If You Really Knew What's On Your Hands, You'd Wash Them More Often

In the 1840s, a Hungarian doctor noticed that when doctors performed autopsies and then helped women give birth, it led to a higher death rate among the mothers.

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis then implemented chlorine handwashing practices throughout the hospital, and death rates dropped significantly.

According to Business Insider, at any given time, every person's hands are covered with a few 100,000 to several million germs--all of them constantly on the move.

Staph infections, bacterial infections, cold and flu viruses, and of course the dreaded novel coronavirus COVID-19 can all enter the body via the hands.

Given that one study showed people touch their faces roughly 20 times an hour, it makes sense to be a frequent, and thorough, hand-washer.

Wash your entire hands with running water for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing everywhere--including under the nails.