Licking the Christmas Card envelopes to close them

Wet cloth to dampen the flap ( apart from about 4 where I was distracted and forgot).
Spray ones arriving, sealed or not, envelopes in recycling bin. Put cards up then spray or wash hands thoroughly.

Stamps don't need licking these days, thank the Lord.

Hear Hear Bluebelle. How on earth are we going to strengthen our immune system if we’re continuously washing and jelling hands, wearing masks in a car where you’re the only occupant. (Can’t understand the car bit!!!!!)
Where we all doing this when the Flu season was here last year.
Masks and social distancing obviously don’t work, if they did the “pandemic” would be gone by now
Our freedom is slowly being taken away from us, is no one bothered ?

Just wondering how you would know if someone licked the envelope or stuck it with water ? Also the 2 nd class post is taking days to arrive & people often write their cards many days before posting so I’m sure the virus would be dead by the time you receive it . This year I made a conscious effort to just tuck the envelope inside or use a bit of sponge dipped in water instead of licking .

I didn't seal any of mine just tucked in the flap. A few people I know have had money stolen from cards where they have been ripped open before being delivered, or just not arrived So I think it's safer to just tuck in the flap as its just a card.

I hate licking envelopes so usually seal mine with one of those addressed labels which charities keep sending to me as a 'gift'!

I licked the envelopes if there was no tape. It was going to take them so long to get there any germs I might have had would have died.
I’ve always opened all letters along the top edge either with my thumb or a knife. I cut off the stamps and drop them in my collection box then shred the envelopes. Then I wash my hands. I think you have to do whatever you think will keep you safe even if it seems a bit OCD to others. Worrying is bad for your stress levels.

I never lick an envelope these days goodness knows what that glue is made of. Also I got a paper cut on my tongue once that was enough to put me off

Floriel

Unless I’ve included something like money I rarely seal card envelopes, I just tuck them in. They seem to arrive OK and I hate licking stamps and envelopes - especially now.

They don’t arrive okay. We’ve had several unsealed cards this year that have been horribly mangled, presumably in the sorting machinery.

It’s not a big deal to open letters & cards, dispose of the envelopes and then wash your hands.

No Elegran, I am definitely not a ‘Special cards’ person, mine were charity cards from WHS, I didn’t know they were peel and strip until I started writing them - think they are just catching up with the modern world.

Situpstraight2

Callistemon what a waste!

Delish with a cheesy sauce, (for extra pizazz add a sprinkling of witty repartee.)

I hope it doesn't come to that if we can't get a grocery slot!

Teacheranne

I just wash my hands after opening the post.

Me too.

It must be the "special" cards that have the pull-off sticky strips, not the bog-standard ones in boxes.

As an 'economy' layer in a lasagne, perhaps? ?

Callistemon what a waste!

Delish with a cheesy sauce, (for extra pizazz add a sprinkling of witty repartee.)

WOODMOUSE49

Letter opener then envelope on the fire.

Situpstraight2 - you're not going to eat or lick the envelope are you? If you're sill worried, wash your hands after opening envelopes.

I usually eat the envelopes but decided to recycle them this year.

I always write them at my kitchen sink, which is only two feet away from the sink, BlueBell.

I knew from comments already made on Gramsnet that some people were concerned at the thought of receiving mail that had been licked, so decided not to do it.
It was no effort, and seemed like the considerate thing to do this year.

And once I had actually given it some thought, licking envelopes just felt wrong, virus or no virus. I won't be doing it again in the future.

I don’t get this.
All my cards were bought last year so the envelopes weren’t contaminated. I do not have the virus. In any case, by the time they arrive through the post, any possible contamination of the licked bit will have died off.
Of course, if it is the taste of the glue that is to be avoided, then moistening with other methods is a good idea.

Just open with a letter opener then wash your hands.

Oh for goodness sake this hygiene thing is getting out of control
Do you always write your cards by the kitchen sink then mama ?
OCD will have a hay day with this virus

Monica, this year I have used cards / envelopes out of several separate packs that I have had for a year or two, and every one of them had to be moistened to stick down.

I didn't lick my envelopes - I wet my finger under the tap to dampen the glue.
But I only sent a very small number, and would have had to find a quicker/easier way to do it if I had been sending a lot!

I have to admit I licked the envelopes but I quite understand that people may wish to leave my cards for a while before they open them.

I also have to admit that I open the cards as soon as they arrive on the mat.

Sometimes I go into an office and, when there, I have to open whatever post comes in. It is not left for days on end.

I accept that there is probably a small risk.

Why use sellotape when almost without exception all envelopes come with a strip of paper you can remove to reveal a selfstick strip.

All the evidence is that the danger of getting COVID from enevelopes or packaaging is vanishingly small. You are more likely to bang your head on a cupboard door, as I did 2 days ago.

All my post gets touched and opened the moment it come through the letterbox and all my shopping gets handled and put away.

However right from the start of COVID I have worn a mask and disposable gloves when shopping and it amazes me that so many people who are so fussy about little things will go out and touch things in shops, including door knobs etc with bare hands - and I slaver hand sanitiser all over the gloves as well, whenever I can.

2nd class post is taking 6 days here, but as the post office staff will have handled the envelope, I open them all, dispose of the envelopes in the recycling and then thoroughly wash my hands.

I used water from the tap to seal mine before posting off.

A neighbour of mine has been really strict on the 2m rule, masks and isolating since March was most put out when she asked if i liked the card she had left for me in my porch ( she crochet's cards)and i said i hadn't yet opened it because she had licked the envelope.