Did you wash your hands properly

DID YOU WASH YOUR HANDS, PROPERLY?

‘Did you wash your hands?’ A question we’ve all heard a thousand times this year. However, a better question is ‘Did you wash your hands properly?’ Never before has good hand hygiene been so important.

Because the first week of December is National Handwashing Awareness Week, we thought it would be cool to share a few interesting facts about handwashing that will change the way you wash your hands!

Most of us are doing it wrong

Studies have shown that about 30 percent of people do not use soap when washing their hands, and 95 percent of people don’t wash their hands for long enough.
The CDC has recommended scrubbing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds – the length it takes you to sing happy birthday twice. Make sure to lather the soap all over your hands, in between your fingers and under your nails.

Soap is better than anti-bacterial gels

Plain soap and water is more effective in reducing the amount of microbes on your hand than using hand sanitiser is.
However, if soap and water is not available, using a hand sanitiser that has an alcohol level of higher than 60% is still beneficial.

Hand sanitizers don’t work on dirty hands

If your hands are dirty, greasy, or grubby, your alcohol based hand sanitiser will not be effective in killing the germs on your hands. If you can see the dirt, soap and water is definitely necessary.

You don’t need to use hot water

Studies have found that as long as you are washing your hands effectively, cold water works just as well.
Choose a temperature that feels good and relaxes you when washing your hands.

Your tap handle is basically a toilet seat

Research has shown that your bathroom tap handle rates as the 6^th most germ infected thing in your home. Now imagine in a public restroom.
Pro tip – use toilet paper or a paper towel to close the tap after you have used it to limit your exposure to the germs.