If there was one simple thing you could do to make you healthier, would you do it?
For at least 30% of people, the answer might be “no.” These are the people who don’t wash their hands after visiting a public bathroom.
Grossed out yet? Hold on tight, because here is a whole list of statistics on the state of handwashing in public bathrooms.
Why Hand Washing Matters
If everyone was more aware of the data around handwashing, far more people would take it seriously (we hope!) If you don’t wash your hands regularly (with soap and water!), here are a few facts that might make you change your mind.
- Proper hand washing can reduce the spread of diarrhea by up to 40%. (CDC)
- Hand washing education in schools can result in a 50% reduction in sick days. (American Journal of Infection Control)
- Frequent hand washing can reduce respiratory illness by 45%. (American Journal of Preventive Medicine)
- Handwashing with soap would prevent 33% of cases of diarrhea and 20% of respiratory infections in children. (CDC)
- Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of norovirus. (CDC)
- While ethanol-based hand sanitizers are effective at sanitizing hands, they don’t beat out soap and water in many cases. (American Society for Microbiology)
- The average person comes in contact with 300 surfaces every minute, exposing them to an estimated 840,000 germs. (American National Standards Institute)
- 80% of communicable diseases are transferred by touch. (National Foundation of Infectious Illnesses)
- Fecal bacteria is present on computer keyboards, sometimes in higher concentrations than on a toilet seat. (The Guardian)
- Elevator buttons have more bacteria on them than toilet seats. (Open Medicine)
- Many cellphones carry unsafe levels of bacteria (fecal coliforms). (Wall Street Journal)
- An estimated 1 million deaths could be prevented worldwide if every person regularly and thoroughly washed their hands. (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)
While the statistics seem compelling, many people either aren’t aware of them, or don’t care. Next we’ll take a look at some of the statistics around how people actually behave when it comes to hand washing.
The State of Handwashing in America
- When it comes to washing their hands before meals, people fail to do so correctly 97% of the time. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
- As of 2023, 89% of people wash their hands after using a public facility. This number has increased over the years, from a low of 45% in 2009. (Bradley Corporation)
- Women (91%) are more likely than men (84%) to say that washing their hands after using the toilet is very important. (Ipsos)
- 35% of men and 15% of women failed to use soap when they wash their hands in a public bathroom. (Michigan State University)
- Only 5% of people wash their hands long enough to kill the germs that cause infection. (Michigan State University)
- Only 58% of people washed their hands after visiting a petting zoo. (Epidemiol Infect)
- 77% of people report washing their hands before handling or eating food. (American Microbiology Society)
- 82% of people report washing their hands after changing a diaper. (American Microbiology Society)
- 39% of people report washing their hands after coughing or sneezing. (American Microbiology Society)
- There are several countries where at least 90% of people report washing their hands at least five times per day. The United States is not one of them. (Gallup)
- There are significant regional differences in hand washing rates across the U.S. The Southern states have the greatest proportion of hand washers, followed by the West. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly)
- 85% of adults report frequent hand hygiene after contact with public surfaces (but this study was conducted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.) (CDC)
- Reported hand washing frequency increases with age and is highest among those over 65 years old. (CDC)
The State of Hand Washing in Children
- Children adhere to recommended practices and guidelines for handwashing at a rate of 19-31%. (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
- About half of children observed in a public restroom had adequate hand hygiene. (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
- Only 58% of children aged 6-12 reported washing their hands after using the restroom, compared with 96% of parents who reported washing their hands. (CDC)
- 93% of parents of young children say they struggle to help their children properly wash their hands in public bathrooms. (Step ‘n Wash)
- 89% of parents of young children said the sink was too high for their child; 77% said lifting their child to the sink was awkward or uncomfortable. (Step ‘n Wash)
- 98% of parents of young children said safe, floor-mounted step stools in public restrooms would make life easier for them and their children. (Step ‘n Wash)
3 Ways to Improve Handwashing in Public Bathrooms
While hand washing habits have improved, there is still a long way to go. Fortunately, there’s a lot that organizations can do to improve the rates of hand washing in public. They include:
Access
If people can’t reach the sink (or the soap!) they won’t be able to do a good job of washing their hands. Organizations are required to ensure that sinks and soap dispensers are ADA compliant so that people in wheelchairs can access and reach them. But they can also make sinks accessible to children and people of short stature by installing a step stool like Step ‘n Wash. People appreciate accessible bathroom design!
Note: Step ‘n Wash will impede wheelchair access for the sink where it is installed. Therefore, we recommend that Step ‘n Wash only be installed in facilities with two or more sinks.
Signage
Although the results of the data are mixed, some studies show that signage can impact people’s hand hygiene. It also shows visitors that the business takes hand hygiene seriously.
Education
Educational initiatives that help people understand what proper hand hygiene looks like, why it’s important, and how to do it have been shown to boost hand washing rates. You may not be able to educate the public, but you can certainly educate any staff about handwashing.
Here’s to Clean Hands for All
The data speaks for itself: consistent and thorough hand washing can prevent millions of illnesses and save countless lives. Whether you're a parent teaching your child, a business ensuring accessible facilities, or an individual looking to protect your health, it's clear that handwashing isn't just about cleanliness - it's about responsibility.
At Step ‘n Wash, we believe that everyone should be able to wash their hands. Our floor-mounted bathroom step stool helps children and people of short stature reach the sink.
FAQs About Handwashing in Public Bathrooms
What percentage of people wash their hands after the bathroom?
In studies where people are asked whether they wash their hands after using the bathroom, between 80-90% claim that they do so. However, in studies where researchers observe actual behavior in public bathrooms, the rate is between 60-70%.
How much bacteria is in a public bathroom?
Public bathrooms are known to harbor a significant amount of bacteria (ew), depending on the surface and cleanliness of the facility. (This is why so many parents hate taking young children inside them!)
- Flush Handles: 1,000 to 10,000 bacteria per square inch
- Sink and Faucet Handles: 10,000 to 50,000 bacteria per square inch
- Bathroom Floors: 2 million to 10 million bacteria per square inch
- Soap Dispensers: More than 1 million bacteria per square inch
- Door Handles: 8,000 to 25,000 bacteria per square inch
A bathroom cleaning checklist can help keep bacteria levels down.
What are the grossest facts about hand hygiene?
We think a lot of them are pretty gross! But the fact that many common objects are contaminated with fecal bacteria suggests that a lot of people aren’t keeping their hands as clean as they should.
What are the new CDC guidelines for hand hygiene?
The CDC’s guidelines for hand washing include basic tips on when and how to properly wash your hands. There are also specific guidelines for hand hygiene in schools, at work and in healthcare settings.
