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Proper handwashing improves over the flu and rainy season
Heightened concern over H3N2 and seasonal viruses drives better handwashing hygiene, yet lapses in public restrooms persist.
As we are in the midst of a tough flu season and the rainy season fast approaching, we all are all growing significantly and more concerned about getting sick. According to the 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley, 70% of are very or somewhat concerned about contracting the flu compared to 59% who felt that way just three years ago.
That rising concern is translating into more diligent hand hygiene. The survey found that 81% say they wash their hands more frequently or more thoroughly during flu outbreaks and seasonal virus surges, up from 74% in 2023. Nearly all respondents (93%) believe handwashing is important to maintaining overall health, reinforcing its role as one of the most trusted and accessible ways to help reduce the spread of illness.
The first Healthy Handwashing Survey was released in 2009 as the H1N1 virus (also known as the swine flu) was hitting the country. Back then, just 45% of poll conducted said they elevated their hand hygiene in response to seasonal virus outbreaks. Now, 17 years later, handwashing has surged as a sickness prevention strategy.
“Handwashing, using soap and warm water, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of disease, including the flu,” said Brian M. Forster, Ph.D., microbiologist and chemical hygiene officer at Saint Joseph’s University. “Our hands touch many surfaces during the day, including our face, and are an easy way for us to pick up something that can make us sick.”
The survey found that coughing, sneezing, or being around someone who is sick are the actions most likely to prompt handwashing. When feeling ill, most are likely to drink more fluids, wash their hands more frequently, and stay home when possible.
Although many people understand the health benefits of handwashing, the survey reveals those habits often don’t last, especially in public restrooms, highlighting a growing disconnect between awareness and daily behavior.
Last year, 81% said they always washed their hands after using a public restroom. In 2026, that figure dropped to 76%.
On average, most report washing their hands about eight times per day, but frequency varies widely. Women wash their hands about two times more each day than men, a long-standing pattern that continues to underscore the gap between awareness and everyday practice.
Lack of handwashing follow-through in public restrooms remains a visible, and troubling, concern. More than three-quarters (77%) say they have seen others leave a public restroom without washing their hands, up from 68% in 2024. At the same time, one in five admit they are more likely to skip handwashing when no one else is around, underscoring the role social accountability plays in hygiene compliance.
While lathering up with soap and water is the best way to wash hands, 44% admit to just rinsing with water. Men are more likely to bypass soap than women (50% vs. 38%).
“For many people, the decision to wash their hands in a public restroom is influenced by the environment,” said Kolawole Dada, Managing Partner and Facility Management Expert at Solid Rock Group. “If a restroom appears poorly maintained or understocked, it can discourage proper handwashing—at exactly the moment when it matters most for public health.”
Altogether, the 2026 findings paint a clear picture: most now
understand the importance of handwashing and respond quickly during heightened flu activity, but sustaining those behaviors, especially in public settings, remains a challenge. Health experts continue to emphasize that frequent, thorough handwashing throughout the day, not just during outbreaks, is one of the most effective ways to help reduce the spread of flu, colds, and other contagious illnesses.
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