5 Ways Handwashing Changed

This year, the World Health Organization will celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5 with the goal to highlight the importance of hand hygiene in health care globally. In correlation to this Saturday, Bradley Co. released new data from its annual Healthy Handwashing Survey™, which surveyed more than 1,000 American adults about their use of public restrooms.

The survey found the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remain—especially in terms of hand hygiene and public restrooms. Today, the vast majority (80%) of Americans said they are now more conscious of encountering germs in restrooms because of COVID-19. Stores (55%), health care facilities (52%), and restaurants (40%) cause the most concern about encountering germs.

“While there is a lingering sensitivity to germs that cause sickness, the majority of Americans appear to have raised their awareness of the importance of handwashing, and many have stepped up—and continued—their handwashing behavior,” said Jon Dommisse, Bradley vice president of business development and strategy.

The survey found Americans are prioritizing handwashing in ways including:

• Practicing better hand hygiene—In 2009, at the outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus, only 45% of Americans opted to increase their hand hygiene in response to seasonal virus increases. In contrast, in the spring of 2020, 90% of Americans washed their hands more diligently. Respondents washed their hands on average 10.5 times a day, compared to six times per day before COVID-19. This year, handwashing activity has leveled out at 74% of American adults who wash their hands more frequently (or more thoroughly) in response to seasonal virus outbreaks.
• Relying on handwashing to stay healthy—According to the survey, 95% of adults believe handwashing is essential to maintaining their overall health—a viewpoint that’s nearly universal across gender, age, and geography. In addition to the physical benefits, 72% said they feel healthier or safer immediately after washing their hands.
• Focusing on handwashing when traveling—During travel, 77% of Americans make a point to stop in public restrooms in airports or during road trips specifically to wash their hands. In fact, 67% make a point to wash more diligently before a trip to avoid sickness.
• Ramping up handwashing when out in public—Americans wash their hands 89% of the time after using a public restroom.The top reasons for not washing hands in a public bathroom are empty soap or paper towel dispensers or a nonworking or unclean sink. Americans also are critical of others who don’t uphold public standards for washing their hands. Observing someone who doesn’t wash up leaves a negative impression for 70% of respondents. Approximately 70% of total respondents also have seen others leave public restrooms without washing their hands, and men see this more frequently (79% men versus 59% women). More than half of Americans have a negative impression when they encounter someone with dirty or sticky hands.
• Favoring touchless fixtures in public restrooms—The majority (86%) of Americans think it’s important that restrooms have touchless fixtures, a preference that has remained high ever since the pandemic. Additionally, 70% said they are more likely to return to a business offering no-touch capabilities in its restrooms. The top touchless restroom features considered most important are faucets, flushers, soap dispensers, and paper towel dispensers.