the proper way to wash hands.

Here are some interesting handwashing facts* to make you think…

• 33% of people don’t use soap when washing their hands
• Over twice as many men don't wash their hands as women
• Lift buttons have 22% more bacteria than toilet seats
• 58% of people don’t wash their hands for long enough
• Hand washing could prevent up to 1 million deaths each year

so why is hand washing so important?

It mostly boils down to your soap or handwash.

One end of a soap ingredient LOVES other water molecules.

And the tail end? Not so much. In fact it dislikes water molecules and would MUCH rather link up with some oils or fats. 

When we wash our hands with soap and water, those water-avoiding tail ends do what they can to avoid the water and wedge themselves into any nearby cell membranes of bacteria and viruses. 

As they wedge themselves in, they start to pry the germs apart and break them down.

And in a double-whammy, soap can also break down the bonds that let bugs stick to the surface of your skin… which means the germs lift off and can be rinsed away in the water.

So if handwashing is one of the best ways to banish the bugs and stop yourself from getting sick… how can we be sure we’re doing it properly?

use our 5 step method to wash your hands properly.

step 1. get wet.

Hold your hands under clean running water… it can be warm or cold - interestingly the temperature of the water makes no difference. 

step 2. apply handwash.

Turn off the tap and grab your bottle. Our foaming handwash is ideal for hand washing so get pumping (2 pumps will do) and enjoy the ready-made lather and fresh sea breeze scent!

step 3. start humming.

Lather your hands for at least 20 seconds. During the Covid pandemic it was suggested we sing Happy Birthday twice, as we hand washed. Here’s a better tune selection… Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees has a 24 second chorus… and what better suited song title could there be?

step 4. rinse.

Having lathered the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails, rinse all the bubbles away under clean running water. 

step 5. dry.

Dry your hands using a clean towel. If it’s dirty (and many towels are!) then you’re just back to square one!

how often to wash?

And when should we be washing our hands? It all depends on our daily activities but as a minimum we should be handwashing:

• When we prepare food and when we eat.
• After using the toilet, changing nappies, or helping a child who has used the toilet.
• When caring for somebody who is sick.
• When treating a wound.
• After blowing our noses, coughing or sneezing. 
• After picking up rubbish.
• When we touch an animal, animal feed or waste. 
  

So if you’ve not tried our fabulous foaming handwash, why not grab your smol hand wash starter kit today? 

Not only does it clean hands wonderfully, there’s all the fun of its special foaming pump that gives a ready-made rich foamy lather! Perfect for sparkling mitts. 

And the best bit? It’s the last plastic soap bottle you’ll buy. Refill your foaming soap bottle-for-life with our clever soap tablets and some warm water from your tap. Magic. Who knew you could make soap in the comfort of your own home?

*USDA 2018