How to wash your hands properly
In short: wet, lather, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry. Clean hands are one of the simplest ways to avoid passing on colds, flu and stomach bugs.
Why it matters
Germs from hands get into the body when we touch our eyes, nose and mouth, and spread to food, surfaces and other people. Washing with soap and water removes many of them.
When to wash your hands
- Before, during and after preparing food
- Before eating
- After using the toilet or changing a nappy (diaper)
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- Before and after caring for someone who is ill, or treating a cut or wound
- After touching animals, pet food or rubbish
The five steps
- Wet your hands with clean running water, warm or cold.
- Lather with soap, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds (about two rounds of "Happy Birthday").
- Rinse well under clean running water.
- Dry with a clean towel or air dryer.
When hand sanitiser is useful
If soap and water aren't available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol is a good backup. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub until dry. Sanitiser works less well on hands that are visibly dirty or greasy, and it doesn't remove every kind of germ, so wash with soap and water when you can.
Sources
- CDC: About handwashing
- CDC: Hand hygiene at home and in the community
- MedlinePlus: Germs and hygiene