The very best thing you can do to stop infections is to not rub your fingers in your eyes or stick 'em up your nose. Anything you touch in the big wide world may have viruses on, like supermarket trolley handles, door handles, hand rails to stairs and escalators, etc. People cough or sneeze into their hands and then touch these things. You then come along and touch them, rub your eyes because you have an itch and bingo, a few days later you're starting a cold. The virus runs down your tear ducts and lodges in your airways and throat.
It's as easy as that and the viruses have it sorted for their own reproduction! So good hand washing with just soap is essential, and keep your hands away from your face when you're out and about. You won't avoid everything, but this will definitely help. Hand gels are fine, but only work on hands which are already infected. They won't prevent more viruses from lurking there, unless you reapply the gel frequently after you've touched any public areas.
Hope this helps!
