Handwashing is an easy and effective way to stop the spread of germs and bacteria. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that handwashing is the best way to prevent illness and infection. But simply running your hands under a faucet won't do much in the way of cleaning and sterilizing your hands. You must use proper handwashing techniques to ensure that your hands are clean and bacteria-free.
Step 1
Wash your hands whenever you see visible dirt. You also need to wash your hands whenever you've touched someone who may have been sick, whenever you sneeze or blow your nose, before and after handling raw food, after changing diapers, after touching and animal and anytime you use the bathroom, notes the CDC. These are the times when your hands are most likely to be covered in germs and bacteria.
Step 2
Wet your hands with warm water under the faucet, and add one or two pumps of antibacterial soap to your wet hands. Antibacterial soap in bar foam is also acceptable.
Step 3
Scrub your hands for at least 15 to 20 seconds. To help you remember how long you should scrub, consider humming "Happy Birthday to You" once while you wash your hands. When you're done humming one verse, you've washed your hands for the proper amount of time, which can reduce surface bacteria up to 90 percent, according to Harvard Medical School.
Step 4
Scrub under your nails, where dirt and bacteria can hide, suggests MayoClinic.com. Add some soap to your palm and then scrub your nails against your palm to force some of the antibacterial soap under the nails. Don't forget to clean your wrists and the backs of your hands as well.
Step 5
Dry your hands on a clean towel or paper towel. Using a dirty towel will only spread bacteria back over your hands. Then, cover your hands with the towel and turn of the faucet to reduce the spread of bacteria from the faucet to your clean hands.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Antibacterial soap
- Clean towels
