Whether on the way to work, during time at home or during all activities in between, over the course of a day our hands come into contact with all kinds of surfaces, people and things. In the process, they not only pick up dirt, but also one or two invisible pathogens, especially in autumn and winter. What can be done about this? Soap and thorough hand washing, of course! Though it should be done as a matter of routine, every day, on Sunday 15 October, World Handwashing Day, we should pay a little more attention to this lifesaving ritual. On the day of action, the focus is primarily on the relevance of regular hand washing, but on every other day of the year, of course, the following also applies: Don't forget to wash your hands!
How is your attention span?
How thoroughly do you wash your hands? Are you a splash-and-dash kind of person or are you a little more thorough? The recommended duration is at least 20 seconds per hand wash. Yet who stands at the office toilet sink for the length of the well-know birthday serenade "Happy Birthday"? Exactly, few people. And yet we know thorough hand hygiene is so important for eliminating pathogens and dirt.
Effective against dirt and as protection against diseases
By thoroughly hand cleansing with soap, for at least 20 seconds, most pathogens can be easily removed. The transmission of infectious diseases can thus be effectively interrupted and this is especially important now, at the start of the flu and cold season. Because if unwashed hands touch the face and come into contact with mucous membranes, this can easily lead to infection. Washing hands is therefore not a purely cosmetic process, even if clean hands naturally look more appealing, but also essential in terms of hygiene and defence against infection.
Disinfection as a supporting measure
Another form of germ reduction is hand disinfection through the use of hand sanitisers. In particular, our PURELL® Advanced Hygienic Hand Rub is especially well suited for regular and deep-cleaning sanitising, as it eliminates germs, while caring for the hands at the same time. Whether in foam, gel or liquid formats, hand sanitising can take many forms, but in any case it can be a good addition to one's hand cleaning routine. Cleverly placed practical dispenser systems, can provide the opportunity for spontaneous hand cleansing in the often quite hectic daily routine, especially at the workplace or in public spaces.
Clean hands, for the future
Whether hand cleansing or hand sanitising, effective hand hygiene can be made even simpler with the right products. And they can be good for the environment, too! Did you know that many products in our PURELL® range meet sustainable standards? As part of our "Journey To Green" we have set ourselves ambitious climate targets and are now implementing them step by step. In the spirit of World Handwashing Day: one hand at a time.
