Techniques for eliminating duplicate/redundant scanning of email messages while the email message traverses the various servers within an email infrastructure are provided. Some techniques utilize a message hygiene stamp that is transported with the email message as the email message enters an enterprise and is routed within the enterprise until the email message reaches the end user inbox. The filters comprise logic that enables the filters to annotate the result of their filtering or other processing in corresponding message hygiene stamps. The message hygiene stamps allow the filters to determine whether the email message has already been processed by the filter within the email infrastructure.