If you're happy and you know it, wash your hands!

For all of you who thought this was just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill week in September, get ready to celebrate. This week is National Clean Hands Week. Yippee! Hooray! Start your faucets, soak in some suds and break out the antibacterial lotion- it’s time to party. Just don’t expect everyone to join in the festivities, especially not men.

According to an Associated Press article on the CNN Web site, a recent survey by the American Society for Microbiology found that one-third of men skip the sink after using the restroom. In comparison, only 12 percent of women neglect to wash their hands.

The excellence of women in the field of personal hygiene wasn’t surprising to the ASM, who first discovered the trend in a similar study on hand washing behavior in public restrooms in 2005. However, the latest survey did show the dirty-handed population is growing. The number of men who skipped hand washing rose from 25 percent in 2005 to about 33 percent now. Women have also started lathering less, with the number of women non-washers rising from 10 percent to 12 percent.

What’s wrong with using your shirt or shorts as a substitute for water and soap? First, other people may be forced touch, shake, high-five or hold your hand. Have pity on them. Second, dirty hands spread germs and cause infections. Wash your hands and feel better.

So take the recommended 20 seconds before leaving the restroom and give your hands a bath. Just in case you’ve forgotten how, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines hand washing in five simple steps. They even suggest singing "Happy Birthday" twice as a self-timer. Whether you chose to sing or wash in silence, have a happy National Clean Hands Week!