It has been revealed that only 12% of people, or one in every 8, wash their hands before eating. The implication of this fact tells us many things.

Every year, there are millions of people all around the world who succumb to diseases such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections—a majority of which can be prevented with proper hand washing.

Studies have shown that there are more dangerous bacteria on our hands than on public benches and escalators. Samples taken by the University of Arizona were tested from benches, worn and dirty-looking children’s ride-on toys, tables, high chairs and escalator handrails and there were barely any harmful bacteria found on them. In fact, most of them only contained 10 bacteria per square cm or less.

Therefore, if you want to be safe from these dangers, simply spend at least 30 seconds at the sink, washing your hands with soap and water. Please note that 15 seconds of hand washing, which is what most people think is long enough, is not enough to get rid of bacteria from your hands.

If the above is not enough to persuade you to start regular hand washing, here are 10 more reasons for you to consider taking up this healthy habit.

• Bacteria can survive for several hours on a person’s hands except if you are using a hand sanitiser, and this can increase in hot weather.
• Faecal matter can get onto our hands, even without actually touching it. We can get it from toilets and many other surfaces that others have touched.
• Ingesting bad bacteria from unwashed hands is the single most common reason for diarrhoea.
• Bacteria from faeces can also cause hand-foot-mouth disease as well as respiratory infections.
• We unconsciously touch our eyes, nose and mouth all the time. These are the parts of the body where germs can easily get in and infect us. Of course, the bacteria come from our unwashed hands.
• Germs from hands that are not washed can also be transferred to other objects such as mobile phones, computer keyboards, hand rails, toys and table surfaces. These germs will be easily picked up by other people.
• Germs from unwashed hands can transfer and even multiply on foods and drinks and could contaminate the person who eats and drinks it.
• About 2.2 million children who are under 5 years old die from pneumonia and diarrhoea diseases every year.
• Germs can also be transferred to your hand if someone has coughed or sneezed into a surface or object you have touched.
• For every cm2 of your hand, there are 1,000 different types of bacteria.

It’s therefore recommended that you wash your hands every four hours. Just washing your hands with soap and clean water can greatly reduce the number of bacteria on your hands. And, your chances of getting sick from common germs including E.coli, Norovirus and even the common cold virus can decrease by up to 50%!

Professional cleaners can help maintain your home and office and keep bacteria away.
RPC Cleaners is one of the top professional cleaners in London.

Contact them at +44 20 8994 4778 for great cleaning tips and services.