According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, keeping your hands clean can help prevent the spread of illness and keep you and your family healthy. Washing your hands gets rid of germs that can spread from person to person and make you sick. Some germs can live on things like doorknobs and telephones, so even if you haven't come in contact with a sick person, you should still wash your hands several times a day so you stay as healthy as possible.
Step 1
Turn on the water and get your hands thoroughly wet.
Step 2
Turn off the water and apply soap to your hands. If you're using bar soap, rub the bar over the front and back of your hands and fingers. If you're using liquid soap, press the dispenser once or twice while holding your other hand under the pump to catch the soap.
Step 3
Rub your hands together to create a lather. Link your fingers together and rub them back and forth to clean between them. Rub the palms of your hands together. Scrub your wrists, the backs of your hands, and the fronts and backs of your fingers. Continue washing your hands for fifteen to twenty seconds, or about the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
Step 4
Turn the water back on and rinse your hands well. Make sure all the soap is off your hands before you turn the water off.
Step 5
Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or paper towel.
Tips and Warnings
- If you're in a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn the water off when you're done washing to avoid getting more germs on your hands from the faucet. Use the towel to open the restroom door when you leave.
- When helping young children wash their hands, check to make sure the water isn't too hot.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Water
- Clean towel or paper towel
