Most people don't wash their hands long enough. Image: Getty Images

You would think, post- COVID , that we would all understand the importance of frequent and thorough handwashing . And yet, spend any time in a public restroom and you’ll see an alarming number of people who still see it as optional.

We know it can help curb the spread of illness when you’re sick, but on an average day, just how gross is it to not wash your hands?

“Your hands have a microbial flora that is always present. These are mostly good bacteria that help protect your skin,” Allison Pappas, PhD, Director of Business Development at Gillson Sciences , tells Popular Science . “On unwashed hands, your normal flora is going to be the most abundant group of inhabitants and they’re nothing to worry about. If you’re not washing your hands, they won’t become overgrown by deadly bacteria.…