ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The average adult is now washing and sanitising their hands eight times a day compared with just five times before the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, more than one in 10 of us are still not washing our hands after using the toilet, according to a study by hygiene services provider Citron Hygiene.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that despite government advice to wash our hands more frequently to curb the spread of the coronavirus, 12 per cent are still failing to do so after using the loo.

"It is shocking to see more than 10 per cent of the nation popping to the toilet and not washing their hands," said Citron Hygiene's international executive vice-president Robert Guice. "It is everyone's responsibility to stay hygienic, and washing and sanitising the hands is the easiest way to stop the spread."

However, the average time that people spend soaping their hands has increased to 19 seconds from less than 13 seconds before the pandemic. And 83 per cent say they now always wash their hands after coughing - something that 45 per cent failed to do pre-COVID-19.

The study also found that 40 per cent of people now wash their hands after using a mobile compared with only 20 per cent a few months ago. And respondents are now more likely to wash their hands after using a laptop or keyboard, visiting the supermarket and playing with pets.

The use of sanitisers has also risen, with half of those polled now claiming to use antibacterial hand gels as a matter of routine. And three in 10 are also disinfecting their houses more frequently.