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Hand washing: Do's and don'ts

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand washing requires only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn't require water. Find out when and how to wash your hands properly.

When to wash your hands

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands before:

  • Preparing food
  • Eating
  • Treating wounds or giving medicine
  • Touching a sick or injured person
  • Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

  • Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
  • Using the toilet
  • Changing a diaper
  • Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
  • Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
  • Treating wounds
  • Touching a sick or injured person
  • Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

Of course, it's also important to wash your hands whenever they look dirty.

How to wash your hands

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Follow these simple steps:

  • Wet your hands with running water.
  • Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.
  • Lather well.
  • Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
  • Rinse well.
  • Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.
  • If possible, use your towel to turn off the faucet.

Keep in mind that antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soap may even lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents — making it harder to kill these germs in the future.

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References
  1. An ounce of prevention keeps the germs away: Seven keys to a safer healthier home. http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/docs/oop_brochure_eng.pdf. Accessed June 26, 2009.
  2. Five moments for hand hygiene. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ps_5handHygiene.html. Accessed June 26, 2009.
  3. Hand hygiene for healthcare workers. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. http://www.apic.org/AM/AMTemplate.cfm?Section=Brochures&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=2562. Accessed June 26, 2009.
  4. Kotch JB, et al. Hand-washing and diapering equipment reduces disease among children in out-of-home child care centers. Pediatrics. 2007;120:e29.
  5. Understanding microbes in sickness and in health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/microbes/PDF/microbesbook.pdf. Accessed June 26, 2009.
  6. Kinnula S, et al. Safety of alcohol hand gel use among children and personnel at a child day care center. American Journal of Infection Control. 2009;37:318.
  7. Guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2009.
  8. Stopping germs at home, work and school. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/materials/home_work_school.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2009.
  9. Outbreak control measure: Intensified cryptosporidiosis (crypto) control measures for the child care setting. http://www.cdc.gov/crypto/pdfs/childcare_outbreak.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2009.
  10. Aiello AE, et al. Consumer antibacterial soaps: Effective or just risky? Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2007;45:S137.

HQ00407

Oct. 16, 2009

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