Educating Building Occupants About Proper Soap Use

Proper hand washing practices are always important, but are especially so during winter’s cold and flu season, when hands and touchpoints carry the germs that spread those contagious viruses.

Study after study has shown that a majority of people who use restrooms do not properly wash their hands. Providing educational material to post in restrooms and kitchen areas should help occupants learn correct technique. While soap use is integral to cleansing hands, vigorous rubbing of hands and lathering of that soap for up to 20 seconds is part of the process. Therefore, a significant dose, or that the size of about a quarter, should be used.

Outfitting those areas with touch-free equipment and products that encourage handwashing — such as foam soap that is pre-lathered and touchless faucets and hand towel dispensers — make hygienic behavior easy for all occupants.