Women wash their hands in the bathroom more than men, with approximately 78% of women washing their hands with soap before leaving the restroom versus 50% of men, according to a 2013 Michigan State University study. These gender difference results are similar to what individuals self-reported about their hand washing habits. 74% of women report that they always wash their hands after using a public restroom, compared to 60% of men, according to Bradley Corporation’s 2013 Healthy Handwashing Survey. The average amount of time overall that all people spent washing their hands was six seconds, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 20 seconds of hand washing.
More about hand washing:
- The Toledo International Airport was found to have the highest rate of hand washers, with 97% of women and 95% of men, as reported by the American Society of Microbiology (ASM).
- According to the CDC, hand washing may be able to prevent 16% of respiratory illnesses.
- Worldwide estimates from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the number of people who wash their hands is an average of 34% or less.
By Allison Boelcke
, Former Writer
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.