Here are some tips to get you and yours through the holiday season:

According to the CDC: 

  • Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to remove all types of germs and chemicals. Proper hand hygiene helps stop the spread of germs, including ones that can cause antibiotic-resistant infections.

  • Germs from unwashed hands can also get into foods and drinks while people prepare or consume them. So when preparing some of your holiday favorites – whether it’s a batch of gingerbread cookies or potato latkes, wash your hands frequently throughout the process.

  • Many illnesses (i.e. common cold and flu) – not just COVID-19 – are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. We frequently touch our eyes, nose and mouth without even realizing it, and this is how germs can get into the body and make us sick.

  • Germs from unwashed hands can transfer to objects like handrails, tabletops, game controllers, phones, steering wheels, or gifts, and then transfer again to another person’s hands.

According to the CDC, handwashing also…

  • Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23 − 40%
  • Reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%
  • Reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16 − 21%
  • Reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29 − 57%

Essity makes the Tork® brand of paper towels, napkins, tissues and toilet paper, as well as hand sanitizerꟷand has developed useful resources to help drive home the critical hand hygiene message for adults, children and businesses. Click here for links to Essity’s Handwashing Works hand hygiene education program for grades K − 2; Ella’s Handwashing Adventure app; a video featuring the five steps of proper hand hygiene; and Tork Clean Care industry resources for businesses, healthcare, manufacturing, offices and education.


Happy Holiday from Essity North America!