Handwashing: the proof is in the numbers

14 October 2025

It’s Global Handwashing Day – a reminder that regular handwashing remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent disease.

Regular handwashing with soap can reduce diarrhoeal disease by up to 48%.

It is a statistic worth remembering, as Cape Town heads into summer, which can see an increase in diarrhoeal disease. It can be fatal to young children.

Handwashing can also reduce the risk of contracting colds and flu by 20%.

‘Handwashing was a critical weapon during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, since those restrictions eased, we’ve seen a relaxation too in the hygiene habits that became routine during the pandemic. Let Global Handwashing Day be a reminder to us all of the power of clean hands. Handwashing with soap is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

 
Proper handwashing requires you to:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

In 2025, the World Health Organisation is also highlighting the use of disposable gloves – specifically that these do not prevent cross-contamination; that their use does not trump regular handwashing and that the increased use of disposable gloves equals increased waste.

'The use of gloves in health settings is well established, but it comes with very strict protocols. In recent years, the use of gloves in food handling has become more topical and somewhat contentious. The fact is that gloves too can become contaminated, posing the same risks as dirty hands. So ultimately, effective handwashing before, during and after handling food, is the safest option,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office