The recommended duration for washing hands with soap and water is at least 20 seconds. This amount of time is effective for scrubbing away germs, bacteria, and viruses. It is often suggested to wash hands for about as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice, which roughly equals 20 seconds. The process should include wetting hands, applying enough soap to cover all hand surfaces, rubbing hands thoroughly including palms, backs, between fingers, and under nails, then rinsing and drying well.
In some guidelines, such as from the World Health Organization, the entire handwashing procedure including all steps may take about 40-60 seconds, but the core scrubbing with soap should be at least 20 seconds to effectively remove germs.
Hence, washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, covering all hand surfaces, is the key minimum to ensure effective hand hygiene.
