Do I wash my hands enough?

How often do people wash their hands?

Post-pandemic, the average has risen to about 9 times per day. Women wash more frequently (10.3x) than men (7.6x). The CDC recommends washing at 5 key moments: before eating, after bathroom, after sneezing, before cooking, and after touching public surfaces.

Handwashing frequency data

• Women: 10.3 times/day (post-COVID average)
• Men: 7.6 times/day
• Pre-COVID average: 6 times/day
• Healthcare workers: 20+ times/day
• After using toilet: Only 67% wash every time (observational studies)

Proper handwashing

• CDC recommends at least 20 seconds with soap
• Average actual washing time: 6 seconds
• Only 5% of people wash hands correctly (Michigan State study)
• Hand sanitizer is a good backup but not a replacement for soap

Sources: CDC hand hygiene guidelines, Bradley Corp handwashing survey (2023), Michigan State University study.