A simple habit that could help stop the spread of illness — no special equipment required.
Learn the rule ↓The philosophy
Your right hand deals with the outside world. Use it for contact with shared surfaces and other people.
Your left hand is reserved for touching your own face and body. Keep it away from shared surfaces.
"It's not a perfect system — but it doesn't need to be."
Even a meaningful reduction in the number of times germs travel from a contaminated hand to your face can make a real difference in limiting the spread of illness. This works alongside regular handwashing, not instead of it.
The poem
Practical tips
Right = public, Left = private. Repeat it a few times until it sticks. That's the whole rule.
That one-second check — "which hand am I using?" — becomes automatic faster than you'd think.
Life happens. Wash both hands and reset. The goal is fewer crossovers, not perfection.
This rule works alongside regular handwashing — not instead of it. Both together is best.
The best way to lock in a habit is to explain it to someone else. Share the poem!
Swap the roles so your right is private and your left is public. One exception: handshakes are always right-handed by convention, so wash up afterward — or offer a left-handed fist bump.
The Numbers
Estimated reduction in self-inoculation risk
These figures are modeled estimates based on published research on face-touching frequency, hand-to-surface transfer rates, and behavioral adherence patterns. They are illustrative, not clinical trial results. Individual results will vary. This is not medical advice — regular handwashing remains the gold standard.