Gross! Only Five Percent Wash Their Hands Properly, New Study Finds

Lisa Franchi June 17, 2013

Hand washing is one of the easiest, least expensive and most efficient ways to reduce the risk of infection and other bacterial diseases. Unfortunately, a study found that only 5 per cent of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to destroy harmful bacteria.

The research, headed by the Michigan State University, also revealed that 33 per cent didn’t use soap and 10 per cent didn’t wash their hands at all.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, it takes 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap to kill the germs. But the current study, which involved 3,749 participants, shows that that on average, people wash their hands for as short as 6 seconds.

Furthermore, the researchers found that 15 per cent of men didn’t wash their hands at all, compared with 7 per cent of women. And when they washed their hands, only 50 per cent of men used soap while 78 per cent of women did. If the sink was dirty, people are less likely to wash their hands. And if there was a sign encouraging them to wash their hands, they were more likely to do so.

Hand washing was more prevalent earlier in the day. According to Carl Borchgrevink, lead investigator and associate professor of hospitality business at MSU, people who go out at night for a meal or drink tend to be in a relaxed mode which makes hand washing less important.

Borchgrevink said their findings have implications for both the consumers and those who operate restaurants and hotels. "Imagine you’re a business owner and people come to your establishment and get food-borne illness through the faecal-oral route – because people didn’t wash their hands – and then your reputation is on the line. You could lose your business." he said.

The study was among the first of its kind to take into account different factors such as the duration of the hand washing and whether people used soap. Findings were published in the Journal of Environmental Health.

Proper hand washing

It only takes about 15 seconds to wash your hands correctly, according to the NHS. That’s equivalent to singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice. First, wet hands with water, then apply enough soap to wash and cover all the hand surfaces. Rub hands palm to palm. Wash the right palm over the hand with interlaced fingers (and same thing with the left hand). Wash the back of the fingers opposing palms with fingers interlocked. Then rub the right thumb clasped in the left palm and vice versa. Rinse hands with water. Dry thoroughly with clean water.

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Eww! Only 5 percent of us wash hands correctly