Hand Washing

This fact sheet answers frequently asked questions about hand washing.

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The most important thing that you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands.

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When should you wash your hands?

Hand washing saves lives! When should you wash your hands?

Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal or animal waste
After touching garbage

When was the last time you washed your hands?

By washing your hands, you wash away germs that you may have picked up from other people or contaminated surfaces. You can prevent many diseases, such as the common cold, flu, hepatitis A, and infectious diarrhea by washing your hands. Frequent hand washing also prevents others around you from becoming sick with germs that you could unknowingly spread.

Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands!

How do you wash your hands?

How do you correctly wash your hands?

First wet your hands, then apply soap (liquid or clean soap bar)
Rub your hands together to make a lather
Scrub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds (it is the soap along with the scrubbing action that helps to get rid of germs)
Be sure to wash those areas that carry germs most often
- Back of hands
- Wrists
- Between fingers
- Under fingernails
Rinse well
Dry hands with paper towel or a clean towel