A food hygiene specialist has exposed six common misconceptions about hand washing.

High Speed Training's Dr Richard Anderson highlights the importance of hand hygiene, especially on Global Handwashing Day, October 15.

He explained that wearing gloves is not a substitute for washing hands as "bacteria can multiply quickly on gloved hands".

Dr Anderson also pointed out that the temperature of water does not enhance hand washing effectiveness.

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Instead, washing hands with soap in warm water, between 35°C and 45°C, is sufficient to ensure safety.

He said: "The length of time that you wash your hands for is actually very important.

"The NHS recommends that you wash your hands for 20 seconds, as this is how long it takes to effectively destroy any harmful bacteria or virus that may be on your hands, and allows time for thorough cleaning."

He also advised against solely relying on alcohol-based sanitisers, which are less effective on dirty hands and can dry out the skin.

Dr Anderson added that hand dryers are less hygienic than paper towels as they can harbour and spread bacteria.

Lastly, he emphasised the need for frequent hand washing, not just after using the bathroom or before food preparation, to prevent the spread of germs.