What do some consider the best way to keep from getting a cold?

Some consider washing your hands regularly the best way to keep from getting a cold.

Common colds are viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, most often caused by rhinoviruses. The viruses can spread through respiratory droplets, close contact, contaminated surfaces, and hand-to-face contact. Regular hand washing helps remove viruses before they reach the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Effective washing means using soap and clean running water, rubbing all hand surfaces for at least 20 seconds, rinsing, and drying thoroughly. Hands are especially worth washing after coughing, sneezing, or blowing the nose, and before eating.

Hand washing is not an absolute guarantee: avoiding close contact with sick people, improving ventilation, and avoiding unwashed hand contact with the face also reduce risk. There is no universal vaccine for the common cold because many different viruses and rapidly changing strains can cause it. Antibiotics do not prevent or cure an ordinary cold.