Here are the six steps to properly wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with warm water.
- Apply plenty of soap.
- Scrub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Wash the front and back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Rinse your hands with warm water.
- Dry your hands with a paper towel.
- Turn off the water with a paper towel.
It is important to wash your hands before and after certain activities, such as before eating or preparing food, after using the bathroom, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and after touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.
Most alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, or a mixture of these agents. Ethanol seems to be the most effective against viruses, whereas propanols work best against bacteria.
