Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler handwashing technique poster

Colour handwashing technique poster encouraging handwashing to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler generated by washyourlyrics.com, February 2020

Hand washing and hand hygiene has been one of the most consistent pieces of guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February-March 2020 NHS guidance advised people to wash their hands for 20 seconds, or for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.

William Gibson, then 17, wanted to people to have a wider choice of the sons they could sing. He created the free Wash Your Lyrics website in just one day in early March 2020. Users are invited to input the title of their chosen song and artist. A poster is then generated matching the lyrics to the 13-step washing routine, advised by the National Health Service. Users can pick either a soap or alcohol hand-gel poster and choose the skin tone for the hands depicted.

89, 000 posters were created on the day William launched the website, with Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen proving the most popular choice.