Hand washing requires little time or effort, but it can go a long way toward preventing illness and infection. Hand washing is not reserved for when your hands are visibly dirty. You should wash your hands several times a day, especially before preparing food, after handling raw meat, poultry or seafood, before eating, after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose, after changing a diaper or using the bathroom and after touching animals. Develop proper hand washing techniques—and teach them to children—for a simple way to protect you and your family’s health.
Soap and Water
Step 1
Wet your hands with warm water. Apply soap.
Step 2
Rub your hands together to create a lather. Continue rubbing them for about 20 seconds, recommends the Center for Disease Control, making sure you cover all surfaces with the soap, including wrists, the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Step 3
Rinse your hands well. Then dry your hands with a clean towel, paper towel or hand dryer.
Hand Sanitizer
Step 1
Squirt alcohol-based hand sanitizer onto your hand. Apply enough to wet your hands completely.
Step 2
Rub your hands together. Make sure you rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands and fingers.
Step 3
Continue rubbing your hands together gently until they are completely dry.
Tips and Warnings
- To help children understand how long they should rub their hands together with soap, ask them to sing the Happy Birthday song twice through. The use of hand sanitizers is best reserved for when soap and water are not available.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Soap
- Towel
- Hand sanitizer
