Welcome to Handwashing Works!
Essity, a global hygiene and health company, has set out to make a difference and improve hygiene standards in schools. The goal of this program is to help establish and reinforce handwashing habits, which will help to decrease the spread of germs throughout schools and in your home.
With the risk of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever for schools to improve their hand hygiene education curriculum. Handwashing WorksTM is a free download that shows students how to successfully wash their hands through a fun, engaging lesson that you can implement in your classroom to fulfill state hand hygiene education requirements.
Whether learning will occur in person, virtually or in a home-school setting, this innovative handwashing unit study helps to keep germs at bay– keeping students healthy and in class!
Handwashing Works is a resource for PreK through 2nd grade educators to use when delivering handwashing education in their schools. They can download a free instruction kit which includes a lesson plan, virtual presentation, posters, worksheets and even an app! Students will learn about germs, the five steps to follow for effective handwashing, and when they should wash their hands.
Essity teamed up with the School District of Philadelphia and Temple University’s College of Public Health to measure the impact of hand hygiene education on student behavior.
Temple evaluators observed students and scoring was applied to each child’s handwashing habits over a period of time.

Our Program has reached an estimated...
students
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featured
Handwashing Works is going Virtual!
Keeping Your School Safe in the Time of COVID-19
Handwashing Works is not just for schools and young kids!
Three critical reasons to teach handwashing early
Please Touch then Wash!
New Year, New Jingle!!
ENTER ESSITY’S JAMMIN’ JINGLE CHALLENGE FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN GREAT PRIZES
Handwashing Works Goes National!
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SD of Philadelphia Officials Test their Hand Hygiene Knowledge
Hi, Gunky Gus!
Handwashing Works
Lessons in Hand Hygiene at Valley Forge Elementary School
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Tablet App Teaches Kids How to Wash Hands
Handwashing Education Milestones
Our Mother of Consolation, 15 First Graders
Essity researches and finds a need for a robust handwashing education program.
Handwashing Works is born!
School District of Philadelphia and Temple University College of Public Health
Fitzpatrick School Bright Futures Pre-K Program, 67 new handwashing masters
We are proud to announce the national launch of our Handwashing Works through our new website!
Please Touch Museum Global Handwashing Day Activation