Washing your hands: just a woman thing?

Jessica Chesko

The “hand washing police” have decided that men are much less likely to wash their hands than women are. A recent study by the infectious disease scientists has determined that men have major issues when it comes to washing their hands after using public toilets.

There appears to be a large gender gap when it comes to hygiene. The recent study showed that one-third of men didn’t bother to wash their hands after using the bathroom, compared with just 12 percent of women. The latest study was based on observations last month of more than 6,000 people in four big cities.

It’s news worthy because people who don’t take the time to wash up are spreading their germs to the rest of the world. It takes all of one minute to wash up yet people are either too lazy or in such a rush that they can’t do it. Come on guys, WASH YOUR HANDS!

The story goes on to list these ‘dirty details’:

Atlanta’s Turner Field baseball stadium again was the worst. Only 57 percent of guys there washed up, compared to 95 percent of women.

New York was Second City to Chicago in cleanliness. In restrooms at the Windy City’s Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry, 81 percent of men and women combined washed their hands, compared to 79 percent at the Big Apple’s Penn and Grand Central train stations.

At San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal Farmers Market, 62.5 percent of men lathered up. Women did better, with 84 percent.

Think of it this way, everything you touch in the bathroom before you do your business has been touched by dirty, grimy unwashed hands of millions of other people. How gross do you think those door latches are on the stalls? Or the toilet handle?

Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you might have come in contact with today – from the telephone to the toilet.

Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went to exercise at the gym. Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It’s easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.

I understand that you can’t wear rubber gloves all day long, but you can wash your hands so those germs don’t get a chance to make you or someone else sick. When germs go down the drain, they can’t make anyone sick!