World Hand Hygiene Day: 2024 Healthy Handwashing Habits Survey Insights

For over a decade, Bradley Company’s annual Healthy Handwashing Survey has illuminated America’s handwashing behaviours and public washroom preferences. In January 2024, Bradley Company surveyed 1,003 American adults, revealing intriguing insights into hand hygiene practices and washroom expectations.

“Our goal for this research during the past 15 years has been to keep the health benefits of handwashing with soap top-of-mind and encourage handwashing follow-through,” said Jon Dommisse, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for Bradley. “In public settings where germs can be of concern, people depend on clean, well-stocked washrooms for executing handwashing. Similar to how the iPod changed music and 9/11 changed air travel, COVID-19 has forever changed public washroom expectations and design for handwashing.”

The survey highlighted that Americans approach handwashing pragmatically, increasing frequency during seasonal virus outbreaks and illness. Notably, 77 percent prioritise hand hygiene during travel, while 89 percent cleanse after using public washrooms. Surprisingly, 29 percent of men skip handwashing post-washroom use.

Parents play a pivotal role in instilling handwashing habits in children. Most parents encourage handwashing (63%), use fun soaps (39%), or incorporate handwashing into routines (30%).

The survey’s results also show the respondents’ thoughts on public washrooms. Public washroom assessments unveiled a desire for enhanced privacy, with 70 percent feeling stalls lack adequate coverage. Respondents display distinct preferences, selecting stalls furthest from entrances (40%) and favouring full-length doors (45%). Respondents expressed frustration over washroom pet gripes, including paper towel litter (62%) and unkempt appearances (41%). Despite some improvements, 43 percent report unpleasant experiences, emphasising the need for cleaner, well-stocked facilities with touchless fixtures.

As we commemorate World Hand Hygiene Day every year on 5 May, these findings serve as a stark reminder of the importance of hand hygiene. They underscore its crucial role in preventing illness and enhancing public health. Let’s all commit to making hand hygiene a top priority.

Bradley is known as the leader in advanced commercial washrooms and comprehensive emergency safety solutions that make public environments hygienic and safe.