Tis the Season… to Stay Clean: The Unseen Perils of Festive Shopping Trips & Outings

The Silent Symphony of Germs

Picture this: twinkling fairy lights glimmer overhead, festive tunes float through the air, and shoppers scurry about, arms laden with the perfect gift. Amid the joy and chaos, a hidden world hums, a microscopic symphony of bacteria and viruses (for ease let’s just call them germs!) lurking on every escalator handrail and cash machine button. It’s enough to make even the most seasoned shopper clutch their sanitiser like a talisman.
Previous research* from Initial Washroom Hygiene revealed that the most magical time of the year may also be the grubbiest. Christmas shopping hotspots are teeming with microbial contamination that is up to 20 times higher than the average toilet seat. Suddenly, the bustling high street feels less like a winter wonderland and more like a microbial minefield.

Hidden Germs: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

As you browse for the perfect present, you’re not just touching merchandise or withdrawing cash at ATMs, you’re making contact with millions of invisible hitchhikers. Escalator handrails, for example, we found to harbour a staggering 8,186 ATP units** (a measure of biological contamination). That’s enough to make Santa’s “naughty list” seem tame.

Pedestrian crossing buttons and lift panels weren’t far behind, racking up scores that should make even the most oblivious shopper pause. Ironically, the humble toilet seat***, was practically pristine by comparison, averaging a mere 220 ATP units. Who knew the porcelain throne could be such a germaphobe’s haven?

Touchpoints: A Bacterial Ballet

Let’s take a closer look at the unsung villains of festive outings:

• Escalator Handrails: With their revolving, rubbery texture, they play host to more hands than a Christmas cracker. Unfortunately, many of those hands bring their microbial entourage along for the ride.
• Pedestrian Crossing Buttons: Pressed with hopeful haste, these buttons often resemble petri dishes in disguise.
• Cash Machines: As shoppers withdraw their hard-earned cash, they may also inherit a dose of microbial wealth.
• Lift Buttons: A small surface with a large microbial population, these buttons are pressed with everything from gloved fingers to elbows.

Each touchpoint is like a bacterial buffet, with enough variety to rival a Christmas dinner spread.

The “Handy” Solution

So, how can you enjoy the festive season without fearing everything you touch? Fortunately, the solution is simple as regular handwashing with soap and water is your best defence. But let’s face it, finding a sink while dashing through the crowds can be about as likely as finding a parking spot at peak shopping hours. Enter the unsung hero of hygiene: hand sanitiser.

Carrying a small bottle of hand sanitiser is like having a personal hygiene guardian ready to banish germs with a single squirt. Combine that with mindful habits, like avoiding face-touching and you can shop with confidence.

Why Clean Hands Matter

Beyond the “ick” factor, germs on common touchpoints are more than an abstract nuisance, they’re a genuine health risk. According to experts, 80% of infections are transmitted via hands. During the colder months, when colds, flu, and other illnesses spike, these unseen pathogens can turn your festive cheer into a seasonal sneeze-fest.

Businesses and public authorities also have a role to play. From providing accessible handwashing and sanitising stations to maintaining cleaner surfaces, there’s plenty they can do to help reduce contamination in high-traffic areas.

A Hygienic Holiday Mindset

While the statistics might make you squirm, there’s no need to panic. By staying informed and prepared, you can navigate even the busiest high street with ease. Remember, germs are inevitable, but illness isn’t. Simple precautions like handwashing, using sanitiser, and avoiding unnecessary contact with touchpoints can keep your holidays merry and healthy.

As you embark on your Christmas shopping adventures, take a moment to reflect on the unseen challenges lurking in plain sight. After all, it’s not just gifts you’re sharing this season, it’s also handrails, lift buttons, and more. Stay vigilant, stay clean, and let the only thing you catch this Christmas be festive cheer.

This festive season, arm yourself with good hygiene practices just as you might a warm scarf against the winter chill. The twinkling lights and jingling bells deserve your full attention, not the silent symphony of germs vying for your hands.

*About The Research: In October and November 2023, detailed surface samples were taken from 56 high-frequency touchpoints across four separate sites within central London. 

**Samples were taken using sterile surface swabs, and a rapid ATP analysis was undertaken on each sample to establish the level of microbial-related contamination on the surface of the items. This method expresses the units as Relative Light Units, with a higher ATP reading suggesting a greater level of bacterial contamination. This technique is widely used to assess the cleanliness of surfaces before and after cleaning in hospitals and other premises.

***Toilet seat samples taken in 2012 from an Initial Washroom Hygiene swabbing study found an average of 220 units.