--- title: Pitfalls of Hand Hygiene description: Washing your hands is the most important step in remaining healthy and safe. These mistakes can compromise the effectiveness of a hand hygiene event. image: https://www.meritech.com/hubfs/Pitfalls%20of%20Hand%20Hygiene.png --- [ Skip navigation menu ](https://www.meritech.com/blog/pitfalls-of-hand-hygiene#content) [![meritech-logo-tagline](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lafferty-website-2026/global-assets/meritech-logo-tagline.png?width=200&height=74&name=meritech-logo-tagline.png) ](https://www.meritech.com/) - [ Hygiene Systems ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hygiene-solutions) Show submenu for Hygiene Systems - [ Automated Hand Hygiene ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hand-sanitation-stations) - [ Boot Scrubbers and Footwear Sanitation ](https://www.meritech.com/products/boot-scrubbers) - [ Industries ](https://www.meritech.com/markets) Show submenu for Industries - [ Food Processing & Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/food-processing) - [ Healthcare ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/healthcare_medical) - [ Hospitality ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/travel_leisure) - [ Education ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/education) - [ Gyms and Public Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/gyms-and-public-facilities-meritech) - [ Cleanroom and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/pharmaceutical-cleanroom) - [ Grocery ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/grocery) - [ Municipality and Correction Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/municipality-and-correction-facilities-meritech) - [ Why Us ](https://www.meritech.com/why-meritech) - [ Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) Show submenu for Support - [ Resources ](https://www.meritech.com/resources) - [ Blog ](https://www.meritech.com/blog) - [ Technical Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) - [ Success Stories ](https://www.meritech.com/meritech-cleantech-testimonials) [ Contact ](https://www.meritech.com/contact/) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ** Toggle main navigation - [ Hygiene Systems ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hygiene-solutions) Show submenu for Hygiene Systems - [ Automated Hand Hygiene ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hand-sanitation-stations) - [ Boot Scrubbers and Footwear Sanitation ](https://www.meritech.com/products/boot-scrubbers) - [ Industries ](https://www.meritech.com/markets) Show submenu for Industries - [ Food Processing & Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/food-processing) - [ Healthcare ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/healthcare_medical) - [ Hospitality ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/travel_leisure) - [ Education ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/education) - [ Gyms and Public Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/gyms-and-public-facilities-meritech) - [ Cleanroom and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/pharmaceutical-cleanroom) - [ Grocery ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/grocery) - [ Municipality and Correction Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/municipality-and-correction-facilities-meritech) - [ Why Us ](https://www.meritech.com/why-meritech) - [ Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) Show submenu for Support - [ Resources ](https://www.meritech.com/resources) - [ Blog ](https://www.meritech.com/blog) - [ Technical Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) - [ Success Stories ](https://www.meritech.com/meritech-cleantech-testimonials) [ Contact ](https://www.meritech.com/contact/) Post Tags - [Hand Hygiene Resources](https://www.meritech.com/blog/tag/hand-hygiene-resources) # Pitfalls of Hand Hygiene [Meritech](https://www.meritech.com/blog/author/meritech) Apr 21, 2020 2 min read ![](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pitfalls%20of%20Hand%20Hygiene.png?width=1600&height=900&name=Pitfalls%20of%20Hand%20Hygiene.png)     Washing your hands properly is one of the most important steps in remaining healthy and safe. Below are the 4 most common mistakes people make that can compromise the effectiveness of a hand hygiene event. **1. Not enough time.** You should be scrubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds. 95% of people do not wash their hands for the correct amount of time. **2. Incorrect amount of soap.** Too much soap and you wash away important oils on your skin, too little soap and you don't adequately cover the entire hand. **3. Using an air dryer.** Air dryers and blow pathogens back onto your skin. Single-use paper towels should be used instead of air dryers. **4. Poor skin health.** With frequent hand hygiene events taking place your hands can dry out. Moisturize regularly to avoid dry and cracked skin that provides a place for germs to hide. [Check out this video on proper hand washing technique!](https://www.meritech.com/blog/video/how-to-wash-your-hands-properly-a-step-by-step-handwashing-guide-with-hygiene-expert-paul-barnhill) ### Get The Latest Posts in Your Inbox ## Related Posts - ![](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_The%20Importance%20of%20Hand%20Hygiene%20in%20Reducing%20Cross%20Contamination.png?width=500&height=375&name=_The%20Importance%20of%20Hand%20Hygiene%20in%20Reducing%20Cross%20Contamination.png) [Hand Hygiene Resources](https://www.meritech.com/blog/tag/hand-hygiene-resources) ### [ The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Reducing Cross Contamination ](https://www.meritech.com/blog/importance-of-hand-hygiene-guidelines) Everyone understands the importance of good hand hygiene, but the reality is that out in the real world… most people ... 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