World Hand Hygiene Day | 1 in 5 Americans choose not to wash their hands, men more likely to forget

Are we washing our hands enough? Do we consciously follow the necessary safety protocols to keep diseases at bay?

When the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted lives across the globe, medical practitioners iterated the importance of following the basic hygiene protocols that should be followed to stay safe from infectious diseases. But how many of us are actively following it? 

On World Hand Hygiene Day, which was observed on May 5, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) launched the Hands In For Handwashing campaign to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing to help stop the spread of infectious diseases. 

The campaign was a part of the 2025 NFID State of Handwashing Report that made some starking observations on the US adult handwashing knowledge and behaviours.

As per the report, nearly half (48%) of US adults admit to forgetting or choosing not to wash their hands at key times, like after visiting grocery stores, restaurants or coffee shops, or a healthcare setting (doctor’s office, pharmacy, clinic, or hospital). 

'1 in 5 think washing hands is unnecessary'

While forgetting is the most common reason reported by the respondents for not washing hands, 1 in 5 (20%) actively choose not to wash their hands, citing reasons like it being unnecessary, a lack of time, or a concern about drying out their hands. 

In a sigh of relief, 62% of the survey respondents correctly answered that washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds effectively reduces the spread of germs. 

The report also mentioned that among those who did not wash their hands with soap and water, men are more likely to simply forget, while women are more likely to use alternatives like hand sanitiser. 

On asking the respondents, what prompted them to wash their hands, 69% of the Americans washed after using the washroom, 48% after handling food and 39% after handling human or animal waste. 

Expressing concern over the response received, the report stated that only 30% of US adults were likely to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing. 

“Given the importance of handwashing in infectious disease prevention, the stakes are high—improving hand hygiene can help improve health for all. While handwashing is an important strategy for disease prevention and should be complementary to vaccination, it is a critical and often overlooked tool," said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD.

As part of the campaign, NFID is also hitting the road with a Clean Hands Caravan in the US, a mobile handwashing station to make it easier for people to wash their hands in places where germs can spread.

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