Hand-washing: Do’s and don’ts

Date Updated: 12/11/2024

Frequent hand-washing is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick and spreading illness. Find out when to wash your hands and how to do it right.

When to wash your hands

Germs get on your hands from touching people, surfaces and objects throughout the day. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Or you may spread the germs to other people.

You can't keep your hands germ-free. But washing your hands often with soap and water can help limit the spread of germs.

Always wash your hands before and after:

Making and eating food.
Treating wounds or caring for a sick person.
Touching an item or surface that is touched often by other people, such as door handles, gas pumps or shopping carts.
Going into or leaving a public place.
Putting in or taking out contact lenses.

Always wash your hands after:

Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning a child who has used the toilet.
Touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste.
Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Touching garbage.
Touching pet food or pet treats

Also, wash your hands when they look dirty.

How to wash your hands

It's best to wash your hands with plain soap and water. Antibacterial soaps that you can buy without a prescription don't kill germs better than plain soaps.

Follow these steps:

Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Apply soap and lather well.
Rub your hands hard for at least 20 seconds. Scrub all surfaces. This includes the backs of your hands, your wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Rinse well.
Dry your hands with a clean towel or air-dry them.

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

You can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when you don't have soap and water. If you use a hand sanitizer, make sure it has at least 60% alcohol. And wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can.

Follow these steps:

Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand. Check the label to find out the right amount.
Rub your hands together.
Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

Kids need clean hands too

Help children stay healthy by urging them to wash their hands often. Wash your hands with your children to show them how it's done.

Tell them to wash their hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. This can keep them from rushing. Keep a step stool nearby for children who can't reach the sink.

Be sure to watch young children when they use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Swallowing alcohol-based sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Put hand sanitizer where children can't reach it between uses.

A simple way to stay healthy

Hand-washing offers great rewards. If you make hand-washing a habit, it can play a big role in keeping you healthy.