Public Restroom Hand Washing Declines

Do you consistently wash your hands with both soap and water after using a public restroom? If so, you might be part of a shrinking minority, according to a national hand washing survey by Bradley Corporation, a manufacturer of plumbing fixtures and other washroom products. The survey shows that  although 95% of Americans say it's important to wash your hands after using a public restroom, 70% admit to having merely rinsed their hands after using the washroom rather than thoroughly washing with soap and water.

Skipping the sink altogether after using a public toilet is also on the rise. This year's survey reveals that 81% of respondents have witnessed someone leaving a restroom without washing their hands,
compared to 74% of last year's respondents.

The survey also shows a significant disparity between the hand washing habits of women and men. While 74% of women say they always wash their hands after using a public restroom, only 60% of men say the same.When asked why they have skipped washing their hands, women most often say they use hand sanitizer instead, although according to CDC, hand sanitizers do not remove all kinds of germs as effectively as washing with soap and water. Men are nearly two and a half times more likely than women to say they skipped washing because they didn't feel a need for it, although the reasons men most often cite for skipping are a lack of soap, followed by an unclean sink.

Dissatisfaction with the conditions of public restrooms is also on the rise, with 63% of respondents reporting complaints such as bad smells, toilets that are clogged or not flushed, and overall dirty appearances of washrooms and their fixtures. A majority of consumers (64%) say they hesitate before patronizing a business a second time after having had a bad experience in their washroom, which reveals that business owners can benefit monetarily by keeping their restrooms clean.

CDC outlines the correct hand washing procedures as follows:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.  

Find more hand washing tips and facts here.