How to Wash Your Hands Properly: A Complete Expert Guide
Targeting unseen crevices can elevate your hygiene and shield you from common infections.
Washing your hands might seem like a simple, routine act, but experts and research show that most people do not do it correctly or often enough to prevent the spread of germs and disease. From choosing the right technique to knowing when it’s essential, mastering hand hygiene is critical to keeping yourself and others healthy. This guide synthesizes trusted expert opinion and CDC recommended procedures to ensure you wash your hands effectively every time.
Why Proper Handwashing Matters
Handwashing is one of the most important methods anyone can use to prevent the spread of infection and protect personal and public health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health professionals, many diseases and outbreaks occur due to improper or infrequent handwashing.
- Stops the spread of germs: Washing hands removes infectious agents, including bacteria and viruses, from skin before they can enter your body through the mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Prevents respiratory and diarrheal illnesses: Germs left on hands after coughing, sneezing, or using the restroom can cause infections in yourself and others.
- Protects against foodborne illness: Unwashed hands can transfer pathogens to food and drink during preparation.
Despite its simplicity, studies have shown that up to 97% of people in tested environments fail to wash their hands effectively, missing out on critical steps or not washing frequently enough. That oversight can put your immune system at risk.
A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Wash Your Hands
The CDC and health experts recommend following these steps every time you wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), ensuring to cover both palms, backs of hands, and wrists.
- Turn off the tap to conserve water, and apply soap generously to all surfaces.
- Lather: Rub hands together to create a good lather. Scrub the fronts and backs of hands, between fingers, under nails, and up to your wrists.
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds. This can be timed by humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice. The friction of scrubbing lifts germs off your skin.
- Rinse: Place hands under running water to wash away all soap and loosened dirt. Be sure the water flows down into the sink to avoid spreading soap residue from wrists to other parts of your body.
- Dry your hands thoroughly using a clean towel or an air dryer. Wet hands transfer germs more easily, so don’t skip thorough drying.
Note: Water temperature does not affect germ removal. The CDC says both warm and cold water are effective.
What Areas Are Often Missed?
Most people wash their palms but miss several key areas:
- Backs of hands
- Between fingers
- Fingernails and cuticles
- Wrists
Pay particular attention to these spots while lathering and scrubbing for optimal germ elimination.
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When Should You Wash Your Hands?
There are particular times when handwashing is crucial to prevent the transmission of disease-causing germs:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before and after eating
- Before and after caring for someone sick with vomiting or diarrhea
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching animals, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
Experts estimate that depending on your daily routine, you may encounter 10–15 opportunities where washing hands is essential.
Hand Sanitizer: When Soap and Water Aren’t Available
Handwashing with soap and water is preferred in most cases. However, when they are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Read the product label to confirm the alcohol percentage.
- Apply sanitizer to all parts of your hands and rub together until dry.
- Note: Hand sanitizer is not as effective against certain germs, including norovirus and some chemical contaminants, but sufficient for most everyday situations.
Should You Use Your Elbow or a Paper Towel to Turn Off the Faucet?
This method has gained popularity among health-conscious individuals aiming to minimize germ spread. The CDC recommends turning off the faucet before lathering-up to save water, but notes little data on germ transfer from faucet handles:
- Using your elbow or a clean paper towel to turn off the faucet isn’t proven to significantly reduce germ spread, but if you prefer, it does not hurt and can be an extra precaution.
Similarly, there’s no strong evidence that using a paper towel or your elbow to turn the tap off after rinsing improves health outcomes.
Best Way to Dry Your Hands
Drying hands is as crucial as washing them, since germs transfer more easily to and from wet skin.
- Use a clean towel or a reliable hand dryer.
- Paper towels are effective: the friction helps remove any lingering germs from the skin. However, studies reviewed by the CDC also recommend clean towels or air drying as effective methods.
Common Myths and Mistakes in Handwashing
- Myth: Hot water kills more germs.
- Fact: Water temperature does not affect germ removal – use what is comfortable.
- Myth: Rinsing with water alone is enough.
- Fact: Soap is necessary to lift and remove most germs from your hands.
- Myth: Quick washes are sufficient.
- Fact: You must scrub for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove germs.
How Does Soap Work?
Soap molecules surround dirt, bacteria, and viruses, effectively lifting them from the skin. The act of scrubbing creates friction, which helps wash organisms down the drain upon rinsing. Simply rinsing with water does not provide the same level of protection.
Handwashing in Public: Additional Tips
- Use the cleanest available towel for drying.
- In crowded bathrooms, avoid touching faucet handles and door knobs immediately after washing, if possible.
- Carry personal hand sanitizer in case soap and water are not available.
Promoting Hand Hygiene in Your Community
Handwashing saves lives, especially during flu season, outbreaks, and in public places. Here’s how you can help promote hand hygiene:
- Share online graphics and messages about proper handwashing techniques.
- Use stickers or clings on mirrors in bathrooms and kitchens as reminders.
- Encourage handwashing during community events, especially Global Handwashing Day on October 15.
- Distribute fun fact sheets for kids and adults.
Table: Handwashing vs. Hand Sanitizer
| Feature | Soap & Water | Hand Sanitizer |
|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness | Removes all types of germs and dirt | Kills most germs, less effective for some viruses and chemicals |
| Timing | At least 20 seconds | Until dry (about 20 seconds) |
| Usage | When hands are visibly dirty or contaminated | When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty |
| Alcohol Content | Not applicable | At least 60% alcohol required |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How long should I scrub my hands while washing?
A: Scrub all parts of your hands, including between fingers and under nails, for at least 20 seconds. Singing or humming “Happy Birthday” twice works as a timer.
Q: Does water temperature matter when washing hands?
A: No, the temperature does not affect germ removal. Use water that is comfortable for you.
Q: Is it better to use hand sanitizer or wash with soap and water?
A: Washing with soap and water is preferred, but hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a good substitute when soap and water are not available.
Q: Should I use my elbow or a paper towel to turn off the sink?
A: There’s limited evidence showing this prevents illness, but it can provide extra peace of mind and doesn’t hurt.
Q: Why do I need to dry my hands after washing?
A: Wet hands transfer germs more easily than dry hands. Use a clean towel or air dryer to thoroughly dry your hands after washing.
Infographic: 5 Steps to Clean Hands
- Wet your hands with clean running water.
- Apply soap and lather everywhere — palm, back, between fingers, nails, wrists.
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse thoroughly under running water.
- Dry with a clean towel or air dryer.
Handwashing and Disease Prevention: The Expert Perspective
Doctors highlight the link between proper hand hygiene and heart health, flu prevention, and minimizing foodborne illnesses. Internists and epidemiologists universally stress the importance of using soap and water, lathering thoroughly, and not rushing the process, even when busy. In times of outbreaks, such as flu season or the COVID-19 pandemic, meticulous handwashing takes on heightened significance.
Conclusion: Make Handwashing a Daily Habit
Integrate proper handwashing into your daily routine, not just during cold and flu season or after contact with sick individuals. By doing so, you dramatically reduce your risk of illness and help protect everyone around you. Teach children, accommodate your work environment, and don’t neglect the importance of timing, technique, and thoroughness.
Related Resources
- CDC: Clean Hands Educational Materials
- Global Handwashing Day: Official Campaigns
- Journal of Food Protection: Hand Hygiene Studies
References
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