As people across the US plan summer vacations and kids spend time at summer camps, they may be putting themselves and others at risk with poor hygiene habits. A recent survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) reveals that while US adults say they know how to wash their hands properly, their habits often suggest otherwise. The survey results were shared in the 2025 NFID State of Handwashing Report.
Read recent news about the importance of handwashing to help stop the spread of infectious diseases …
US Adults Still Don’t Know How and When to Wash Their Hands: Some adults are still not doing their due diligence when it comes to washing their hands. That’s according to an NFID survey that found nearly half of respondents forget or choose not to wash their hands at key times, such as after visiting grocery stores, restaurants, or coffee shops. “We have been talking about handwashing probably back to the days when all of us were in preschool or even kindergarten,” said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD. “I would have hoped that we would think of that as a core way of keeping ourselves healthy regardless of our other health behaviors.” Source: CNN
Handwashing: An Infection Prevention Method That We Forget? Handwashing often takes place after encounters with people, using the bathroom, or touching doors or other areas where the public has been utilizing. However, it can be quite a personal decision and one associated with people’s beliefs about germs.”62% of the survey respondents correctly stated that washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water effectively reduces the spread of germs,” said Hopkins. “Only 30% reported they are most likely to wash their hands after a cough or sneezing, which is a concern, especially given what we know about how easily we spread respiratory disease by droplets.” Source: Contagion Live
4 Biggest Handwashing Mistakes That Could Increase Germs and Viruses: Proper handwashing could save about 1 million lives around the world each year, and yet many people are doing it improperly, often due to misconceptions surrounding the practice. The NFID 2025 State of Handwashing Report provides details on handwashing habits (and mistakes). Experts recommend washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Source: Fox News
US Adults Are Still Washing Their Hands Wrong—or Not at All:Apparently, the pandemic hygiene lessons didn’t stick. Let’s be clear: this isn’t about lacking access to sinks or soap. “Handwashing is an easy and effective way to prioritize your health and the health of those around you,” said Patricia A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, NFID immediate past-president. And yet? A solid chunk of people only bother during cold and flu season, as if germs take summers off. Source: Vice
Most People Don’t Do This 1 Important Habit When They Come Home From Running Errands: It’s hard to resist the temptation to roll your eyes when someone talks about the importance of washing your hands. Not only have you heard this since you were a kid, but you also survived a pandemic—you know the deal with hand hygiene. But, an NFID survey finds that we are still falling short overall on handwashing. Source: Well+Good
Stop Making This Handwashing Mistake: An easy habit to stick with? Wash your hands every time you come home, and make sure you are doing it the right way: Scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure to get under your fingernails. Do not forget to properly dry your hands too; wet hands spread germs more easily. Source: Yahoo!Life
The Clean Hands Caravan was created to make handwashing accessible and visible during key moments in everyday life. We wanted to grab people’s attention to bring some excitement to an important but sometimes overlooked habit taught in kindergarten—washing your hands.
NFID Chief Executive Officer Marla Dalton, PE, CAE
Join the #HandsInForHandwashing Movement:
NFID encourages everyone to wash their hands to help stop the spread of infectious diseases, and invites organizations to join the Hands In For Handwashing movement to support healthier lives for all.
- Use these sample posts and shareable resources to help spread the word
- For more information about the 2025 NFID State of Handwashing report and the Hands In For Handwashing campaign, visit: www.nfid.org/handwashing
To join the conversation and get the latest news on infectious diseases:
- Like and follow NFID on social media using the hashtags #WashYourHands and #HandsInForHandwashing
- Listen and subscribe to the Infectious IDeas podcast
- Subscribe to receive future NFID Updates
