Filters are rated by gallons of use, I can't remember the specifics. Instead of trying to calculate, we just replace. The same would apply to a countertop unit (I don't have one.) The choice between countertop and undersink is either/or - you don't need both. I only described the countertop unit because @blm1007blm1007 was concerned about access to the undersink model for filter changing.

I forgot to mention one step - which we do as a precaution - we wash the filter housing tubes with dish detergent and a brush when changing the filters and rinse them well so no crud builds up.

@blm1007blm1007 I have mini-bottles of hand sanitizer in a silicon over-cover attached to the strap of my purse, my backpack, my keychain... I keep larger bottles in the car, camper & house for refilling. I use a sanitizer with a moisturizer so my hands don't shrivel up!
We also wipe down out steering wheels, controls and door handles in the car with hospital grade sanitizing wipes (my daughter furnishes them - don't know brand or source) ordered through her pharmacy.
And of course, I wash, wash, wash my hands - drives me crazy when other adults don't, kids are much better if taught right. When we entertain we provide scoops/spoons/forks/tongs for all foods, yet some people persist in using their hands. I keep the bags/main containers in the house and put out a little at a time because leftovers from these gatherings go straight into the trash.

@sueinmn Thank you, Sue, for the clarification. So, the plastic tubing is meant for the under sink unit, not the counter one. The filters for larger particles are also for under sink filtration.
I would be doing the countertop filter system. We had something similar years ago, but this was before BE and MAC, and I am sure that it was not a 0.2 micron filter.

If you were to opt for the counter system, would you use the diverter when doing dishes, in order to prolong the filter life? Is there any tubing to worry about cleaning, as one would need to do if they used a water dispenser? I also wonder how the counter filters would do in an area that has hard water, as our does. Do you think that the system could perform well for at least 2 months?

Thank you so much, again for all of your helpful input. So glad, too, that you had a wonderful holiday with family. Blessings to all of you!

@sueinmn Good ideas about strapping to the items. I'm not sure what a silicon over cover is??? I can't picture it.
This is the first year, in quite a while, that my hands have not looked like they are cracking and shriveled up. I have been so much better about many things since this diagnosis. How we sometimes take things for granted when healthy.
Found this after your post. Examples of Hospital-Grade Wipes:
PDI Super Sani-Cloth (Alcohol-based)
Clorox Healthcare Bleach Wipes
Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes
Caviwipes (CaviCide)
You will appreciate this. Funny when I think about it. When I taught school I made sure the kids went straight to the bathrooms before going to the lunch cafeteria. With the boys I made sure I smelled their hands when they came out. The girls were good about it. I did not see this visit to the bathrooms with other classrooms being done, shameful. I think this may have been the one reason I rarely/hardly... if ever.. had kids absent.
I'm bad....the teacher in me comes out even with adults that seem to not understand how to handle such things as dips and chips or other items when a utensil should be used. If I don't see someone doing right I will hand them a utensil and indicate that it would be of help with what they are wanting to plate. So far I haven't had food thrown at me. Ha.
Thanks for your ideas and response.
Barbara

@sueinmn Sue, could you please explain about the carbon filter under your sink?

What kind of holder/apparatus do you use under your sink for the filter? How do you place it? I am not understanding this.

I am also curious about how often you replace both the counter filter and the filter under the sink. You purchase the filter housing for the counter filter, and then you purchase the filters to insert separately. So, those counter filters are not meant exclusively for RV use- is that correct? There is a diverted which can be used when you do not need to filter the water- for example, when you are cleaning the sink, etc? Approximately how long do you use the filters before replacement?

This sounds like a good alternative to the Pallet filters. We currently order 5 gallon jugs of spring water to be delivered, and I boil a large pot regularly for drinking. We also have the Lifestraw pitchers for rinsing produce, brushing teeth, etc… I am thinking that the expense of those two things is greater than what you do.

Also, thank you so very much for the link to the bulk masks on Amazon! WOW ! What a deal!!! Do you always use the N95 masks, or do you also use the KN95? Which KN95 do you use? I really like the brand of N95 that you use. They are quite comfortable.

Thank you for all of your very helpful suggestions.

@blm1007blm1007 Ask at your local pharmacy. I can't post a picture or link right now.