Bradley Handwashing Survey

Survey says more Americans would wash hands in public restrooms if equipment was more reliable

A survey found that 89 percent of Americans wash their hands after using a public facility, with those who don’t citing such problems as sinks that don’t work.

The finding in the Healthy Handwashing Survey by Bradley Company was among the negative reactions to pubic bathrooms. A majority (68 percent) responded they’ve had a particularly unpleasant experience in a public restroom due to the facilities, such as clogged toilets and dirty appearance.

Bradley says the results show Americans would like restrooms to be cleaner and more well-stocked, have touchless fixtures throughout and offer a good supply of paper towels, even if there are hand dryers.

Other findings show that 74 percent of respondents wash their hands more frequently during periods of seasonal illness and 54 percent increase hand washing when they’re sick.

“Regular handwashing throughout the day helps remove germs and viruses that can cause sickness,” says medical microbiologist Michael P. McCann, Ph.D., professor and chair of biology, Saint Joseph’s University. “Hand hygiene is a simple and easy thing to do and shouldn’t be overlooked.”

Bradley, a company that manufactures washroom accessories and partitions, launched the first Healthy Handwashing Survey in 2009 as the H1N1 virus ­– also known as the swine flu ­– was affecting the nation. Back then, just 45 percent of Americans said they elevated their hand hygiene in response to seasonal virus outbreaks.

COVID drove higher rates of handwashing

The survey found handwashing diligence hit all-time highs in 2020 and 2021 as COVID 19 was spreading. Since then, the frequency has gone back to pre-pandemic times. Specifically, in the spring of 2020, Americans were washing their hands an average of 10.5 times per day compared to an average of six times a day prior to COVID.

Responses to the survey of 1,003 Americans were generally equal between genders, with women making 51 percent and men making 48 percent of the responses. Those who selected other for gender comprised 1 percent.

One quirky finding was that 29 percent of men said they didn’t feel the need to wash their hands after using a public restroom.

Graphic showing handwashing rate

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