Several television and media advertisements have stressed the need for people to thoroughly wash their hands and other touch points to avoid picking up and passing on infections and germs that can cause uncomfortable and unwanted conditions. However, door handles are never mentioned even though they are touched by every person that enters a new room at any time. A large amount of bacteria will be placed on the handles and transferred onto other people, objects and mechanisms.

The type of infections that can be picked up from dirty handles of doors are Staphylococcus Aureas, E.coli, fungal infections, viral infections such as influenza; in fact the list is an unpleasantly long one. Hand washing is the first line of defence against these bugs.

Public toilets are the worst place to catch these types of infections as the volume of people entering these places means a huge amount and variety of bacteria is deposited on the door handles. Even though you may take the time to thoroughly wash your hands before leaving, you are more than likely going to have to touch the handle once more. Although you are clean, the person who touched it before you may have just blown their nose. Harmful bacteria will still come into very close contact to you and your family, meaning lots of people are at risk of catching infections.

Carrying antiseptic wipes can be highly advantageous to those who want to avoid such unwanted interactions. These can be used to wipe all touch points that may contain a high degree and harmful amount of bacteria. Areas such as telephones, a keypad and mouse are all examples of other objects that are commonly forgotten about when cleaning.

Sterilising gel can also be used to combat the chance of infection and is also easy to carry around. This is particularly advantageous when washing hands with soap and warm water cannot be done. Simply apply the gel onto the hand and rub into the hands, ensuring that they are both evenly covered.

When cleaning your home, ensure that door handles are on top of your to-do list. This will not only make your home is clean and tidy but will also reduce the risk of family members and tenants becoming ill.