You may not give much thought to the significance of hand washing when you head to the sink and grab a bar of soap. Although the relatively simple and brief task of keeping your hands clean may be second nature, it shouldn't be taken lightly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says proper hand washing is the best way to avoid spreading germs and infections.
Step One
Remove any jewelry from your fingers and wrists before beginning the hand washing process, recommends the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Turn on the faucet and wet your hands with warm but not hot water.
Step Two
Apply enough liquid, powder or bar soap to cover your fingers and the front and back of your hands. The Mayo Clinic advises that antibacterial soap isn't any more effective than regular soap.
Step Three
Scrub all surfaces of your hands and wrists. The CDC says to rub your hands palm to palm with your fingers intertwined. Also wash between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Step Four
Spend a total of 15 to 30 seconds washing your hands. A general rule of thumb is to scrub for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Once your hands are thoroughly cleansed, rinse them well with warm water.
Step Five
Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or an air dryer. A reusable cloth towel that is not freshly laundered may have germs on it that can be transmitted onto your hands.
It's important to completely dry your hands. Eastern Illinois University says wet hands can actually carry more germs than dirty hands.
Step Six
Use a paper towel to turn off water faucet to prevent new germs from getting on your clean hands. Your hands are now properly washed.
You should repeat the hand washing process after going to the bathroom and before handling or eating food. The CDC says it's important to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, changing diapers, taking out the trash or touching an animal.
