Short answer: wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering all surfaces, and rinse well. Details
- Typical guidance from health authorities: aim for at least 20 seconds of scrubbing. If you’re unsure, a practical cue is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice from start to finish. This length is commonly recommended to ensure germs are adequately removed [web sources aligned with this guidance].
- Steps to follow: wet hands, apply soap, scrub all hand surfaces (palms, backs of hands, between fingers, under nails), rinse, and dry with a clean towel. Turn off the faucet with the towel to avoid recontamination. This sequence is standard across major health organizations [web sources aligned with this guidance].
- When to wash: before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, after touching animals or garbage, and after returning to a clean environment from a public place. Regular handwashing is a key preventive measure against many infections [web sources aligned with this guidance].
- In situations where soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, but washing with soap and water remains the preferred method when hands are visibly dirty or greasy [web sources aligned with this guidance].
Why this matters
- Proper handwashing reduces the chance of transmitting germs to your face or to others. Short or incomplete washing can leave behind viruses and bacteria that can cause illness [web sources aligned with this guidance].
If you want, I can tailor these guidelines to specific settings (e.g., workplace, school, healthcare) or provide a quick printable checklist.
