One-third of people don’t use soap when washing their hands, researchers say

According to a new study by Carl Borchgrevink, associate professor at Michigan State University, only 5 percent of people wash their hands well enough to kill germs that cause infections and illnesses.

The researchers working on the study visited bathrooms all over East Lansing, Michigan, which is considered to be a college town. They observed the hand-washing efforts of 3,700 people that went to the bathroom. Each observed individual was categorized as either “college-age” or “non-college-age” and their hand-washing habits were watched without being intrusive. They found that 33 percent did not use soap and 10 percent did not wash their hands at all.

The study also documented a number of other trends. Better hand-washing was reported earlier in day than in the late afternoon. Older generations, or the “non-college-age” group, washed their hands for longer periods of time and washed their hands more often. Unsurprisingly, men had poorer habits, putting less effort into washing their hands correctly. Professor Borchgrevink argues that men may have a misconception about not needing to wash their hands if they do not use the stalls.

According to the Mayo Clinic, proper hand-washing requires soap and water. The individual should wet their hands first and then apply soap. After working up a good lather, the person should rub the hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds. During this time, it is important to scrub all over the hand, including between the fingers, under the fingernails, and on the wrists and backs of the hands.