Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has added television advertisements to its £1.6 million campaign promoting the Dettol antibacterial range.

The three-month educational campaign, which launched at the end of November, is set to run until the end of February. The TV adverts launched this month to reinforce the campaign’s message about the importance of “health habits” to avoid cold and flu over the winter months, RB said.

“Hardy” cold viruses could live on surfaces for up to seven days, while flu viruses could survive for two, RB said. The Dettol range of sprays killed 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses, claimed the manufacturer, which aimed to drive awareness of the “three simple steps” of “washing”, “spraying” and “wiping away” to protect against these dangers.

The campaign also encompassed digital platforms and “practical” information leaflets, RB said. It aimed to target men and women aged 25 to 44 years and reinforce the message of NHS Choices, which recommended regular hand washing to remove viruses.

Information leaflets can be downloaded from Dettol