Going to the toilet can result in a significant increase in the bacteria on your hands.

Washing your hands properly and then drying them completely after using the toilet reduces the number of bacteria on them by up to 80%.

Despite this, a Food Safety Information Council ( Canberra ) study of 200 people at public toilets in a food hall environment showed 29% of men and 8% of women still don't wash their hands after using the toilet. (Australian Food Safety Information Council, Canberra ( www.foodsafety.asn.au) . The same study revealed that of the remaining people in the survey who made an attempt to clean their hands, an incredible 80% of women and 93% of men didn't wash their hands properly.

• Always wash your hands with running warm water.
• Apply soap to your hands (ideally from a dispenser). Vigorously rub your hands together, away from the running water, making a soapy lather for at least 15 seconds.
• Wash the front and back of your hands and most importantly, in-between the fingers and under the nails.
• Rinse your hands thoroughly under the flowing water, allowing the water to flow into the sink (and not down the elbows).
• Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean, disposable paper towel, linen towel or ideally, a warm air dryer.
• The detergent effect caused by hand washing with soap releases bacteria, which are trapped in the soap lather, and washed away when you rinse your hands.

• After using the toilet.
• Before eating or touching food.
• After touching pets.
• After emptying bins or any other dirty househol jobs.
• More often if someone in your house/office is sick.
• More often during the cold and flu season.
• Regularly throughout the day.