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I suffer from fibromyalgia & rheumatoid arthritis& the medication I'm on leaves my immune system compromised so I have to have the flu jab every year but also avoid anyone who has any cold or flu viruses. I also take echinacea as a preventative measure & I drink pure pineapple juice which is great for sore throats

Eating plenty of vitamin c rich foods to keep thed immune system strong.

Be proactive in terms of colds and sniffles, and do all the right things ... cover your mouth when coughing and wash regularly and carefully.

Get the flu jab. I make sure my diet is good with plenty of fruit and veg and I keep zinc and vitamin C lozenges in. I also carry hand gel around and if any one sneezes are use it and clean door handles etc. I am not obsessed with germs generally but I do feel that so many colds are avoidable if people would stay in. I get cross when checkout people in super markets have colds and are pressured to work.

Lots of hand washing for me. Had my first cold for years in November after gobbling down my sandwich in a classroom without washing my hands first. As I was on teaching supply in a class of snotty 7 year olds, it was a very bad idea.I didn't even enjoy my lunch because I knew it was a risky thing to do.

I use First Defence nasal spray at the first sign of a sneeze. It irritates the lining of the nose and stops the virus taking hold. I have not had a head cold for over six years.

Turn your heating down a couple of degrees, in my experience people who have constant colds and snuffles have their houses too warm.

Wash your hands and hope others do the same- the last cold I caught was from someone handing me a mug of tea. I didn't realise until I had drunk half of it that they had a cold - too late!

Flu jab on 1st November each year. Carry small bottle of antibacterial hand wash with you every where and use it very regularly. Don't touch your face with your hands. Take a multivitamin daily. Take zinc lozenges and garlic at first sign of a cold.

Nelliemoser is right. All children need to be exposed to some germs to build an immunity.

You cannot wash your hands often enough. After shopping, using public transport etc etc.

You catch colds from contact with other people - you could avoid other people but it is better to avoid colds by building up your immunity - this is done by not being too clean - exposure to a few everyday germs does not normally result in illness. We only use disinfectant in our house if a family member has an infectious bug the rest of us do not want to catch

I use a daily Vitamin C tablet throughout the year but this is never as good as plenty of fruit and vegetables. Some people think you can catch a cold by getting chilled - I'm not convinced by this, but do believe if we keep warm, psychologically, we feel well so keeping wrists, ankles and head warm are the crucial points to focus on.

I load up with homemade vegetable soup... it's not scientific in any way, but I just feel I might avoid colds if I eat lots of vegetables .

I do think that taking echinacea works, though, I now take some if I'm flying anywhere (recently, I have always come down with a cold after a flight, how I kept so healthy when I was working as an Air Stewardess many years ago, I have no idea!). I also take some if I come into close contact with someone with a cold, and if I do succumb I think echinacea shortens the illness.

Minimal contact when out shopping, antibacterial wet wipes used regularly, along with a diluted disinfectant spray at home, I usually buy Zoflora, but occasionally use Dettol too !

Work in retail for forty years, you'll be immune to everything after that!

Eat a healthy balanced diet with vitamin C and zinc.
Reduce stress and get plenty of rest in order to fight off winter bugs.
Wash hands regularly.
Wipe door handles and toilet handles with a product such as dettol, to prevent passing on germs.

An old friend of mine always said wash your hands when you come in the house. Last month young GD had terrible cold I gave her a container to put her tissues in wiped all the door handles and taps with anti bacterial wipes and of course washed out hands frequently and fortunately she did not pass cold on.

I agree with those voicing concerns about the overuse of disinfectants. I do use some Dettol products for cleaning work surfaces etc. In the main though I rely on basic hygiene along the lines already detailed by others. I travel by public transport, have four young grandchildren, am out and about in company a lot and rarely have a cold so I must be doing something right I don't want to tempt Fate though

lots of washing hands, using disposable tissues,and taking paracetemol are my main cold and flu must do's x

As granny used to say ' Coughs and sneezes spread diseases '. I always carry antibacterial spray.

Cleanliness is next to wellness. Avoid close contact with whoever has a cold if you can. Always wash hands(doors/handles). If you happened to catch the cold try honey, lemon, ginger and lemongrass. X

Have the jab. If feeling off-colour have a medicinal "Hot Toddy" or two.

I live abroad and I can't buy Dettol in the shops.Miss it from time to time when cuts need attention.
Always used in childhood when I fell over and grazed my knees while out playing.Those were the days.......

I use a nasal gel supposed to prevent cold and flu germs spreading when I know I'm going to be in close contact with poorly people. I was a bit dubious at first but decided to give it a go and I've definitely caught fewer colds since I've started using it.

I also get a flu jab every year.