Kimberly-Clark Professional promotes the importance of proper hand washing

As the COVID-19 pandemic has led more people to adopt daily hygiene habits, Kimberly-Clark Professional would like to highlight some facts about hand washing and the importance of proper drying.

According to research, hand washing can reduce community illnesses such as colds by 21% and reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 31%. However, approximately 95% of people do not wash their hands properly. It is essential to use enough soap to cover the hands and washing for 15 to 30 seconds is more effective in removing germs. Using hot water does not lead to better cleaning; the important thing is to use a comfortable temperature.

Kimberly-Clark Professional stresses that the most hygienic method of drying hands is with single-use paper towels. These towels remove 77% of the bacteria on hands after washing, reducing the risk of introducing additional bacteria. Some powerful air dryers, known as “jet air dryers,” can spread water droplets with bacteria and viruses up to 6.5 feet away.

“The importance of drying your hands is typically underappreciated, because germs are transferred more easily from wet hands,” said Dr Stephanie Martin, Global Product Technical Leader at Kimberly-Clark Professional. “We’ve all seen those posters on the wall that have detailed steps for handwashing – the process really does matter, as do the products.”

Kimberly-Clark Professional is also concerned about contamination in refillable soap dispensers and is committed to providing quality soaps in closed cassette systems to protect against contamination.

Promoting good hand hygiene is essential year-round, in homes, workplaces, healthcare facilities and public spaces, to reduce the spread of infections and maintain public health.