How to Wash Your Hands

The correct way to suds up, plus when you should wash ‘em and when you shouldn’t.

The real secret to preventing sickness and infections? Make sure you keep your hands clean.

This is the single best way to stop the spread of illness-causing germs. You may think that washing your hands is instinctual as blinking, but there is a very correct form and method to reduce the germs.

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Washing your hands is more effective than alcohol gel sanitizers, which miss many bad bacteria. In a pinch, alcohol gels are better then nothing, but if you’re near a sink, old-fashioned hand washing is most effective.

QUIZ: How Healthy Do You Feel?

The Right Way to Wash Your Hands:

• Use very warm running water and soap.
• Scrub both sides of the hands for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Pay attention to under the fingernails, around the hair follicles on the fingers and on the back of the hands.
• Rinse well with very warm, running water.
• Dry hands with a disposable paper towel.

When to Wash Your Hands:

• Using the toilet.
• Changing diapers. Wash the hands of the diapered child, too.
• Helping a child at the toilet.
• Your hands come into contact with bodily fluid like saliva, vomit, a runny nose, etc.
• Fixing or eating food (and before).
• Touching raw meat, poultry fish or eggs.
• Shaking hands.
• Coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Though you can change your sneeze habits, so you sneeze in the crook of your elbow.
• Handling money.
• Riding public transportation.
• Any point when you feel your hands might be at risk.

Bottom Line: When in doubt, wash ‘em out!