Where Should Hand Washing Signs Be Displayed?
Hand washing signs work best when they are positioned near where the action you are encouraging will take place. A hygiene reminder on a general noticeboard is easy to ignore. A sign above a wash basin, beside a soap dispenser or near a food preparation entrance is much harder to miss.
Common positions include staff toilets, customer washrooms, commercial kitchens, canteens, food prep rooms, changing areas, cleaning stations, reception desks, sanitiser points, workshop entrances and warehouse packing areas. They are also useful near shared touchpoints such as clock-in machines, touchscreens, tills, door handles, vending machines, shared tools and packing benches.
Choose the Right Material for Your Hand Wash Signs
The right material depends on where the sign is going, how often the area is cleaned and how long the sign needs to last. Here's a quick breakdown of the signage material options in our range and their best intended use cases:
Self-adhesive vinyl is a neat option for smooth indoor surfaces such as tiles, mirrors, doors, dispensers, walls and splashback areas. Perfect for short-term use and highly affordable.
Rigid plastic is a strong everyday choice for workplace walls, toilets, kitchens and staff areas. It provides a more durable finish than vinyl, while remaining lightweight and easy to fit.
PVC Foamex is better suited to larger hand hygiene boards, wall-mounted notices or areas where the sign needs extra visual presence.
Aluminium Dibond is the best choice for tough locations, long-term use, outdoor areas, industrial environments, or places where signs may be exposed to regular cleaning, moisture, or knocks.
Working Environments Where Hand Washing Signs Are Most Useful
Hand washing signs are suitable for any workplace where staff, visitors or contractors need a clear reminder to follow good hygiene practices. They are especially useful in areas where people handle food, share equipment, move between clean and dirty zones, or regularly touch high-contact surfaces.
Commercial Kitchens, Cafés and Restaurants
This range of signs help reinforce hygiene routines before food preparation, after handling raw ingredients and when moving between different kitchen workstations. They are especially useful above hand wash basins, near food prep entrances and close to areas where staff switch between raw and ready-to-eat food handling.
Food Production and Manufacturing Areas
In food production environments, these signs help support cleaner processes across preparation, packing, storage and dispatch areas. Clear signage can remind staff to wash their hands before entering controlled zones, after cleaning tasks, and when moving between different stages of production.
Healthcare, Care Homes and Clinical Settings
Ideal for healthcare environments where infection control is part of everyday site management. They can be positioned near wash basins, treatment rooms, visitor entrances, staff rooms and shared facilities to remind staff, patients and visitors to wash their hands at the right moments.
Schools, Nurseries and Childcare Settings
In schools and nurseries, simple hand washing signs help children, staff and visitors follow better hygiene habits throughout the day. Illustrated or step-by-step signs can be especially useful in toilets, classrooms, canteens and changing areas where younger users may need clearer visual prompts.
Factories, Warehouses and Workshops
Useful in industrial environments where staff regularly handle tools, packaging, oils, chemicals, machinery or shared equipment. They work well near workshop sinks, staff toilets, changing rooms, packing benches, goods-in areas and entrances to cleaner zones.
Offices, Retail Premises and Public Buildings
For offices, retail spaces and public buildings, these signs help maintain a cleaner and more professional environment for employees, customers and visitors. These signs are commonly used in staff toilets, customer washrooms, shared kitchens, reception areas and near sanitiser points.
Manufactured In-House by a UK Print Team
At The Safety Sign Depot, we have over 25 years of experience in signage production.
Because we produce signage in-house, we can advise on more than just the design. We look at where the sign will be fitted, how often the area is cleaned, whether the surface is smooth or uneven, and whether the sign needs to withstand moisture, regular handling or outdoor exposure.
Every sign is digitally printed using eco-friendly water-based inks, with material options available for both short-term and long-term use. We also offer free finishing options such as drilled holes and rounded corners, making it easier to fit your signs neatly and safely on-site. Our prints are fade-proof for years after purchase, helping your hand-washing signage stay clear, professional, and easy to read long after installation.
