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Hygiene Habits Stall: Public Handwashing Down

Americans say they wash their hands but study finds otherwise

September 17, 2007

• FDA Warns P&G About Kids’ Hand Sanitizer • Hygiene Habits Stall: Public Handwashing Down • Plain Soap and Water Still Best for Washing Hands • Handwashing Can Save Children's Lives, Study Finds

When it comes to washing with soap and water, some Americans seem be slipping up.

In an observational study sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), slightly over three-quarters of men and women (77%) washed their hands in public restrooms -- a six percent decline from a similar study conducted in 2005.

Yet in a separate telephone survey, 92% of adults say they wash their hands in public restrooms.

The observational research conducted by Harris Interactive suggests that women still are much better at publicly washing their hands than their male counterparts: 88 percent of the women compared with just 66 percent of the guys. Compared with 2005, that’s a two percent drop-off for the ladies. Men really slacked off -- 75 percent were observed washing their hands two years ago.

“Gender differences aside, hand hygiene is a serious matter,” said ASM spokeswoman Dr. Judy Daly. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the single most important thing we can all do to keep from getting infectious diseases and spreading them to others is to clean our hands.” Daly is the Director of the Microbiology Laboratories at the Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City.

“There’s no doubt about it – we need to do a better job of washing with soap and water,” said Brian Sansoni, SDA Vice President of Communication. “Getting beyond the grossness factor here, we need to be smarter about our health and take the 20 seconds to lather up. And if soap and water aren’t available, reach for the hand sanitizer or the hand wipes.”

Broad Shoulders, Cleanest Hands

Of all those observed, adults in Chicago came out on top when it came to handwashing: 81 percent lathered up. New York turned out to be the “second city” in this study, with 79 percent washing up, followed by Atlanta (75%) and San Francisco (73%).

Men really strike out when it comes to handwashing at sporting events. Only 57 percent of the guys were observed washing their hands at Turner Field in Atlanta (the lowest figure at any of the locales). On the other hand, women hit a home run: 95 percent were observed cleaning their hands (the highest percentage observed in 2007).

The cleanest men were at a place with a lot of water: Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium (81 percent observed handwashing). This equals the lowest percentage observed among women -- also at Shedd Aquarium.

Same As It Ever Was

Americans’ self-reported hygiene behavior in 2007 remains consistent with what past surveys show. Among 1,001 men and women interviewed via telephone in 2007, 92 percent say they always wash their hands after going to a public restroom and 86 percent say they do likewise after using the bathroom in the home. In 2005, those figures were 91 percent and 83 percent, respectively.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) say they always wash their hands after changing a diaper (same as two years ago). Seventy-eight percent say they always hand wash before handling or eating food (compared to 77% in 2005).

Only one-third (34%) of respondents say they always wash their hands after coughing or sneezing (up from 32% in 2005).

“Many cases of colds, flu, and foodborne illness are spread by unclean hands, and these diseases are responsible for billions of dollars each year in health care expenditures and productivity losses in the United States,” Dr. Daly pointed out. “Worldwide, infectious diseases remain the leading cause of illness and death.”

“We need to remember the common sense times to clean our hands,” said SDA’s Sansoni. “For example: after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing into our hands, before food preparation and when we eat, after changing diapers, after petting your dog or cat, and after taking out the trash.”

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