Says Michigan University Researchers:
It seems like the simplest of tasks, yet it seems most of us need a hand when it comes to washing one of our most used body parts.
That's right, 95 per cent of us get an epic F for failure when it comes to washing our hands correctly.
University of Michigan researchers say the majority of people aren't only failing to wash our hands thoroughly enough, but that some of us aren't even using soap.
You don't have to be a myths expert to know that means that only five per cent of people actually wash their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections.
What's more, researchers found 33 per cent of people didn't use soap, while the worst offenders didn't even wash their hands at all.
Men faired worse in the hygiene stakes than their female counterparts, with seven per cent of ladies failing to wash their hands compared to 15 per cent for the blokes.
When they did wash their hands, only half of men used soap compared to three quarters of women.
The researchers observed 3749 people washing their hands in public loos and also found people were less likely to soap up if the sink was dirty, but were more likely to do so earlier in the day as opposed to at night as they became more relaxed.
When they did wash their hands, only half of men used soap compared to three quarters of women.
Hand Hygiene Australia director professor Lindsay Grayson said the findings were not completely surprising, particularly when it came to men's habits.
Professor Grayson, who is also the director of infectious diseases at Austin Health in Melbourne, said it seemed some people were not only failing to wash their hands at all, but were also doing so incorrectly.
"People should really wash their hands for a minimum of 15 seconds using soap and water," he said.
"You also need to wash between your fingers and the palms of your hands - in other words the areas which have the greatest contact with surfaces and under nails if they're long or fake".
He said it was ridiculous if people didn't wash their hands at all, particularly in public toilets and before eating when the risk of contamination, particularly from fecal matter, was greatest.
Professor Grayson said some people also mistakenly over used antibacterial soap thinking a quick rinse would cut it, but that a thorough rinse with soap and water was adequate at home.
According to the latest World Health Organisation guidelines, people should spend between 20 and 60 seconds washing their hands to ensure they are thoroughly clean, use soap and water and paper towel to rinse off.
"You also need to wash between your fingers and the palms of your hands - in other words the areas which have the greatest contact with surfaces and under nails if they're long or fake".
