The world is full of germs, and keeping germs off your hands is considered the best way to fight bacteria. Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Proper hand-washing can stop 99 percent of germs from spreading. Antibacterial hand soaps can kill more germs for a longer time, because they are cleaning products with active antibacterial ingredients that kill bacteria and microbes. However, there is some concern that the use of antibacterial soaps and other products has led to resistance from some household bacteria.
Step 1
Wet your hands with cold or warm running water.
Step 2
Apply the antibacterial bar soap or squirt antibacterial hand soap to the palm of one hand.
Step 3
Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub on all surfaces front and back. Continue rubbing for at least 20 seconds.The time you spend rubbing your hands should be equivalent to singing a "Happy Birthday" song twice.
Step 4
Rinse your hands well under running water. The water should run into the sink and not down your elbows.
Step 5
Dry your hands using a paper towel or an air dryer.
Tips and Warnings
- Wash your hands before eating or preparing food, before and after treating a wound, after going to the restroom, after handling garbage and after coughing. After you have washed your hands, use a towel to turn off the faucet to avoid recontamination. If you are using public restrooms, use a paper towel to open the door. If you don't have one available, use your sleeve
- Improper hand-washing can spread germs and lead to illness.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial hand soap
- Paper towel or air dryer
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