Only 4% Of Men Wash Hands After Using The Bathroom

Men have been criticised for their 'disgusting' toilet habits. Where virtually all men don't wash their hands after using the WC, nearly all women make sure their hands are clean after concluding their business. These are the findings of a major UK cleaning company that compared phone poll results against observational analysis of the hand-washing habits of British men and women.

While most men said that they washed their hands, ContractCleaning.co.uk found that in reality, this number was less than 10%, particularly after using a urinal. "Yes, we did ask permission to check up on people's hand-washing habits," said ContractCleaning.co.uk’s Mark Hall, "and we found that women were far more hygienic than men."

A phone survey of over 1,200 men and women found that:
•    56% of men said they washed their hands after using the toilet
•    93% of women said they washed their hands after using the toilet

However, observations in work-place toilets (with the permission of employers and employees) found:
•    Only 4% of men washed their hands after urinating
•    This rose to 80% of men washing their hands after sitting down
•    95% of women washed their hands after using the toilet

"Let's be blunt about this," said Mark, "most chaps – after they've finished at the urinal – think that a quick shake and a wipe of their hands down the front of their trousers will suffice. It doesn't. Compared to women's toilet habits, men are the 'dirty sex' in the bathroom."

In addition:
•    12% of men said they wipe the seat before sitting down
•    46% of women wipe the seat before sitting down

"It's strange that many men will sit on a wet toilet seat knowing full well they're parking themselves on somebody else's germs," added Mark. "We're by no means perfect, but a lot of blokes just don't get the basics right."

ContractCleaning.co.uk says this is an important public health issue, as the lack of hand-washing after using the toilet could lead to the spread of harmful bacteria and infection. "Just shaking hands, using the phone or clicking a computer mouse leaves germs behind," said Mark. "Bad toilet hygiene risks food poisoning or worse. Come on chaps – act like the gentlemen you know you are, wash your hands."