Standard public health guidance dictates that hand washing with ordinary soap and water is the most effective way to remove germs. Hand washing is a daily routine for all of us, but only a handful of people are properly scrubbing. Listed below are the most commonly cited hand washing habits you need to break.

Forgoing the soap. Water only is not enough. Soap is needed if hand washing is to prevent the spread of disease. Soap works by loosening the bits of dirt, bacteria and oil stuck to your hands. Water alone cannot do this.

Skipping hand washing all together. Washing your hands after going to the bathroom, changing diapers or touching animals reduces your risk of catching or spreading infectious diseases such as salmonella or hepatitis A.

Not scrubbing for long enough. After applying soap and warm running water, rub your hands together vigorously for 15 seconds or longer. This is about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday’” twice.

Missing key areas. Pay special attention to your wrists, the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails. These are common areas where germs reside.

At Clean Hands Company, we supply devices, software and methods to allow employers to monitor employee hand washing compliance and ensure that employees wash their hands in keeping with local and state codes and recommendations. It’s time to break those bad habits, give us a call today at (314) 890-9910.

It seems like almost everywhere you go these days, there’s a big dispenser of hand sanitizer hanging on the wall. Alcohol-based sanitizers are very effective at killing many germs that make us sick, and they’re a great option when soap and water aren’t available. They come in the form of gels, liquids, foams, mists or wipes and usually contain a form of alcohol as the active ingredient. However, sanitizers have their limits and do not eliminate all types of germs.

 Hand washing with soap and water is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses–the major causes of foodborne illness. In the food service industry, workers’ hands are often wet and contaminated with food, fatty materials, feces and blood which can significantly reduce the effectiveness of a hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based sanitizers can’t cut through that grime. FDA Food Code states that hand sanitizers should primarily be used only as an optional follow-up to traditional hand washing with soap and water.

Clean Hands is introducing its revolutionary Smart Soap Dispenser System around the world. This technology can guarantee nearly 100% hand washing compliance at your restaurant by monitoring and reporting every employee use. Wouldn’t it be nice to know for sure that your employees have clean hands? Visit us online to learn more about our Clean Hands Advanced Hand Washing Monitor.

More and more people are dining out these days as opposed to cooking at home. Regardless of their restaurant choice, customers expect safe food and a clean environment. Keeping everything clean – from utensils to food surfaces – is an obvious way to keep things sanitary, but the place where the most germs reside and where the most contamination occurs is on the hands of the people preparing and serving the food.

Infected restaurant employees who practice poor personal hygiene are identified as the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurants. Just because food worker’s hands look and feel clean doesn’t mean they don’t have microorganisms on them. Hands are the most exposed part of the body to germs. Proper hand washing can prevent the spread of everything from the common cold to H1N1 to Hepatitis C. Demonstrating the correct method of hand washing can help reduce the chances of contamination through food handling.

Employee health and personal hygiene is critical to protecting your customers and the success of your business. Would you like to run a cleaner, germ-free environment? If so, please contact the professionals at Clean Hands to learn about our advanced hand washing monitor. Visit us online and fill out a contact form for inquiries.