We’ve all heard that washing our hands is important, and that it prevents the spread of germs and infections.  Hand washing seems like such a simple task, but a recent study by MSU researchers found that only five percent of people that use the bathroom wash their hands properly.

The study was conducted by Carl Borchgrevink, JaeMin Cha and SeungHyun Kim, faculty members in the MSU School of Hospitality Business. The researchers trained a dozen college students in data collection and had them observe 3,749 people in public restrooms. Of the 3,749 people observed: 33 percent didn’t use soap, 10 percent did not wash their hands at all, 50 percent of men used soap compared to 78 percent of women and people were less likely to wash their hands if the sink was dirty.

“These findings were surprising to us because past research suggested that proper hand washing is occurring at a much higher rate,” said Carl Borchgrevink, associate professor of hospitality business and lead investigator on the study.

The next time you’re in the bathroom consider these tips for proper hand washing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs  of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

Remember the next time you’re washing your hands, count one Mississippi, two Mississippi… and stay healthy!

Check out the video explaining the study here.

Also, check out the original article about the study featured in MSU Today.