Hand Washing Instructions

Lather your hands for at least 20 seconds.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, each square centimeter of the skin on your hands contains approximately 1,500 bacteria. Your hands experience more germ exposure than any other part of your body. When you touch your mouth, eyes or nose with your hands, these germs can gain access to your body. If you eat without washing your hands first, you may transfer germs from your hands to your food and then into your body. Proper hand-washing techniques can minimize the spread of these germs.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid antibacterial soap
• Water
• Clean towel

Instructions

1. Turn on the warm water and place both hands under the stream of water. Allow the water to coat both the front and back of your hands.

2. Apply one pump of liquid soap to your hands. Rub the soap all over your hands to work up a lather.

3. Lather your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. While you lather, scrub your palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

4. Place your hands back under the warm water and rinse your hands thoroughly.

5. Dry your wet hands with the clean towel. If you do not have a towel, allow your hands to air-dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your hands after using the bathroom; before working in the kitchen; before eating; after changing a diaper or helping a child in the bathroom; after blowing your nose or sneezing into your hand; after touching garbage; and before and after touching an open wound.

• Liquid soap has advantages over bar soap, especially when you are not at home. Germs may accumulate more readily on the surface of a bar of soap than on the pump of liquid soap. Liquid soaps are easier to use and waste less soap, too.

• If you cannot wash with soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol.

References

• Minnesota Department of Health: Hand Hygiene
• Better Health Channel: Handwashing--Why It's Important
• CDC: Handwashing Instructions