Why does hand washing prevent colds?
Contrary to popular belief, colds are not “caught” through droplets in the air. They are most commonly passed from person to person through “hand to hand” contact. In other words, someone with a cold touches their mouth or nose, and then touches a surface (doorknob, food, etc). If you then touch the same surface and bring your hand to your own nose or eyes, you could introduce the cold germs into your system. That is why hand washing is so frequently stressed as a way to prevent colds.
