He said with supermarkets so busy, being able to clean trolley or basket handles was a "basic necessity" if people wanted to reduce their risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 at shops.

"Over the last week and a half I have asked members of the staff to follow up on the Coles supermarket providing disinfectant wipes but nothing has happened," Gavin Workman said.

"When I complained for the fourth time [I] was directed to the Coles store manager ... who told me the dispenser was broken.

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"Now I know they haven't provided disinfectant wipes there for ages, maybe years, so they have had a long time to rectify this situation. The trolley handles at the Coles supermarket have sometimes been so sticky that I have to choose the best trolley."

A Coles spokeswoman said there should be a supply there, replenished regularly.

"As there has been high demand for these items, particularly during peak shopping periods, we encourage our customers to let us know if they need a refill as our team members may be busy in store replenishing shelves or helping customers with their transactions," she said.

Reader Mark Schira said there was a solution from "basic STEM knowledge".

"Just get a bottle of alcohol," Dr Schira, a lecturer at the University of Wollongong, said.

"Put it in a spray bottle, and spray it on the handle before you touch it.

"Alcohol is a super great cleaning and disinfectant tool."

This may prove easier said than done, however, as almost all stores in the region have sold out of isopropyl alcohol, most likely to people seeking to make their own hand sanitiser.

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