Clean surfaces reduce risk of colds

29 Oct 2008

Household surfaces such as door handles, TV remotes and bathroom taps play an integral part in the spread of the cold virus in families, new research has found.

A study carried out at the University of Virginia shows that household hygiene is a key factor in protecting your family against infection during the cold and flu season.

According to the findings, the cold virus can survive on home surfaces for up to two days and can spread around family members by having contact with communal surfaces.

Professor John Oxford, virologist at St Bartholemew's and the Royal London Hospital and chair of the UK Hygiene Council, commented: "The cold virus is a hardy one because it survives on surfaces for so long and can then be passed on, putting the whole family at risk of infection.

"Home hygiene is key in the fight against colds. By focusing on the key hygiene hotspots, cleaning them with a quality disinfectant product, families can help protect themselves without trying to sanitise their homes."

The government recently recommended that doctors no longer prescribe antibiotics to treat common colds.

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