A method and apparatus for managing hand-washing compliance can include: sensing a user's hand-wash motions; estimating hand-wash scrubs per minute based on the user's hand-wash motions; counting a total hand-wash scrubs based on the user's hand-wash motions; estimating hand-wash vigor based on the user's hand-wash motions; calculating a hand-wash score based on the hand-wash vigor; displaying the hand-wash vigor, the total hand-wash scrubs, and the hand-wash scrubs per minute on a display; and displaying a timer that counts down based on the hand-wash vigor.