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2023 Survey Finds Americans Vastly Value Handwashing for Health
Cleaning & Maintenance Management ^

Posted on 04/03/2023 11:39:32 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Despite being divided on ideologies, Americans largely agree on the importance of handwashing.

While it might be true that the United States is largely divided politically, a recent survey has found that the overwhelming majority do agree that handwashing is important.

According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey™ from Bradley Corp., a provider of commercial restroom and industrial safety solutions, 93% of 1,025 respondents said they believe handwashing is essential to maintaining their overall health. That sentiment was nearly universal—no matter the gender, age, or geography of the respondent.

The survey also found that Americans increase hand hygiene when traveling and for special occasions. During road trips, 75% of adults said they make a conscious effort to wash their hands wherever they stop along the way, and 69% reported being diligent on handwashing when at an airport. When a special occasion or the holidays approach, 63% said they remain similarly mindful of their hand hygiene.

“Handwashing, using soap and warm water, is an easy and effective way to reduce the spread of disease-causing organisms,” said medical microbiologist Michael P. McCann, Ph.D., professor and chair of biology at Saint Joseph’s University. “Given the ease with which some of these organisms can be spread on solid surfaces, in food, and by other means, handwashing is something that everyone should do after activities like using the restroom.”

Typical American Hand Hygiene Behavior As for typical hand hygiene behaviors, the Americans surveyed fell into the following categories presented by the survey:

“Rule followers”—those that apply soap, lather it up, scrub completely, rinse, and then dry: 51% “Lather and linger”—those that do a thorough job of lathering and washing: 35% “Twice as good”—those that always use two pumps of soap: 33% “Human dryer”—those who wipe off their wet hands using their clothing: 20% “Air it out”—those who rely on air drying their hands after washing: 17% “Rinse and run”—those who only use water and omit soap and drying: 14% “Skip it all”—those who never take the time to wash their hands: 3%. Regarding those who opt out on hand hygiene, the survey found that most Americans (65%) negatively viewed such behavior, while another 40% saw the touching of one’s nose, mouth, or eyes as a turn off.

For business facilities, poor restroom maintenance not only presented as a bad image but also risked a reduction in sales, as 52% said that an unkempt restroom impacts whether or not they’ll return to the establishment.

On the other hand, nearly 60% said they were likely to spend more money at a business with clean, well-maintained restrooms. The same percent would make a point of going to a location that offers pleasant facilities.

Germ Avoidance Techniques The survey reflected a keen awareness by Americans of germs and a willingness to avoid them. In fact, 82% of the adults surveyed said they value the importance of touchless fixtures in restrooms.

In an effort to avoid touching surfaces, 62% said they use a paper towel to avoid touching toilet flushers, faucets, and door handles; 43%, especially women, operate the flusher with their foot; 31% hover over the toilet seat; and 27% use their behind to open and close doors.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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1 posted on 04/03/2023 11:39:32 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

For 2020-2021-2022, Handwashing was the Second-most washed body-part.

Brains was solidly in first place.


2 posted on 04/03/2023 11:43:50 AM PDT by C210N (Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.)
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To: nickcarraway

News to me, considering how many guys leave the men’s room after doing their business without a visit to the lavatory.


3 posted on 04/03/2023 11:43:51 AM PDT by fwdude (Society has been fully polarized now, and you have to decide on which pole you want to be found.)
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To: nickcarraway

Pretty soon handwriting will be the law of the land while your shoes you walked into the office with are covered in spit, urine, and feces. This dystopia we live in is too bizarre.


4 posted on 04/03/2023 11:45:30 AM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Rufus T Firefly lives on. )
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To: nickcarraway
Literally Everything These “Mean Girl” Podcasters Say About Handwashing Is Wrong
5 posted on 04/03/2023 11:45:35 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

(Handwashing)


6 posted on 04/03/2023 11:46:06 AM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Rufus T Firefly lives on. )
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To: blackdog

Handwriting?


7 posted on 04/03/2023 11:50:04 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
I carry a small Microchenille towel for hand drying while traveling because the air driers just do not work very well. The boys follow Dad's example and use their t-shirts.

I also carry hand cream for us to use because public bathroom soaps are often harsh.

Yes, I am a bit obsessive about hand washing.

8 posted on 04/03/2023 11:56:06 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ("EATING... BABIES.... IS NOT.... COOL!" -Rath)
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To: C210N

I definitely didn’t increase my hand washing. It stayed the same. I used hand sanitizer twice in two years. I firmly believe hand sanitizers have resulted in a sicker society. We need germs to fight off diseases.


9 posted on 04/03/2023 11:57:55 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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To: nickcarraway

Yeah. Intellectual mistake being in a hurry. My bad.


10 posted on 04/03/2023 12:01:42 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Rufus T Firefly lives on. )
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To: blackdog

But what did you mean?


11 posted on 04/03/2023 12:03:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: napscoordinator
Bacteria and viruses have two environmental defenses for self preservation. One is a protein shell or coating. The other is a fats or lipids coating. The later will also generate a biofilm (slime) to insulate itself if temperature, pH, or atmosphere, are inhospitable.

Soap and hot water tear up the lipids protection and slime. Solvents like alcohol and germicidal chemicals tear up the protein shell protective coating types.

12 posted on 04/03/2023 12:08:46 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Rufus T Firefly lives on. )
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To: napscoordinator

Did my comment about ‘brains’ with a straight face really go unnoticed?


13 posted on 04/03/2023 12:13:06 PM PDT by C210N (Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.)
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To: nickcarraway

Handwashing is going to become the next in medical advancement mandates for our own good. Public schools will have mandatory handwashing periods where it is forced . Hand sanitizing dips will be mandated. Vinyl or latex gloves will be required in public spaces. Anyone not wearing gloves will not be signaling the right virtue of submission and compliance.


14 posted on 04/03/2023 12:15:40 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Rufus T Firefly lives on. )
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To: nickcarraway

There are some nasty germs everywhere. Wash your hands!


15 posted on 04/03/2023 1:18:37 PM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dreams)
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To: Jimmy Valentine

I lather up many times a day but not so the family no matter how often I bug them.


16 posted on 04/03/2023 1:22:58 PM PDT by bgill
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To: C210N

LOL. No!


17 posted on 04/03/2023 1:24:17 PM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: nickcarraway

Where I’m currently employed we are a diverse work force with people from every shithole country in the world and some of our employees will NOT flush the toilet. Others wipe themselves but throw the tissue in the wastebasket instead of the toilet! And HR won’t say or do anything about it because they’re cowards.


18 posted on 04/03/2023 1:28:20 PM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: subterfuge
Others wipe themselves but throw the tissue in the wastebasket instead of the toilet!

Some countries have plumbing systems that won't tolerate tissue.

19 posted on 04/03/2023 1:31:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Or, when they don’t flush they are “conserving water.” So let’s invite another 20 million shit smearers into the country.


20 posted on 04/03/2023 1:36:18 PM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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