We touch numerous surfaces every day without ever thinking about who has touched them before us, or what they could have been exposed to. The reality is, most of these surfaces are covered in germs that can spread in communities within seconds. The CDC estimates that washing hands with soap and water could prevent about 1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections like the flu.6 For many families, especially in underserved communities, the risk is greater due to shared facilities, crowded housing, and limited access to resources. Such risk factors make it difficult to maintain proper sanitary practices, allowing infections to spread more easily and rapidly. In healthcare settings alone, studies show hand hygiene compliance ranges from 64.5% in higher-income facilities to as low as 9.1% in lower-income ones.2
What are germs and where can I find them?
Germs are tiny, living organisms that are often too small to be seen with the naked eye. Some germs are helpful. The human body, for example, contains 100 trillion germs that aid in digestion and support the immune system.3 But other germs are harmful and can cause sickness. The most common types of harmful germs are bacteria and viruses.
Bacteria are fully independent pathogens that can survive on their own, but view the human body as an ideal environment to grow. When harmful bacteria gain access to the body, they can either compete with healthy bacteria or release harmful toxins.4 Whether harmful or helpful, all bacteria have the natural instinct to replicate and multiply quickly in new environments, creating a competitive environment. Sometimes, the harmful bacteria can consume too much of the body’s resources, causing tissue damage and inflammation. Other times, they can release dangerous toxins that poison the bloodstream and healthy tissues, creating symptoms like fever, stomach pain, or sore throats.
Viruses on the other hand cannot live on their own. Viruses are just genetic materials, like DNA or RNA, encased in a protein shell, so they require a host to reproduce. After entering host cells, they take complete control over normal cellular functions. This causes the cell to stop its normal functions, and instead begin replication and producing the viral components. Eventually, the singular infected cell will burst and release thousands of viral copies to infect other cells. It is the mass, rapid cell deaths that create symptoms like sore throats, coughing, and a runny nose.
Everyday objects that commonly carry germs include:
● Phones
● Door handles
● Shopping carts & baskets
● Public transportation
● Desks
● Remote controls
Germs do not have legs to transport themselves. They rely entirely on us to move around and infect new hosts. Each time your hand touches a new surface, germs latch onto your fingertips, making this one of the easiest ways to spread between surfaces and people.
Why do you feel miserable?
Common entry points for germs include eyes, nose, mouth, and small wounds in the skin. People often fail to realize how frequently they rub their eyes with unwashed hands, bite their dirty fingernails as a stress response, or inhale the water droplets of another individual’s sneeze or cough. These are all common routes of transmission, the pathways germs use to enter our bodies and disrupt normal bodily functions.
Interestingly, common symptoms like fevers, coughs, nausea, headaches, etc. are not actually caused by germs themselves. These are instead caused by your immune system, the body’s natural defense mechanism, fighting against the germs. One of the body’s first defense mechanisms is to raise its internal temperature, causing a fever. Most pathogens have an ideal temperature range for survival, so by elevating your body temperature, your body is trying to “cook” the germs out. Additionally, the immune system will send extra blood, fluids, and white blood cells to infected areas to create inflammation and excess mucus to trap and wash the germs away. While these symptoms may cause extreme discomfort, they are actually indicative that your body is working hard to fend off foreign invaders.
How handwashing can stop germ entry?
The most effective way to avoid sickness is through preventative practices. Handwashing serves as the first line of defense by removing germs before they even have the chance to enter the body.
Soap and water are all that is needed. Soap loosens germs attached to the skin’s natural oils, while water rinses them away. Doing this consistently can significantly reduce the spread of infections in both community and healthcare settings.
Why are handwashing compliance rates lower than expected?
