And that's just the point.
The Hygiene Council, an international group of experts on germs and microbes, has discovered that while Canadians mostly understand all that good advice about washing their hands frequently and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze, we don't always follow the rules.
Its worldwide survey released in Toronto Thursday indicates about a third of us simply don't bother to do what mom always told us to.
It found 74 percent of those asked knew washing their hands was a great way to stop the spread of infectious germs.
But a full 12 percent admit they don't always perform those ablutions before handling or eating food and nine percent don't turn on the tap after using the washroom.
At least 36 percent don't bother to run the water after having contact with a pet.
What annoys the experts is we know what's right but still don't do it.
"That's the gap that we've got to close," British virologist John Oxford avers.
How do Torontonians fare?
CityNews staked out a busy washroom downtown for 20 minutes on Thursday to see who washed their hands and who didn't.
The results weren't encouraging.
Of the14 women observed, only two washed properly for at least 15 seconds. Ten held their hands under the water for five seconds or less. And two didn't wash at all.
Oxford suggests men are even worse. "In men's toilets, if you just stand there for a few minutes, no one seems to wash their hands," he frets.
Famed local microbiologist Dr. Donald Low of Mt. Sinai Hospital worries we'll pay for our inattention to such a simple little deed.
"Without a doubt, the heightened awareness among Canadians about the value of hand washing is our legacy from the SARS outbreak a few years ago," he maintains.
"However, the survey findings suggest that while Canadians have a good understanding of proper hygiene in the home and community, there's still room for improvement when it comes to putting theory into practice."
But it's not just Canada that's front and centre in this hand wringing. The tests were conducted in 20 other countries and many of them fared far worse than we did.
In Germany, a full 56 percent of people asked admit they don't wash their hands after sneezing into them, while in the U.K., that number is at 49 percent.
Who wins the cleanliness battle? Turns out it's India, where only 13 percent admit they don't always wash when they should.
So how long should you rub in the soap? The experts suggest singing a phantom chorus of "Happy Birthday To You" is about the right time to keep the lather on your hands.
And as for sneezing into your digits, the experts claim you should try the big ahchoo into your elbow - even if no one seems to quite know if that's physically possible.
Here's a look at some germane germ facts from the study:
Don't Always Wash Hands Properly
Germany: 56%
U.K: 49%
Italy: 48%
USA: 37%
Don't Wash After Sneezing/Coughing
South Africa: 54%
United Arab Emirates: 40%
Germany: 37%
Canada: 36%
Malaysia: 34%
U.S.A.: 27%
U.K.:25%
Italy: 17%
India: 13%
Don't Wash Before Eating/Preparing Food
United Arab Emirates: 36%
South Africa: 27%
Malaysia: 18%
Germany: 13%
Canada: 11.9%
South Africa: 10%
India: 8%
U.S.A.: 7%
U.K.: 6%
Italy: 6%
Where Do Canadians Think Germs Are Most Often Found In The Home In Canada?
Door Handles: 31.7%
Toilet: 17.6%
Garbage: 17.4%
Kitchen Surfaces/Sinks: 16.8%
Refrigerator Door: 6.2%
The Floor: 5%
Mattresses: 2.5%
Nowhere: 2.8%
How long can some viruses last on surfaces and what do they cause? The following is a small sample of some common household germs.
Bug: Enterococcus sp.
Causes: Urinary tract and wound infections
Can Live For: 40 minutes
Bug: Staphylococcus aureus
Causes: Impetigo, scalded skin syndrome, internal organ infection
Can Live For: 24 hours
Bug: Salmonella enteritidis
Causes: Intestinal infections (food poisoning)
Can Live For: 24 hours
Bug: Influenza A&B
Causes: Flu
Can Live For: 24-48 hours
Bug: Rhinovirus
Causes: Common cold
Can Live For: 2-3 days
Bug: Rotavirus:
Causes: Severe diarrhea
Can Live For: 10-14 days
Bug: Hepatitis A
Causes: Liver inflammation
Can Live For: 30 days
Bug: Clostridium difficile spores
Causes: Severe diarrhea
Can Live For: 8 weeks or more
Bug: Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
Causes: Urinary tract and wound infections
Can Live For: Weeks-months.