The Science of Hand Washing

Our work as an environmental testing company is based in science. Our indoor air quality testing experts know exactly how the respiratory droplets and the virus-bearing aerosols that spread Covid-19 move through the environment.

Our water quality testers understand the science involved in handwashing, too. But, we might not do as good a job of explaining hand hygiene as the folks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do (they have people who translate the technical aspects of the science into regular English!).

As the CDC explains, “Germs are everywhere. They are within and on our bodies and on every surface you touch.’ We’re all on hyper-alert because of Covid-19 but it’s important to remember that not all of those germs are bad. It might sound counterintuitive, but you need some of them to help you stay healthy and strengthen your immune system.

Handwashing Basics

Washing Your Hands with Soap and Water

• You probably have the routine down by now, but it never hurts to keep reminding yourself how important it is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs, pesticides and even metals that collect on your hands.

Washing Your Hands with an Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer

• You don’t need to sing Happy Birthday twice while you’re using hand sanitizer. But you should keep working the sanitizer into your hands until they are dry.
• According to the CDC, these areas most often missed when using alcohol-based hand sanitizer are the thumbs, fingertips and between your fingers. And those areas might be the most important of all!
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are great to carry with you, but they don’t kill as many types of germs as good old hand washing with soap and water.

These are challenging times for all of us. If the environmental testing and wellness experts at AirMD can help you and your family in any way, please contact us.