Handwashing

What Is Handwashing?

Handwashing involves cleaning your hands with soap and running water, then drying them afterward. Proper handwashing means scrubbing all areas of your hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing. This includes the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. It’s important to wash your hands throughout the day, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing.

You might think handwashing is simple. After all, you’ve been doing it since childhood. But proper technique can slip when you’re in a hurry or don’t realize why each step matters.

Washing your hands thoroughly and consistently can help keep you healthy. And if you do get sick, good handwashing can help prevent germs from spreading to others. Good hand hygiene and handwashing habits can benefit you, your loved ones and even people you never meet.

Why is handwashing important?

Handwashing is one of the best ways to stop germs from making you and others sick. That’s because your hands easily carry germs from place to place.

Think of your hands like a bus for germs. They hop on when you touch a contaminated surface. Then, if you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, the germs can enter your body through your mucous membranes. Once inside, they can multiply and make you sick.

Handwashing helps stop that process. Instead of reaching your body, germs get washed down the drain. Some may hang on, but washing your hands long enough and using the right technique removes most germs before they can cause illness.

Research shows that keeping your hands clean can prevent 1 in 3 illnesses that cause diarrhea and 1 in 5 respiratory infections.

If you do get sick, washing your hands helps prevent the spread of germs to others.

How long should you wash your hands?

Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Many people think they already wash their hands that long. But during a busy day, it’s easy to rush. Research shows that most people don’t wash their hands long enough for handwashing to be fully effective.

Try setting a timer. You may notice that 20 seconds feels longer than expected. It’s about the amount of time it takes to quietly hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice. The more you practice washing for 20 seconds, the more natural it will become. Soon, it’ll be a habit.

What are the handwashing steps?

Think fast: What’s the first step in handwashing? If you said applying soap, you’re close — but first, you should wet your hands with clean, running water. Water helps soap lather and lift away germs, dirt and other contaminants more effectively.

Follow these proper handwashing steps to improve hand hygiene:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
2. Apply soap and lather your hands for at least 20 seconds. Don’t forget to wash your wrists, the back of each hand, the spaces between your fingers and under your fingernails.
3. Rinse your hands well under the running water until all the soap is gone. A thorough rinse removes all the germs, chemicals and dirt from your hands.
4. Dry your hands using a clean paper towel or hand towel. Germs spread more easily on wet hands than dry ones.
5. Turn off the faucet using a paper towel, if available, to help avoid touching germs on the faucet.
6. Use a paper towel to open the door when leaving public restrooms or other public areas.

When should you wash your hands?

You should wash your hands often throughout the day — at home, at work and in public. But during a busy day, it’s easy to miss important moments. One way to remember when to wash your hands is to think of FACES, which stands for:

• Food
• Animals
• Caregiving
• Exposure to bodily fluids
• Special situations

Each category includes situations when you should wash your hands.

Here’s a closer look at what FACES means.

Food

Food itself can contain germs. Or germs may travel from your hands to the food you’re preparing or eating. Because of this, you should wash your hands:

• Before eating, especially finger foods
• Before and after preparing food
• Right after touching raw meat, before touching anything else — including spices or refrigerator handles
• After touching compost or garbage
• After cleaning kitchen counters or other surfaces to remove chemicals from cleaning products

Animals

Animals, including pets, can spread germs. Wash your hands after:

• Touching pets, especially while cooking or working in the kitchen
• Handling pet food or treats
• Touching animals outside your household
• Cleaning cages or other animal spaces

Caregiving

Whether you’re caring for a child, parent or someone else, it can be easy to pick up germs. Help lower your risk by washing your hands after:

• Caring for someone who’s sick
• Changing a diaper
• Helping someone use the toilet or clean up afterward

Exposure to body fluids

Body fluids can carry many germs. Wash your hands:

• After using the bathroom
• After sneezing or coughing
• After blowing your nose
• After cleaning up vomit or diarrhea, whether yours or someone else’s
• Before and after cleaning or bandaging a wound, whether yours or someone else’s

Special situations

Life doesn’t always fit into tidy categories. The situations above cover many of the most important times to wash your hands. But there are other times when you should wash up or, if soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer. These include:

• Before putting in your contact lenses (use soap and water for this)
• After using shared objects at work like computer keyboards or other equipment
• After touching high-traffic surfaces like doorknobs, elevator buttons and railings
• When you get home after spending time in public places or outdoors
• Whenever your workplace guidelines recommend handwashing. For example, you may need to wash your hands at certain times or follow specific glove-removal procedures

If you have questions about when or how often to wash your hands, talk to a healthcare provider. They can offer guidance based on your medical history, family needs and work environment.

Do I need to use antibacterial soap to wash my hands?

No. Regular soap and water are enough to remove germs. For most people, antibacterial soap isn’t more effective at preventing illness than ordinary soap and water. Healthcare workers may follow different guidelines depending on the situation.

Can you use body wash as hand soap?

Yes. Any type of soap can help remove germs from your hands, including body wash. Just be sure to follow the handwashing steps above. Keep in mind that some body washes contain strong fragrances that may linger on your hands afterward.

Can I use hand sanitizer instead of washing my hands?

It depends. Soap and water and hand sanitizer work differently to support hand hygiene. Soap and water remove germs and harmful substances from your hands. Hand sanitizer kills certain germs.

Whenever possible, choose soap and water. It works better than hand sanitizer for:

• Removing certain germs that can cause serious illnesses, like norovirus and C. diff
• Washing away pesticides and heavy metals, like lead
• Removing dirt, grease and residue from outdoor activities like fishing or camping

However, hand sanitizer can be useful in some situations, including:

• When visiting someone in a hospital or nursing home. In most cases, using hand sanitizer before and after your visit is enough. But if the person has certain infections, like C. diff, use soap and water instead.
• When soap and running water aren’t available. Use hand sanitizer, then wash with soap and water as soon as you can.
• When young children need to clean their hands. Soap and water are usually best, especially if children’s hands are visibly dirty or sticky. But hand sanitizers can be easier to use while traveling or on the go. An adult should supervise. Keep the sanitizer out of children’s reach because it can be harmful if swallowed.

Choose a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethyl alcohol or 70% isopropyl alcohol to effectively kill germs, including the virus that causes COVID-19.

Is it dangerous to wash your hands too much?

Yes, it’s possible to overdo handwashing. Washing your hands at important times is healthy, but washing too often can:

• Remove healthy oils and helpful bacteria that protect against germs
• Cause dry, cracked or chapped skin, which can make it easier for germs to enter your body
• Trigger eczema flare-ups in people with eczema
• Lead to irritant contact dermatitis

If you need to wash your hands often for work or other reasons, using a moisturizer with emollients may help soothe and protect your skin. You can also talk to a healthcare provider about ways to prevent irritation and keep your skin healthy.