How to Properly Handwash: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Washing your hands is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and maintain good hygiene.

Whether you’re cooking, using the bathroom, or coming home from a busy day, knowing how to wash your hands properly is essential to keeping yourself and others healthy.

So, let’s break down the best way to handwash and why it’s so important!

Why Is Handwashing So Important?

Our hands come in contact with countless surfaces every day, from doorknobs and phones to money and grocery carts.

Germs can easily transfer from these surfaces to your hands, and from your hands to your face or others.

Proper handwashing helps remove dirt, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms that could make you sick.

So, taking a few moments to wash your hands properly can make a huge difference in preventing the spread of illnesses, including the common cold, flu, and other infectious diseases.

The Steps to Proper Handwashing

Follow these easy steps to ensure your hands are thoroughly cleaned:

1. Wet Your Hands

Start by turning on the tap and wetting your hands with clean, running water.

It’s best to use warm or cold water, but hot water can be too harsh on your skin and isn’t necessary for effective handwashing.

2. Apply Soap

Once your hands are wet, apply a generous amount of soap.

Liquid soap, bar soap, or even hand wash foam will work.

Soap is essential because it helps break down oils on your skin and lifts away dirt and germs.

Make sure to lather your hands well, covering all areas.

3. Lather and Scrub

Now comes the fun part—scrub!

Use your palms, backs of your hands, and between your fingers to create a lather.

Don’t forget the fingertips, nails, and the area around your wrists.

Be sure to scrub for at least 20 seconds—about the length of singing “Happy Birthday” twice.

If you want to time yourself, you can always use a timer or count to 20.

4. Rinse Thoroughly

After scrubbing for the right amount of time, rinse your hands under clean, running water.

Make sure to remove all the soap from your hands, as leftover soap can cause irritation and still leave germs behind.

5. Dry Your Hands

The final step is to dry your hands thoroughly.

Use a clean towel, paper towel, or an air dryer to dry your hands completely.

It’s important to dry your hands because germs are more likely to spread from damp hands than from dry ones.

6. Turn Off the Tap (Optional)

If you’re in a public restroom or using a tap you’ve touched with your hands, consider using a towel or tissue to turn off the faucet.

This ensures you don’t re-contaminate your freshly washed hands with any germs from the tap handle.

When to Wash Your Hands

It’s easy to forget to wash your hands, especially when you’re busy, but here are some critical times when handwashing is especially important:

• Before eating or handling food

• After using the restroom

• After coughing, sneezing, or wiping your nose

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• After touching shared surfaces (like doorknobs, light switches, or grocery carts)

• Before caring for someone who is sick or after handling their items (like tissues or towels)

• After touching animals or their food

Tips for Effective Handwashing

• Make it a habit: Incorporate handwashing into your daily routine, especially before meals or after being out in public.

• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available: While hand sanitizer is a good alternative when you’re on the go, it’s still better to wash with soap and water whenever possible.

  Choose an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice: If you’re not sure how long 20 seconds is, singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice or humming a favorite tune can help you get the timing right.

Conclusion

Handwashing is a small act that goes a long way in preventing the spread of germs and protecting your health.

By following these simple steps—wetting, soaping, scrubbing, rinsing, and drying—you’re taking an important step in staying clean and germ-free.

Make sure you wash your hands at the right times and teach others to do the same.

With regular handwashing, you’ll not only protect yourself but also keep the people around you safe from illness.

Stay clean, stay healthy!

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