Subpar handwashing compliance rates have been a common point of discussion in the past. While the lack of proper sinks and resources is a huge contributor to low compliance rates, it is not the only reason; this issue is present in both developed and developing countries alike. National surveys reveal nearly half of all adults admit to skipping handwashing at crucial times, such as after grocery shopping, restaurants, or visiting public spaces.5 Having a sink nearby does not automatically change human behavior. Instead, people actively choose to skip this minor step in their routine because they feel rushed, assume it is unnecessary, or simply forget.
Most of us only wash our hands when they visibly look or feel dirty. We tend to skip washing after things that feel normal and clean, like turning a doorknob, grabbing a handrail, or pushing a grocery cart.5 Because pathogens are invisible to the naked eye, our brains do not create an automatic urge to wash our hands. Thus, this “optional” handwashing is the first habit people tend to drop when busy, making it incredibly easy for germs to spread within communities.
CDC’s Recommendation for Proper Handwashing
Handwashing is simple and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided their recommended handwashing guidelines in 2024:6
Wet your hands with clean water.
Apply a nickel-sized amount of soap.
Rub your hands together, making sure you clean the backs of your hands, in between fingers, and beneath your fingernails.
Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse your hands well under some clean, running water.
Dry your hands with a clean towel or hand dryer.
It is important to wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing, and touching shared surfaces in public spaces. These simple steps are great preventative measures for germ spread.
Community Impact
When you wash your hands, you are not just preventing yourself from getting sick. You are protecting everyone around you. There are vulnerable people in all communities whose immune systems are not strong enough to fight off harmful pathogens. These include infants, seniors, pregnant mothers, immunocompromised individuals, and those fighting chronic illnesses like cancer. Since germs rely on humans to spread, every time you clean your hands, you create a “dead-end” for germ transportation, effectively acting as a community shield. All efforts should begin with preventative measures. Prevention is always easier, safer, and more cost-friendly than trying to address an outbreak.
Affordable Hygiene Tips for Families
Good hygiene does not always need to be expensive or inaccessible. Some of the most effective ways to prevent illness are simple, low-cost habits that can easily be integrated into daily life:
Regular soap is enough to remove germs: scented soaps and “antibacterial” labels are generally not necessary for everyday use.
Take advantage of public handwashing stations: many public spaces provide free soap and water i.e. schools, community centers, shelters, public bathrooms, and parks
Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available: alcohol based hand sanitizer can be effective, but should never replace soap and water. These are commonly available for free at school entrances, clinics, hospitals, community events, and food banks.
Focus on key moments: if soap and water are limited, prioritize washing hands before eating, treating open wounds, or after coughing and sneezing.
Community resources often distribute hygiene kits, including soap:
RIS Foundation - South Los Angeles
Project Paper Bag7- Downtown Los Angeles
Instill strong habits in children: childhood routines can become automatic behaviors in adulthood and support long-term health.
Sources:
Rattanapitoon, N. K., Thanchonnang, C., & Rattanapitoon, S. K. (2025). Letter to the Editor: elevating fingernail hygiene in parasitic disease prevention - implications from Hajipour and Valizadeh's study. IJID regions, 17, 100762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2025.100762
Lambe, K. A., Lydon, S., Madden, C., Vellinga, A., Hehir, A., Walsh, M., & O'Connor, P. (2019). Hand Hygiene Compliance in the ICU: A Systematic Review. Critical care medicine, 47(9), 1251–1257. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000003868
Ferranti, E. P., Dunbar, S. B., Dunlop, A. L., & Corwin, E. J. (2014). 20 things you didn't know about the human gut microbiome. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 29(6), 479–481. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000166
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025, November 25). Bacterial vs. viral infections: How do they differ? Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/expert-answers/infectious-dis ease/faq-20058098
Allegranzi, B., & Pittet, D. (2009). Role of hand hygiene in healthcare-associated infection prevention. The Journal of hospital infection, 73(4), 305–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2009.04.019 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(2024, February 16). About handwashing. https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html
Banerjee, D. (2024, May 1). The PaperBag Project. Global Solutions Initiative. https://www.global-solutions-initiative.org/article/the-paperbag-project/