Enhance your life with a public service message, originally created March 14, 2020, and updated January 25, 2026:

20200314-Handwashing

Handwashing makes life better.

Hands aggressively accumulate and spread harmful germs because they touch everything and everyone in a world obsessed with handshaking. From door handles to digital screens, hands are the primary vehicles for bacteria and viruses.

In a world where people constantly touch shared surfaces, handwashing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of diseases. Handwashing breaks the chain of infections, and helps to protect the health of individual people and entire communities. Handwashing is a cornerstone of public health.

Handwashing removes pathogens like influenza, E. coli, and various respiratory viruses before they enter the body through the eyes, nose or mouth. Handwashing reduces the need for antibiotics by preventing sickness — which helps combat the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.

As frequent and thorough handwashing cleans away germs, respect for health and life emanates. Handwashing promotes hygienic excellence, demonstrates care and dignity, and honors sanitary laws and principles. Frequent and thorough handwashing denotes intelligence.

Bonuses of frequent and thorough handwashing include:

  1. grease- and grime-free knobs, handles, buttons, and switches,
  2. respect from the FDA, and
  3. popularity among people who value clean hands.

Some occasions for handwashing include:

  1. before and after using the restroom,
  2. before, during and after meal preparation and cooking,
  3. before reaching into the fridge, cabinets, silverware drawers, and other such areas,
  4. before unloading clean dishes from the dishwasher,
  5. after handling things that have been in contact with the floor, and
  6. after handshakes.

Effective handwashing requires more than a quick rinse; it is a soapy 20-second scrub that lifts microbes from the skin. Handwashing is a simple and low-cost act of love and respect — which saves millions of lives annually, particularly in vulnerable populations. Ultimately, handwashing is a small, but big, personal action that yields a massive collective impact, ensuring a cleaner and safer environment for everyone.

JodyTucker.com