When and How to Wash Your Hands

wash your hands is equally important

Knowing when and how to wash your hands is equally important as recognizing the need for clean hands. It’s easy to overlook critical moments where hand washing is essential. For example, before and after handling food, after using the restroom, or after touching public surfaces like door handles and handrails, hand washing becomes a key defense against harmful pathogens.

Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash

Proper hand washing requires more than just a quick rinse. Here are the steps recommended by health professionals:

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
Apply soap and lather your hands by rubbing them together.
Scrub all parts of your hands — especially between the fingers, under the nails, and the backs of your hands — for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
For example, a chef preparing a meal should wash their hands thoroughly before beginning and after handling raw meat to avoid cross-contamination. Similarly, after attending to a sick family member, it’s crucial to wash your hands to prevent spreading illness to other household members.