Photo by Matthew Tkocz on Unsplash

Traveling with a Clean Freak in the Age of the Coronavirus

My travel routines have long been the stuff of legend and ridicule. Mostly ridicule. But they seem almost sane during a pandemic.

Disclaimer right from the start: I cannot promise to protect you from the coronavirus.

But after getting sick on several trips, as well as traveling to some truly dangerous parts of the world, I’ve developed a routine that leaves most viruses and bacteria quaking in their microscopic boots.

If you still plan to (or need to) travel during this time of uncertainty, there are steps you can take to minimize your contact with germs. And not a single one of them involves a mask.

Take a flat pack of disinfecting wipes. Depending on the length of my stay or the number of hotels in my trip, I might pack more than one. I use them everywhere:

• In a plane, I wipe down the seat in which I’m sitting, the seatbelt buckle, the seat-back recline button, the tray table (both sides), the window shade, any screens, and any visible spots on the seat back in front of me. I use multiple wipes — I certainly don’t want to spread stuff further. I also might wipe down my phone and the handle of my carry-on, if they’ve been touched by security and ridden…