Handwashing in Grand Rapids, MI – Why It Matters for Your Health

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, many infectious diseases spread from person to person through contaminated hands. Proper handwashing with soap and water is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs (bacteria and viruses) that cause illness.

Some gastrointestinal (stomach and intestinal) and respiratory (lung and breathing) infections can lead to serious complications. This is especially true for:

  • Young children
  • Older adults
  • People with weakened immune systems or chronic conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer)

Local hospitals and clinics in Grand Rapids—such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health—consistently emphasize hand hygiene because it helps reduce clinic visits, hospitalizations, and the spread of seasonal illnesses like flu and colds.

Why Handwashing Is So Important in West Michigan

Seasonal and Local Health Considerations

Living in Grand Rapids means:

  • Cold, long winters: People spend more time indoors, in close contact, which makes it easier for germs like influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 to spread.
  • School and daycare settings: With many families in the metro area, kids in Grand Rapids Public Schools and local daycare centers can easily pass germs to classmates and family members.
  • Community gatherings: From winter indoor events to summer festivals and activities along the Grand River, frequent handwashing helps keep community transmission lower.

The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health frequently remind residents that hand hygiene is one of the most effective public health tools we have.

When You Should Wash Your Hands

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water:

  • When you get home (from work, school, shopping, or public transportation)
  • When you arrive at someone else’s home, at a clinic, workplace, or community venue
  • After using the toilet
  • After changing diapers or helping a child use the bathroom
  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Between handling raw foods (like raw meat) and cooked or ready-to-eat foods
  • Before eating or drinking
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After using a tissue or handkerchief
  • Before and after caring for someone who is sick (at home or in a facility)
  • After smoking or vaping
  • After handling trash or yard waste
  • After gardening (including yard work common in West Michigan’s spring and summer)
  • After touching animals, animal food, or animal waste (including visits to local farms, petting zoos, or dog parks)

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands—this is one of the fastest ways germs enter your body.

What to Do When You Cough or Sneeze

To reduce the spread of germs in our homes, schools, and workplaces in Grand Rapids:

  • Use a tissue when you feel a cough or sneeze coming on.

    • Cough or sneeze into the tissue.
    • Throw the tissue away immediately.
    • Wash your hands with soap and water.

  • If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow (the bend of your arm).

    • This area is less likely to touch other surfaces and helps prevent spreading germs to others.

How to Wash Your Hands Properly

Follow these steps for effective handwashing:

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
  2. Turn off the tap to save water.
  3. Apply soap and lather well.
  4. Rub your hands together rapidly for at least 20 seconds, making sure to clean:
    • Palms
    • Backs of your hands
    • Wrists
    • Between your fingers
    • Under your fingernails
  5. If possible, remove rings and watches, or move them around so you can wash underneath them. Microorganisms can hide in these areas.
  6. Rinse well under clean, running water until all soap is gone.
  7. Dry your hands thoroughly using a clean towel or air dryer.

Good technique is more important than water temperature. Warm water may help soap lather better, but cold water and soap are still effective when you scrub properly.

The Best Way to Dry Your Hands

Drying matters because germs spread more easily from wet skin than from dry skin.

Use Paper Towels or Single-Use Cloth Towels

  • Single-use paper towels are ideal in public places (workplaces, clinics, schools, restaurants).
  • At home, give each family member their own towel and wash towels frequently.
  • Dry under rings and around wrists, as moisture under jewelry can allow germs to grow and spread.

Hot Air Dryers

  • Hot air hand dryers can also be used effectively if you dry your hands completely.
  • In some public restrooms in Grand Rapids hospitals, clinics, and offices, you may find a combination of paper towels and air dryers—use whichever allows you to dry your hands thoroughly.

Soap: What Type Is Best?

Any Soap Is Better Than No Soap

  • Washing with soap and water removes far more disease-causing germs than washing with water alone.
  • When you follow the proper handwashing steps, all regular soaps are equally effective.

Liquid Soap vs. Bar Soap

  • Liquid soap is usually recommended in workplaces, clinics, schools, and public restrooms in Grand Rapids because:
    • It’s more hygienic in shared settings.
    • It’s easier to use in dispensers.
  • Bar soap is still effective, especially at home.
    • Store bar soap where it can dry between uses.

Do You Need Antibacterial Soap?

  • Antibacterial soap is not necessary for routine handwashing.
  • It does not offer a significant advantage over regular soap for preventing everyday infections.
  • For most people and families in Grand Rapids, regular soap is enough.

What If Soap Irritates Your Skin?

Michigan’s cold, dry winters can make skin more sensitive and prone to dryness or irritation, especially with frequent handwashing.

If soap irritates your skin:

  • Remember that soaps can have different pH levels (neutral, slightly alkaline, or slightly acidic).
  • Fragrances and dyes in soaps can also cause irritation.
  • Try changing brands to a mild, fragrance-free, or sensitive-skin formula.
  • If irritation continues, talk with your primary care provider or a dermatologist in Grand Rapids (many are affiliated with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health).

Keeping your skin healthy is important because intact skin is your body’s best barrier against infection.

Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap and Water

When to Use Hand Sanitizer

  • Soap and water are best, especially if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
  • If soap and water are not available (for example, at outdoor events, in transit, or between errands around Grand Rapids), use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

What Hand Sanitizer Can and Cannot Do

  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be effective against many viruses, including coronavirus (COVID-19) and some causes of colds and flu.
  • However, they are less effective against some germs that cause gastroenteritis (stomach bugs).
  • Washing with soap and water is the best way to prevent many gastrointestinal infections, including those that cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Taking Care of Your Hands

Frequent handwashing is essential—but so is caring for your skin, especially in dry Grand Rapids winters.

To protect your hands:

  • Apply a water-based, absorbent hand cream 3–4 times a day, or more often if your hands are frequently in water.
  • Use gloves when washing dishes to protect your skin from hot water and detergents.
  • Use gloves when gardening or doing yard work to prevent scratches, cuts, and ground-in soil.
  • If you notice ongoing redness, cracking, rash, or pain, consult your doctor or a dermatologist.

Good hand care helps maintain strong, healthy skin, which is your first line of defense against infection.

Teaching Hand Hygiene to Children in Grand Rapids

Building healthy habits in childhood leads to lifelong healthy decisions and behaviors. In local schools, daycare centers, and at home:

  • Teach kids to wash their hands:
    • Before eating
    • After using the bathroom
    • After playing outside
    • After blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • Make handwashing fun—use songs, timers, or “soapy hero” games to help them scrub for at least 20 seconds.
  • Explain that clean hands help keep classmates, teachers, family, and friends from getting sick.

Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health often provide educational materials and programs that local schools and families can use to reinforce these habits.

Local Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you have questions about hand hygiene, skin irritation, or infection prevention, you can contact:

  • Your primary care provider (GP/doctor)
  • Local dermatologists for ongoing skin issues
  • Kent County Health Department for community health information and resources
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs for education and prevention services

These local resources work together with major health systems—Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health—to keep the Grand Rapids community healthy.

Key Takeaways for Handwashing in Grand Rapids

  • Wash your hands often—especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or caring for someone who is sick.
  • Use soap and water whenever possible; it’s the most effective way to prevent many infections, including gastroenteritis.
  • Dry thoroughly, including under rings and around wrists, to reduce future contamination.
  • Use gloves for dishwashing and gardening to protect your skin.
  • Care for your skin with regular moisturizers, especially during Michigan’s cold, dry months.
  • Teach children good handwashing habits early to protect schools, families, and the broader Grand Rapids community.