Washing your hands is important to protect yourself and others from bacteria and viruses on surfaces. While your immune system can combat germs and viruses that enter the body, handwashing is one of the best lines of defense to protect yourself from getting sick.

Here are some facts about handwashing that you may not have known.

You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds

It is recommended by the Cleveland Clinic to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. However, most people don’t wash their hands for nearly this long, usually due to being busy or not realizing how little time they are spending at the sink.¹

To wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, you can start a timer on your phone. Other common pieces of advice include singing the “happy birthday” song twice in your head in order to reach the required 20 seconds.

Handwashing and sanitizing are not the same

Many people will use hand sanitizer as an alternative to washing their hands if there are no sinks available. However, hand sanitizer fails to remove much of the dirt, germs, and chemicals that soap and water can.

It is recommended by the CDC to use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you must use it in place of washing your hands. They also recommend entirely covering both of your hands with hand sanitizer to ensure the best effectiveness.²

You touch over 60,000 germs in a day

It is estimated that on average, people will touch over 60,000 germs. However, only 1-2% of these germs are actually harmful to your body.  Some items that contain lots of bacteria include purses, wallets, grocery carts, money, clothes, phones, cutting boards, and gym equipment.³

Washing your hands regularly can help protect your body against the harmful germs that you are likely to encounter. Additionally, it’s important to regularly wipe down these items before touching them and learning how to clean them properly between uses.

You touch your face more often than you think

You should avoid touching your face because you will transfer unwanted germs and bacteria from your fingers to your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. One research study found that the average person touched their face between 9 and 162 times per hour.⁴

You probably aren’t washing your hands nearly enough to keep germs off your face. However, by being aware, you will be less likely to touch your face and wash your hands more often. You can also try some tricks, such as keeping your hands busy or trying new positions to avoid touching your face as frequently.

Pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses can be prevented by handwashing

A review found that in 8 studies, handwashing reduced the risk of respiratory illnesses from 6% to 44%.⁵ Some common respiratory illnesses include the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

Washing your hands can be an easy, simple way to help prevent respiratory illnesses. Take time out of your day to wash your hands, especially if you come in contact with someone who is sick.

Some people see handwashing as a seasonal behavior

A survey found that 1 in 4 people believed that handwashing was more important in the wintertime than the summertime. Of these respondents, people aged 18-29 were most likely to increase or decrease their handwashing habits based on the season, while older adults were more likely to remain consistent no matter the time of year.⁶

Some people may be more likely to wash their hands during times such as flu season because of awareness. However, washing your hands all year long can be a good way to prevent illness, no matter your age.

The temperature when washing your hands doesn’t matter

It has been found that the temperature of the water you use to wash your hands has no bearing on the results of handwashing.

However, hot water can scald the skin if you rinse your hands with it for too long, so it is recommended to use a comfortable temperature that is not too hot or too cold.⁷

Antibacterial soap is not any more effective than regular soap

The FDA found that ingredients found in antibacterial soap aren’t more effective than regular soap. They ordered companies to stop advertising certain soaps as more effective, even when they weren’t.⁸

The FDA advises that people use their preferred soap, whether it’s bar soap, body washes, or hand soaps. Use the soap type that works best for your lifestyle preferences.