The Forgotten Pandemic: Why Handwashing Still Matters (And How to Do It Right)

Cue M.C. Hammer’s “Don’t Touch This” as you read this. Because nothing says ‘public service’ like reminding people to wash their hands—again.

SURPRISE! There are MILLIONS of non-hand washers lurking among us, even after what the global pandemic taught us! Seriously.

You might remember that during the pandemic we were schooled daily about the importance of handwashing with soap as a key step to protect ourselves from COVID. And we were doing it—78% of us at least, according to a US study in 2020, were washing our hands six to fifteen times per day.

Newsflash: that number is now down to just 56%. Health experts are quite surprised, and well, disheartened as they had hoped that the pandemic would have instilled a life habit in society for washing our hands with soap.

And pre-pandemic, those numbers were even WORSE!

A global study in 2015 said that just 26.2% of global bathroom visits with potential “fecal contact” were followed with hand washing with soap! That’s just 1 out of 4! (Um…ew!!!)

WTH?! Because apparently, common sense isn’t so common

Well, there seem to be several reasons why we humans are ditching this seemingly easy solution to avoiding viruses and germs.

Firstly, let’s talk about access.

As you can imagine, there is indeed a lack of adequate facilities and soap in poorer parts of the world. In the least developed countries, only 27% of the population has access to these things (The World Health Organization and UNICEF estimate that around three billion people don’t have either at home).

This should be an easy fix.

But even in many high-income nations, where both are abundant, only 50% of people actually use them after going to the toilet!

Inquiring Minds Wanna Know Why

So what gives then, if it is not just about access? Well, it seems that there are some real psychological reasons at play.

Let’s take a look at them:

One factor that’s thought to have an impact is optimism. “Optimism bias”—the annoying little voice that says, ‘That stomach bug? Oh, it’ll hit someone else, not me.’ This positive, albeit irrational, outlook is universal—found in diverse human cultures and across demographics.

And even when knowing all the risks, like with those in the medical profession and food services, the bias is still there. Research has shown that people who aren’t so squeamish are less likely to wash their hands, and that when they do, they don’t spend as long under the tap.

Lack of being conscientious is another impact on our handwashing habits. A study early in 2020 showed that those who scored more highly for conscientiousness were more likely to social distance and wash their hands.

Lastly, there is disgust. One study of handwashing in Haiti and Ethiopia found that a person’s knowledge and awareness of health matters weren’t nearly as relevant to whether they washed their hands as the potency of their feelings of disgust. Further recent studies have found that actually eliciting disgust, like having a picture in washrooms of a dinner roll with a piece of poo on it (pardon my mouth gag), seems to have the most powerful and long-lasting effect on changing hand-washing habits.

Why So Much Handwringing Over Handwashing?

Consider that washing your hands is thought to be one of the MOST life-saving inventions in the history of humankind—contributing to an average lifespan which now hovers around 80 years worldwide, rather than 40 or so as was the case in 1850, when handwashing was first popularized.

Handwashing with soap can reduce the risk of diarrheal diseases by up to 40% and respiratory illnesses by 20%. It’s such a simple act, yet it’s a lifesaver.

Here’s why:

Illness Prevention: Germs are everywhere—on doorknobs, phones, and even your favorite coffee cup. Washing your hands properly removes them before they have a chance to make you or others sick.
Antibiotic Resistance: Reducing infections through proper hygiene means fewer antibiotics, which slows down the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Global Gaps: In many parts of the world, lack of access to soap and water continues to put entire communities at risk.

Clean hands aren’t just about staying healthy; they’re about protecting others too. Because nobody wants to be “that person” spreading germs.

Common Handwashing Mistakes (Are You Guilty?)

Let’s talk about where we’re going wrong. Here are some common handwashing faux pas:

Skipping Soap: Rinsing your hands with water alone doesn’t remove germs effectively.
Not Washing Long Enough: A quick splash-and-go isn’t cutting it. The magic number is 20 seconds.
Forgetting Key Moments: Think you’re fine because you washed before dinner? What about after touching your phone, handling money, or sneezing?
Drying on Dirty Towels: All that effort goes down the drain if you’re drying off on a germ-laden towel.

For the love of all things clean, stop treating handwashing like a chore—it’s your first line of defense!

How to Do It Right (Without Feeling Like a Germophobe)

Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering the art of handwashing:

Wet your hands: Use clean, running water.
Lather up: Apply soap and work up a good lather—front, back, between fingers, and under nails. You don’t need that fancy antibacterial soap either—the ones you can buy without a prescription don’t kill germs better than plain soaps.
Scrub for 20 seconds: Hum “Happy Birthday” twice or your favorite 20-second chorus.
Rinse thoroughly: Make sure all the soap is gone.
Dry completely: Use a clean towel or air dry. Damp hands attract bacteria and because the hands are moist, these are spread more quickly.

Quick tip: It doesn’t matter if the water is hot or cold—what counts is the soap and scrubbing action.

When To Wash Your Hands

You can’t keep your hands germ-free. But washing your hands often with soap and water can help limit the spread of germs.

Always wash your hands before and after:

Making and eating food.
Treating wounds or caring for a sick person.
Touching an item or surface that is touched often by other people, such as door handles, gas pumps, or shopping carts.
Going into or leaving a public place.
Putting in or taking out contact lenses.

Always wash your hands after:

Using the toilet, changing a diaper, or cleaning a child who has used the toilet.
Touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste.
Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Touching garbage.
Touching pet food or pet treats.

And of course, just wash your darn hands when they look dirty.

When Handwashing Isn’t an Option

Sometimes, soap and water aren’t available. That’s where hand sanitizers come in:

Use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Apply enough to cover all hand surfaces and rub until dry.
Limitations: Sanitizers don’t remove dirt or grease and are less effective against certain germs like norovirus.

Portable handwashing stations and wipes are also great alternatives, especially in emergencies or low-resource settings.

Travelers and those on the go should consider having some travel-size sanitizers or biodegradable wipes handy. There also even travel-sized soap sheets that are great to turn to.

The Bigger Picture

Handwashing isn’t just personal; it’s a global issue.

Millions still lack access to clean water and soap, which contributes to preventable diseases and deaths.

So what can we do?

Advocate for access: Support policies and organizations that promote hygiene and clean water initiatives.
Donate hygiene kits: Simple tools like soap and sanitizer can make a huge difference in underserved communities.
Teach kids early: Habits formed young can last a lifetime.

Handwashing is simple, powerful, and non-negotiable. It’s not just about you; it’s about protecting your family, friends, and everyone you touch (literally and figuratively).

Let’s turn soap and water into our secret weapons. Wash up, save lives, and keep the germs where they belong—in the history books. The waaay back history books!