Our top hand hygiene picks
Quality products to keep hands clean and healthy at work.
Official health organisation resources
Authoritative information from the CDC and WHO on hand hygiene and disease prevention.
When and How to Wash Your Hands
The CDC's comprehensive guide on proper technique, including when to wash and the most effective methods.
Read CDC guideWhy Handwashing Matters
The science behind handwashing and why it's one of the most effective ways to prevent illness.
Read CDC articleWorld Hand Hygiene Day
WHO's global campaign with impact data and evidence-based recommendations for communities and workplaces.
Visit WHO campaignShow Me the Science
Studies on how hand hygiene reduces respiratory infections by 21% and GI illness by 40%.
View researchHand Hygiene in Healthcare
WHO's "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" and evidence-based protocols for infection prevention.
Read WHO guidelinesHandwashing in Community Settings
Practical guidance for promoting handwashing in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
Community guideThe Complete Guide to Hand Hygiene in the Workplace
Hand hygiene is one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of workplace health. Whether you work in an office, healthcare facility, or food service, proper hand hygiene dramatically reduces the spread of infectious diseases.
Why it matters
Your hands touch doorknobs, keyboards, phones, and shared equipment constantly. Each contact is an opportunity for germs to transfer to your face and enter your body. Research shows proper hand hygiene can reduce respiratory infections by 16–21% and gastrointestinal illness by 23–40%.
When to wash your hands
- Before eating or preparing food
- After using the restroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching shared surfaces or equipment
- When hands are visibly dirty
Proper technique
- Wet hands with clean running water
- Apply soap and lather all surfaces including backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds
- Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel
The 20-second rule
Try humming "Happy Birthday" twice to hit the 20-second minimum — that's the amount of time needed to effectively remove germs.