You’d think after a global pandemic, Americans would’ve gotten the memo: wash your hands. And yet, here we are—still collectively failing Hygiene 101. A new survey reveals that nearly half of us are either forgetting or flat-out refusing to wash our hands at key moments—like after hitting the grocery store, grabbing coffee, or leaving the doctor’s office. Seriously?
The survey, backed by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, paints a mixed picture. About 33% of people say they’re washing up more than they did during COVID. But let’s not throw a party just yet. The rest? Still skipping the soap after sneezing, coughing, or touching germ hotspots in public.
Even though 62% correctly said scrubbing for 20 seconds with soap and water is the most effective way to kill germs, a shocking number think less time is enough, or worse, that it’s optional. And men, in particular, are dropping the ball more often than women.
Doctors are baffled. “We’ve been pushing handwashing since kindergarten,” said Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director at the NFID. “It’s basic, and it works.”
Older adults (unsurprisingly) are the MVPs of hygiene—probably because they remember life before Purell. But Gen Z? Many aren’t convinced it’s even necessary unless it’s flu season.
Newsflash: germs don’t take summer vacation. Norovirus, E. coli, and other nasties are lurking all year long. One gram of feces can harbor 1 trillion germs. That’s not a typo.
Handwashing isn’t about paranoia—it’s about prevention. You don’t need a hazmat suit, just a little soap and 20 seconds. Your future self (and anyone you shake hands with) will thank you.
Want to do better? Start here: CDC Handwashing Guide.
