You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water. This duration allows the soap to effectively break down and remove germs, including bacteria and viruses, from all parts of your hands-palms, backs, between fingers, under nails, and wrists
. A helpful tip to time this is to hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice while scrubbing your hands
. Proper handwashing involves wetting your hands first, applying enough soap to cover all surfaces, rubbing them vigorously for the full 20 seconds, rinsing thoroughly with water, and drying with a clean towel
. Washing for less than 20 seconds may not remove all germs effectively, increasing the risk of spreading infections
. The 20-second guideline ensures you reach all hand areas and gives the soap enough time to disrupt the lipid membranes of viruses and bacteria, allowing them to be rinsed away
