Most people think they wash their hands correctly - but surprisingly few of us actually do.

In fact, according to studies up to 97% of people hand wash incorrectly. Shocked? We’ve popped the bubble on a few myths which may be keeping you from being squeaky clean…

1. Sanitiser replaces hand wash

It’s tempting to think we can get away with a quick sanitizer squirt to clean our hands, after all it kills germs right? But unfortunately it’s not the case.

Although alcohol-based (at least 60 percent) hand sanitizers (like this one) are a good option for on-the-go, they’re nowhere near as effective as a hand wash when it comes to removing microbes and germs.

Whether you choose an Antibacterial soap or not, liquid or bar, is really irrelevant – research shows they are all about the same when it comes to hand washing. It’s your technique that really matters.

Using a natural hand wash like Bosisto’s Australian Natives with a gentle, coconut base can help keep hands soft and smooth, reducing the risk of dryness. A beautifully scented product makes you want to wash your hands more, too – and that’s always a good thing!

2. A quick wash is fine

Are you washing your hands long enough? Again, most of us aren’t. Study participants averaged 6 seconds – however 20 seconds should be the minimum, about the time it takes to sing the Alphabet song once, or the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice.

So what’s the right way to wash hands? The CDC has some tips.

Step 1: Wet hands under clean, running water.
Step 2: After wetting hands with water, turn off the tap and apply a natural hand wash, like Bosisto’s.
Step 3: Lather hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails.
Step 4: Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds.
Step 5: Rinse hands well under clean, running water.
Step 6: Dry hands with a clean towel or with a hand dryer.

3. Hot water is better

It actually doesn’t make a difference whether you use hot, cold or warm water. Water needs to be boiling to kill off more germs and nobody is washing their hands with boiling water (we hope!)

Best to use cold water if you have dry or sensitive skin to avoid stripping moisture.

4. It’s ok to just air dry

This one’s a big no-no! A flick of your hands and not drying is one of the hand wash deadly sins.

Germs can be more easily transferred to and from wet hands, which is why drying hands is essential to finish the hand wash process.

5. Hand dryers are more hygienic

You’d think, wouldn’t you? But in fact, paper towels have been found in studies to be superior to hand dryers as the wiping action helps to further remove bacteria.

In contrast, air dryers spread bacteria between three and six feet away from the device, risking contaminating other restroom users.

Bonus tip, when exiting a restroom use a piece of paper towel to open the restroom door, or use your hand sanitizer after. Unsurprisingly, these exit doors are big germ magnets!

SHOP BOSISTO’S AUSTRALIAN NATIVES HAND WASH


References:
1. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/30/health/hand-washing-study-usda/index.html
2. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/debunking-five-most-common-handwashing-myths
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538484/#:~:text=They%20found%20that%20paper%20towels%20reduced%20the%20numbers%20of%20all,with%20the%20hot%20air%20dryer.